The President

Rafa: Mom, I learned it: Congress writes the laws. The President does nothing, he just waves and gives speeches.

Lupe: Who vetoes bills?

Rafa: Vetoes? That sounds like Congress, Mom. Everything is Congress.

Lupe: Mmm… Congress?

Rafa: … Again?

Grandpa: Rewind.

Grandpa: The President leads the executive branch: he makes sure the laws are carried out. He is elected for four years.

Grandpa: And only two terms: eight years at most. That is the Twenty-second Amendment.

Grandpa: Congress writes the bill… and the President signs it. If he doesn't like it, he vetoes it: veto means no.

Grandpa: He is also Commander in Chief of the military, he appoints federal judges, and his Cabinet advises him.

Grandpa: And if the President can no longer serve? The Vice President steps in.

Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. Who signs bills to become laws?

Rafa: Congress!

Grandpa: Rafa! Congress WRITES it. And who signs it?

Lupe: The President.

Grandpa: Good. Another one: Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

Lupe: The President.

Rafa: The President again?

Grandpa: In this lesson, almost always: he signs, he vetoes, he commands the military and he appoints the judges.

Lupe: Your turn, mijo: If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

Rafa: Mmm… The Vice President?

Grandpa: That's it, kiddo.

Lupe: My third stamp in the passport!

Grandpa: Three out of twenty, Lupe. I can almost smell the oath ceremony.

Grandpa: Now, your ear. Listen to the officer, answer out loud… then repeat after me.

Officer: The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

Grandpa: Four years. FOR YEERZ.

Officer: The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

Grandpa: Because of the Twenty-second Amendment. TWEN-tee SEK-und uh-MEND-ment.

Officer: Who signs bills to become laws?

Grandpa: The President. PREZ-ih-dent.

Officer: Who vetoes bills?

Grandpa: The President. PREZ-ih-dent.

Officer: If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

Grandpa: The Vice President. VICE PREZ-ih-dent.

Officer: What does the President's Cabinet do?

Grandpa: Advises the President. ad-VYE-zez the PREZ-ih-dent.

Lupe: Four years, only two terms, and he signs and vetoes!

Grandpa: And if he can't serve, the Vice President. Say them out loud every day, Lupe.

Rafa: Okay, okay… the President does do stuff. Just not everything.