Article two of the United States Constitution - wikipedia Article two of the United States Constitution Jump to : navigation , search This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( November 2013 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) Wikisource has original text related to this article : Article Two of the United States Constitution This article is part of a series on the Constitution of the United States of America Preamble and Articles of the Constitution Preamble II III IV V VI VII Amendments to the Constitution Bill of Rights II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII Unratified Amendments Congressional Apportionment Titles of Nobility Corwin Child Labor Equal Rights D.C. Voting Rights History Drafting and ratification timeline Convention Signing Federalism Republicanism Full text of the Constitution and Amendments Preamble and Articles I -- VII Amendments I -- X Amendments XI -- XXVII Unratified Amendments United States portal U.S. Government portal Law portal Wikipedia book Article Two of the United States Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government , which carries out and enforces federal laws . The executive branch includes the President , the Vice President , the Cabinet , executive departments , independent agencies , and other boards , commissions , and committees . Contents ( hide ) 1 Section 1 : President and Vice President 1.1 Clause 1 : Executive Power 1.2 Clause 2 : Method of choosing electors 1.3 Clause 3 : Electors 1.4 Clause 4 : Election day 1.5 Clause 5 : Qualifications for office 1.6 Clause 6 : Vacancy and disability 1.7 Clause 7 : Salary 1.8 Clause 8 : Oath or affirmation 2 Section 2 : Presidential powers 2.1 Clause 1 : Command of military ; Opinions of cabinet secretaries ; Pardons 2.2 Clause 2 : Advice and Consent Clause 2.2. 1 Treaties 2.2. 2 Appointments 2.3 Clause 3 : Recess appointments 3 Section 3 : Presidential responsibilities 3.1 Clause 1 : State of the Union 3.2 Clause 2 : Making recommendations to Congress 3.3 Clause 3 : Calling Congress into extraordinary session ; adjourning Congress 3.4 Clause 4 : Receiving foreign representatives 3.5 Clause 5 : Caring for the faithful execution of the law 3.6 Clause 6 : Officers ' commissions 4 Section 4 : Impeachment 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Section 1 : President and Vice President ( edit ) Clause 1 : executive power ( edit ) The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America . He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years , and , together with the Vice President , chosen for the same Term , be elected , as follows George Washington 's inauguration as the nation 's first President , April 30 , 1789 Section 1 begins with a vesting clause that confers federal executive power upon the President . Similar clauses are found in Article I and Article III . The former bestows federal legislative power exclusively to Congress , and the latter grants judicial power solely to the Supreme Court . These three articles create a separation of powers among the three branches of the federal government . In addition to separation of powers and equally important to limited government , each independent and sovereign branch also provides checks and balances on the operation and power of the other two branches . The President 's executive power is subject to two important limitations . First , the President lacks executive authority explicitly granted to Congress . Hence the President can not declare war , grant letters of marque and reprisal , or regulate commerce , even though executives had often wielded such authority in the past . In these instances , Congress retained portions of the executive power that the Continental Congress had wielded under the Articles of Confederation . In fact , because those actions require legislation passed by Congress which must be signed by the President to take effect , those powers are not strictly executive powers granted to or retained by Congress per se . Nor were they retained by the U.S. Congress as leftovers from the Articles of Confederation . The Articles of Confederation , Continental Congress and its powers were abolished at the time the new U.S. Congress was seated and the new federal government formally and officially replaced its interim predecessor . And although the President is not specifically granted the power to declare war , a declaration of war is not in and of itself a vehicle of executive power since it is literally just a public declaration that the U.S. government considers itself `` at war '' with a foreign political entity . Regardless of the inability to declare war , the President does have the power to unilaterally order military action in defense of the United States pursuant to `` a national emergency created by attack upon the United States , its territories or possessions , or its armed forces '' . By U.S. law , this power is limited in that he must notify Congress within 48 hours after the beginning of military operations , explaining the source of his authority for the action . Once proper legal notification is given to the required members of Congress , military action can continue for up to 60 days without further authorization from Congress , or up to 90 days if the President `` determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces . '' Second , specific constitutional provisions may check customary executive authority . Notwithstanding their executive power , the President can not make treaties or appointments without the advice and consent of the Senate . Likewise , the President 's pardon power is limited to offenses against the United States ( federal crimes ) and does not extend to impeachments or violations of state law . As treaties are by U.S. law official agreements with foreign governments recognized as such only after Senate ratification , the President obviously can not make treaties unilaterally . However , the President does determine and decide U.S. foreign policy and can enter into