xecution, had
impressed upon all thinking persons the necessity of more vigor in
carrying out the laws. The experience during colonial days emphasized the
necessity of surrounding the office with proper safeguards. And among
those intrusted with the organization of a scheme of government, were many
who were well versed in history--men who knew that the executive branch is
the one in which lies the menace to human liberty. Under these two main
divisions of the problem, arose such questions as: How many persons shall
constitute the executive? What shall the term be? How shall the executive
be chosen? What powers, other than those which are purely executive, shall
be vested in this branch? How shall this branch be held responsible,
without crippling its efficiency?

How well the problem was solved, we shall find out in our study of the
provisions of the constitution pertaining to this branch.

SECTION I.--ELECTION AND SERVICE.

_Clause 1.--Vestment of Power._

_The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States
of America.[1] He shall hold his office during the term of four years,[2]
and together with the vice-president,[3] chosen for the same term, shall
be elected as follows:_

[1] This sentence answers the question, "How many persons shall constitute
the executive?" and gives the official title thereof.

The executive authority is vested in one person for two chief reasons: To
secure energy in execution, and to impose upon the executive a sense of
responsibility. If the executive power were vested in a number of persons,
the differences and jealousies sure to arise, and the absence of
responsibility, would result in a feeble administration, which is but
another name for a bad administration.

[2] The term first reported by the committee of the whole was seven years,
with the provision forbidding re-election. Some of the delegates were in
favor of annual elections, while others thought that the executive should
be elected for life or good behavior. And other terms, varying from two to
ten years, had their advocates. After much discussion, the term of four
years was agreed upon as a compromise, and no limitation was put upon the
number of terms for which a person might be elected.

In another place it is made the duty of the president to recommended to
congress such measures as he deems necessary for the good of the country.
He should, therefore, have a term long enough to fairly test his "p