The New Student's Reference Work/President of the United States
President of the United States, the chief executive officer of the government, chosen by electors from the various states every four years. Nine presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland and McKinley—have been chosen for two terms; but a third term, although not prohibited by the constitution, is practically prohibited by the popular prejudice against it. Any native male citizen of the United States over 35 years of age is eligible to the presidency. The salary is $75,000 a year, but the president must receive no other emolument during his term from the United States or any state. In 1907 Congress appropriated $25,000 for his traveling-expenses. He is commander-in-chief of the army and navy; has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the national or federal laws, except in cases of impeachment; and (by and with the advice and consent of the senate) makes treaties and appoints ambassadors, consuls and all United States officers not otherwise provided for. Every bill which passes Congress must have the approval of the president before it becomes law, unless two thirds of both houses pass it over his veto. The president administers the government through heads of departments, who are known as secretaries and constitute his cabinet. These officials are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. He also presents to Congress, when it assembles, a comprehensive statement of the affairs of the nation, with suggestions as to such matters as need its action. See United States, Departments of.
Presidential electors are chosen by the states, each being entitled to two electors at large and one for each congressional district, the total number at present being 531. A majority of all the electors chosen is necessary to an election of president and vice-president. If no candidate receive such a majority, the house of representatives must choose the president from the three highest numbers on the list, and the senate the vice-president from the two highest. In the election of president by the house the vote is by states, each state having one vote and a majority of all the states being necessary to a choice. The two presidents elected by the house of representatives were Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and John Quincy Adams in 1825.
The election of president and vice-president or, rather, the selection of presidential electors occurs every fourth year, on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November; and on the second Monday of January following these electors meet in the capitals of their respective states, cast their votes, and transmit the result to the president of the senate. On the second Wednesday of February the president of the senate counts these votes in the presence of both houses of Congress and announces the result. On the 4th of March thereafter the persons so chosen for president and vice-president are inaugurated for the term of four years. In case of the death or disability of the president the vice-president becomes president, and assumes all the duties of the office during the term for which he was chosen vice-president. If the offices of president and vice-president both become vacant, provision is made by law for filling the office of president from members of the presidential cabinet in the following order: (1) secretary of state, (2) secretary of the treasury, (3) secretary of war, (4) attorney-general, (5) postmaster-general, (6) secretary of the navy, (7) secretary of the interior and (8) secretary of agriculture.
The following is a list of the presidents of the United States, with the years during which they filled the office: (1) George Washington, 1789-97; (2) John Adams, 1797-1801; (3) Thomas Jefferson, 1801-9; (4) James Madison, 1809-17; (5) James Monroe, 1817—25; (6) John Quincy Adams, 1825-9; (7) Andrew Jackson, 1829-37; (8) Martin Van Buren, 1837-41; (9) William Henry Harrison, March—April, 1841; (10) John Tyler (chosen vice-president with Harrison), 1841-5; (11) James K. Polk, 1845-9; (12) Zachary Taylor, 1849-50; (13) Millard Fillmore (elected vice-president with Taylor), 1850-53; (14) Franklin Pierce, 1853-7; (15) James Buchanan, 1857-61; (16) Abraham Lincoln, 1861-5; (17) Andrew Johnson (elected vice-president with Lincoln in 1864), 1865—9; (18) Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-77; (19) Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-81; (20) James A. Garfield, March—September, 1881; (21) Chester Allan Arthur (elected vice-president with Garfield), 1881-5; (22) Grover Cleveland, 1885-9; (23) Benjamin Harrison, 1889-93; Grover Cleveland, 1893-7; (24) William McKinley, 1897-1901; (25) Theodore Roosevelt (elected vice-president with McKinley), 1901-1909; (26) William Howard Taft, 1909-1913; (27) Woodrow Wilson, 1913-.
Electoral votes allowed to each state since the apportionment act of 1911:
| Alabama | 12 |
| Arizona | 3 |
| Arkansas | 9 |
| California | 13 |
| Colorado | 6 |
| Connecticut | 7 |
| Delaware | 3 |
| Florida | 6 |
| Georgia | 14 |
| Idaho | 4 |
| Illinois | 29 |
| Indiana | 15 |
| Iowa | 13 |
| Kansas | 10 |
| Kentucky | 13 |
| Louisiana | 10 |
| Maine | 6 |
| Maryland | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 18 |
| Michigan | 15 |
| Minnesota | 12 |
| Mississippi | 10 |
| Missouri | 18 |
| Montana | 4 |
| Nebraska | 8 |
| Nevada | 3 |
| New Hampshire | 4 |
| New Jersey | 14 |
| New Mexico | 3 |
| New York | 45 |
| North Carolina | 12 |
| North Dakota | 5 |
| Ohio | 24 |
| Oklahoma | 10 |
| Oregon | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | 38 |
| Rhode Island | 5 |
| South Carolina | 9 |
| South Dakota | 5 |
| Tennessee | 12 |
| Texas | 20 |
| Utah | 4 |
| Vermont | 4 |
| Virginia | 12 |
| Washington | 7 |
| West Virginia | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 13 |
| Wyoming | 3 |
| Total | 531 |
| Necessary to a Choice | 266 |
See articles on each president named above and Political Parties.