non-binding discussions and give conditional approval to agreements reached with foreign governments subject to Senate ratification at a future date . Additionally , since official treaties are specifically created under and by constitutional U.S. law and are entered into by both government and the people as a whole , in their capacity as head of state and as the single individual representative of the United States and its citizens , the President does have Coauthority and Constitutional duty to unilaterally withdraw the United States from treaties if he or she determines the best interests and well being of the U.S. and its citizens are benefited by doing so . As far as presidential appointments , as with treaties a person is not officially and legally appointed to a position until their appointment is approved by the Senate . Prior to Senate approval and publication of that approval along with an official date and time for their swearing - in and assumption of duties and responsibilities , they are nominees rather than appointees . And again , the President nominates people for specific positions at their pleasure and can do so without or in spite of Senate advice . Senate consent occurs when a supermajority of senators votes to approve and therefore appoint a nominee . The head of the Executive Branch is the President . Although also named in this first clause , the Vice President is not constitutionally vested with any executive power . Nonetheless , the Constitution dictates that the President and Vice President are to be elected at the same time , for the same term , and by the same constituency . The framers ' intent was to preserve the independence of the executive branch should the person who was Vice President succeed to the duties of the presidency . Clause 2 : method of choosing Electors ( edit ) Each State shall appoint , in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct , a Number of Electors , equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress : but no Senator or Representative , or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States , shall be appointed an Elector . Under the U.S. Constitution the President and Vice President are chosen by Electors , under a constitutional grant of authority delegated to the legislatures of the several states . The Constitution reserves the choice of the precise manner for creating Electors to the will of the state legislatures . It does not define or delimit what process a state legislature may use to create its state college of Electors . In practice , the state legislatures have generally chosen to create Electors through an indirect popular vote , since the 1820s . Most states have a `` winner - take - all '' system in which the candidate with the most votes in the state gets all the electoral votes . Maine and Nebraska allow individual congressional districts to elect one elector . In an indirect popular vote , it is the names of the candidates who are on the ballot to be elected . Most states do not put the names of the electors on the ballot . It is generally understood by the voters and the Electors themselves that they are the representative `` stand - ins '' for the candidates and are expected to cast their electoral college ballots for the President and Vice President who appeared on the ballot . The actual electors being voted for are usually selected by the candidate 's party . There are a few cases where some electors have refused to vote for the designated candidate . Many states have mandated in law that Electors shall cast their electoral college ballot for the designated Presidential Candidate . The constitutionality of such mandates is uncertain . Each state chooses as many Electors as it has Representatives and Senators representing it in Congress . Under the 23rd Amendment , the District of Columbia may choose no more electors than the state with the lowest number of electoral votes . No Senators , Representatives or federal officers may become Electors . Clause 3 : Electors ( edit ) The Electors shall meet in their respective States , and vote by Ballot for two Persons , of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves . And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for , and of the Number of Votes for each ; which List they shall sign and certify , and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States , directed to the President of the Senate . The President of the Senate shall , in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives , open all the Certificates , and the Votes shall then be counted . The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President , if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed ; and if there be more than one who have such Majority , and have an equal Number of Votes , then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse ( sic ) by Ballot one of them for President ; and if no Person have a Majority , then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse ( sic ) the President . But in chusing ( sic ) the President , the Votes shall be taken by States , the Representation from each State having one Vote ; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States , and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice . In every Case , after the Choice of the President , the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President . But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes , the Senate shall chuse ( sic ) from them by Ballot the Vice President . ( Note : This procedure was changed by the 12th Amendment in 1804 . ) In modern practice , each state chooses its electors in popular elections . Once chosen , the electors meet in their respective states to cast ballots for the President and Vice President . Originally , each elector cast two votes for President ; at least one of the individuals voted for had to be from a state different from the elector 's . The individual with the majority of votes became President , and the runner - up