Article II, Section 1 explains how the United States’ executive branch is organized and how the president is chosen. The executive branch carries out and enforces federal laws.
What the section says
- Executive power: The Constitution gives executive power to a president of the United States.
- Presidential term: The president and vice president serve four-year terms.
- Choosing the president: The section describes the Electoral College system, in which states appoint electors who cast votes for president and vice president. Later amendments changed parts of the election process.
- Requirements to be president: A person must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.
- Vice president: The section provides for a vice president, who takes over as president if the president cannot serve. It also gives the vice president the role of president of the Senate.
- Pay: The president receives a salary that cannot be increased or decreased during that presidential term.
- Oath: Before taking office, the president must swear or affirm to faithfully carry out the duties of the office and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.
In short: Article II, Section 1 sets out the basic rules for the presidency, including the president’s term, qualifications, election, pay, and oath. Amendments made later add or change some details—for example, the 12th Amendment changed how electoral votes for president and vice president are cast, and the 22nd Amendment limits how many times someone can be elected president.