Prep for Constitution Day #13

The 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th Amendments:
The President and Vice President!

President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden (D)

• 100:28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
• 100:29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

12th amendment: the President and Vice President are elected on the same party ticket. The 12th Amendment was added in 1804.

John Adams was the first vice-president. He served under the first president, George Washington.

In 1796, John Adams was elected president and Thomas Jefferson was vice-president. Adams belonged to the Federalist Party and Jefferson belonged to the Democratic-Republican Party. They could not work together, so Jefferson went home.

During the Election of 1800, Jefferson ran against Adams. Jefferson won.

Learn more: VOANews: Jefferson Is Elected President in 1800, But Only on the 36th Vote Thomas Jefferson defeated Aaron Burr. But it took three days of voting in the House of Representatives to settle on a winner. Transcript of radio broadcast: 21 May 2008

• 100:45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
• 110:46. What is the political party of the President now?

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945

20th Amendment: The President used to be inaugurated in March. The inauguration was moved up to January, to stop "lame duck" government. FDR was the last president to be inaugurated in March. The 20th Amendment was added in 1933.

• 96:83. In what month is the new President inaugurated?
• 100:27. In what month do we vote for President?*

22nd Amendment: The President cannot serve for more than two terms. FDR was elected to four terms as president and died in office. The 22nd Amendment was added in 1951.

Learn more: VOANews: 'Happy Days Are Here Again': FDR, One of America's Greatest Presidents
Franklin Delano Roosevelt served longer than any other U.S. president. With his New Deal, he led the nation through its worst economic crisis. And, until his death, he led America through World War Two.

• 96:44. How many full terms can a President serve?
• 100:26. We elect a President for how many years?
• 100:80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
was suceeded by his Vice-President Lyndon Johnson

The 25th Amendment: If the president dies or cannot serve, the vice-president becomes president. If both die, the Speaker of the House becomes president. 1967.

1. Office of the President
2. Office of the Vice-president
3. Office of the Speaker of the House

Learn more: VOANew: Making of a Nation: The Presidency of John Kennedy Begins With Great Energy, but Ends in Tragedy
He stood strong against the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis, and proposed a law to guarantee equal treatment of blacks. Then came the gunshots in Dallas in November 22, 1963.

VOANews: Making of a Nation: Johnson Takes Over Presidency After Kennedy's Murder
Lyndon Johnson had a lot of political experience. He had been President Kennedy's vice president, and had served for many years in the Senate and House of Representatives.

• 30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
• 31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

More questions about the Excutive Branch:

• 100:32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
• 100:33. Who signs bills to become laws?
• 100:34. Who vetoes bills?
• 100:35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
• 100:36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?