became Vice President . In case of a tie between candidates who received votes from a majority of electors , the House of Representatives would choose one of the tied candidates ; if no person received a majority , then the House could again choose one of the five with the greatest number of votes . When the House voted , each state delegation cast one vote , and the vote of a majority of states was necessary to choose a President . If second - place candidates were tied , then the Senate broke the tie . A quorum in the House consisted of at least one member from two - thirds of the state delegations ; there was no special quorum for the Senate . This procedure was followed in 1801 after the electoral vote produced a tie , and nearly resulted in a deadlock in the House . The 12th Amendment introduced a number of important changes to the procedure . Now , Electors do not cast two votes for President ; rather , they cast one vote for President and another for Vice President . In case no Presidential candidate receives a majority , the House chooses from the top three ( not five , as before the 12th Amendment ) . The Amendment also requires the Senate to choose the Vice President from those with the two highest figures if no Vice Presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes ( rather than only if there 's a tie for second for President ) . It also stipulates that to be the Vice President , a person must be qualified to be the President . Clause 4 : election day ( edit ) Certificate for the vote for Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler for the State of Louisiana The Congress may determine the Time of chusing ( sic ) the Electors , and the Day on which they shall give their Votes ; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States . Congress sets a national Election Day . Currently , Electors are chosen on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ( the first Tuesday after November 1 ) , in the year before the President 's term is to expire . The Electors cast their votes on the Monday following the second Wednesday in December ( the first Monday after December 12 ) of that year . Thereafter , the votes are opened and counted by the Vice President , as President of the Senate , in a joint session of Congress . Clause 5 : qualifications for office ( edit ) Beginning of the clause in the 1787 document Section 1 of Article Two of the United States Constitution sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as president of the United States : No Person except a natural born Citizen , or a Citizen of the United States , at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution , shall be eligible to the Office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years , and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States . See also : President of the United States In this 1944 poster , Franklin Roosevelt ( left ) successfully campaigned for a fourth term . He was the only President who served more than two terms . At the time the President takes office they must be : a natural born citizen at least 35 years old an inhabitant of the United States for at least fourteen years . Eligibility for holding the office of President and Vice President were modified by subsequent amendments : The 12th Amendment ( 1804 ) requires the Vice President to meet all of the qualifications of being President . The 22nd Amendment ( 1951 ) prevents anyone from being elected to the presidency more than twice ( or once , if the person has completed at least two years of a presidential term to which someone else was originally elected ) . Clause 6 : vacancy and Disability ( edit ) 1888 illustration of new President John Tyler receiving the news of President William H. Harrison 's death from Chief Clerk of the State Department Fletcher Webster . In Case of the Removal of the President from Office , or of his Death , Resignation , or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office , the Same shall devolve on the Vice President , and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal , Death , Resignation or Inability , both of the President and Vice President , declaring what Officer shall then act as President , and such Officer shall act accordingly , until the Disability be removed , or a President shall be elected . ( Note : This clause was partially superseded by the 25th Amendment in 1967 . ) The wording of this clause caused much controversy at the time it was first used . When William Henry Harrison died in office , a debate arose over whether the Vice President would become President , or if he would just inherit the powers , thus becoming an Acting President . Harrison 's Vice President , John Tyler , believed that he had the right to become President . However , many Senators argued that he only had the right to assume the powers of the presidency long enough to call for a new election . Because the wording of the clause is so vague , it was impossible for either side to prove its point . Tyler took the Oath of Office as President , setting a precedent that made it possible for later Vice Presidents to ascend to the presidency unchallenged following the President 's death . The `` Tyler Precedent '' established that if the President dies , resigns or is removed from office , the Vice President becomes President . The Congress may provide for a line of succession beyond the Vice President . The current Presidential Succession Act establishes the order as the Speaker of the House of Representatives , the President pro tempore of the Senate and then the fifteen Cabinet Secretaries in order of that Department 's establishment . There are concerns regarding the constitutionality of having members of Congress in the line of succession , however , as this clause specifies that only an `` officer of the United States '' may be designated as a presidential successor . Constitutional scholars from James Madison to the present day have argued that the term `` officer '' excludes members of Congress . The 