Changes

=== Nominating Judges ===

=== Nominating Judges ===

Perhaps the most influential power that a president has today is in nominating federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices, for confirmation by the U.S. Senate.  (Judges on only the Supreme Court are called "Justices" rather than "Judges".)

Perhaps the most influential power that a president has today is in nominating federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices, for confirmation by the U.S. Senate.  (Judges on only the U.S. or State Supreme Courts are called "Justices" rather than "Judges".)

Most "Article III" federal judges remain in office for several decades, having been nominated between the ages of 40 and 60 and then remaining in power for 20-30 years.  The 22nd Amendment prevents anyone from being president longer than ten years, and as a practical matter the limit is eight years.  Moreover, after about 6 years a president begins to lose power because politics is forward-looking, and everyone knows that he cannot be reelected.

Most "Article III" federal judges remain in office for several decades, having been nominated between the ages of 40 and 60 and then remaining in power for 20-30 years.  The 22nd Amendment prevents anyone from being president longer than ten years, and as a practical matter the limit is eight years.  Moreover, after about 6 years a president begins to lose power because politics is forward-looking, and everyone knows that he cannot be reelected.

But the judges picked by a president to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts continue to decide cases for 20 or 30 years, or more.  Chief Justice Marshall was nominated by President John Adams and Marshall was in power for 35 years, while Adams was defeated for reelection after serving only about 4 years.

But the judges picked by a president to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts continue to decide cases for 20 or 30 years, or more.  Chief Justice John Marshall was nominated by President John Adams and Chief Justice Marshall remained in power for 35 years, while Adams was defeated for reelection after serving only 4 years.

The U.S. Senate does have the power to reject any nomination to the federal judiciary made by the president, and some selections by president for the U.S. Supreme Court have been rejected by the U.S. Senate.  But the vast majority of nominations to federal courts below the Supreme Court are approved (confirmed) by the Senate, and most presidential nominations to the Supreme Court are also confirmed.  A mere majority vote in the U.S> Senate is sufficient to confirm a federal judge.  Once confirmed, he has a lifetime job and can only be removed from office if there is an impeachment of him by Congress, which is very rare.

The U.S. Senate does have the power to reject any nomination to the federal judiciary made by the president, and some selections by president for the U.S. Supreme Court have been rejected by the U.S. Senate.  But the vast majority of nominations to federal courts below the Supreme Court are approved (confirmed) by the Senate, and most presidential nominations to the Supreme Court are also confirmed.  A mere majority vote in the U.S. Senate is sufficient to confirm a federal judge.  Once confirmed, he has a lifetime job and can only be removed from office if there is an impeachment of him by Congress, which is very rare.

Supreme Court decisions, such as ''Roe v. Wade'' (1973) establishing almost unlimited abortion, have a far greater effect on our Nation than any actions by a president has.  It was the Supreme Court which banned prayer from public schools, in ''Engel v. Vitale'' (1962), as an additional example.  Supreme Court decisions last until they are overruled by a future Supreme Court.  A lower court, state or federal, may not overrule or change a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Supreme Court decisions, such as ''Roe v. Wade'' (1973) establishing nearly unlimited abortion, have a far greater effect on our Nation than any actions by a president has.  It was the Supreme Court which banned prayer from public schools, in ''Engel v. Vitale'' (1962), as an additional example.  Supreme Court decisions last until they are overruled by a future Supreme Court.  A lower court, state or federal, may not overrule or change a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

== Qualifications of a President ==

== Qualifications of a President ==