25th Amendment explicitly states that if the President dies , resigns or is removed from office , the Vice President becomes President , and also establishes a procedure for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President . The Amendment further provides that the President , or the Vice President and Cabinet , can declare the President unable to discharge his duties , in which case the Vice President becomes Acting President . If the declaration is done by the Vice President and Cabinet , the Amendment permits the President to take control back , unless the Vice President and Cabinet challenge the President and two - thirds of both Houses vote to sustain the findings of the Vice President and Cabinet . If the declaration is done by the President , he may take control back without risk of being overridden by the Congress . Clause 7 : salary ( edit ) `` Domestic Emoluments Clause '' redirects here . For other uses , see Emoluments Clause . The President shall , at stated Times , receive for his Services , a Compensation , which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected , and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States , or any of them . The President 's salary , currently $400,000 a year , must remain constant throughout the President 's term . The President may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government . Clause 8 : oath or Affirmation ( edit ) President Barack Obama being administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts for the second time at his first inauguration , on January 21 , 2009 . Further information : Oath of office of the President of the United States Before he enters the Execution of his Office , he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation : -- `` I do solemnly swear ( or affirm ) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States , and will to the best of my Ability , preserve , protect and defend the Constitution of the United States . '' According to the Joint Congressional Committee on Presidential Inaugurations , George Washington added the words `` So help me God '' during his first inaugural , though this has been disputed . There are no contemporaneous sources for this fact , and no eyewitness sources to Washington 's first inaugural mention the phrase at all -- including those that transcribed what he said for his oath . Also , the President - elect 's name is typically added after the `` I '' , for example , `` I , George Washington , do ... '' Normally , the Chief Justice of the United States administers the oath . It is sometimes asserted that the oath bestows upon the President the power to do whatever is necessary to `` preserve , protect and defend the Constitution . '' Andrew Jackson , while vetoing an Act for the renewal of the charter of the national bank , implied that the President could refuse to execute statutes that he felt were unconstitutional . In suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus , President Abraham Lincoln claimed that he acted according to the oath . His action was challenged in court and overturned by the U.S. Circuit Court in Maryland ( led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ) in Ex Parte Merryman , 17 F. Cas. 144 ( C.C.D. Md. 1861 ) . Lincoln ignored Taney 's order . Finally , Andrew Johnson 's counsel referred to the theory during his impeachment trial . Otherwise , few have seriously asserted that the oath augments the President 's powers . The Vice President also has an oath of office , but it is not mandated by the Constitution and is prescribed by statute . Currently , the Vice Presidential oath is the same as that for Members of Congress . I do solemnly swear ( or affirm ) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies , foreign and domestic ; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same ; that I take this obligation freely , without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion ; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter . So help me God . Section 2 : Presidential powers ( edit ) In the landmark decision Nixon v. General Services Administration , Justice William Rehnquist , afterwards the Chief Justice , declared in his dissent the need to `` fully describe the preeminent position that the President of the United States occupies with respect to our Republic . Suffice it to say that the President is made the sole repository of the executive powers of the United States , and the powers entrusted to him as well as the duties imposed upon him are indeed a powerful and incredible responsibility but as well as a great honor . '' Clause 1 : command of military ; opinions of Cabinet Secretaries ; Pardons ( edit ) President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Commander in Chief , with his military subordinates during World War II . Left to right : General Douglas MacArthur , President Franklin Roosevelt , Admiral William D. Leahy , Admiral Chester W. Nimitz . The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States , and of the Militia of the several States , when called into the actual Service of the United States ; he may require the Opinion , in writing , of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments , upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices , and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States , except in Cases of Impeachment . The Constitution vests the President with Executive Power . That power reaches its zenith when wielded to protect national security . And federal courts in the United States must pay proper deference to the Executive in assessing the threats that face the nation . The President is the military 's commander - in - chief ; however Article One gives Congress and not the President the exclusive right to declare war . Nevertheless , the power of the president to initiate hostilities has been subject to question . According to historian Thomas Woods , `` Ever since the Korean War , Article II , Section 2 ( ... ) has been interpreted ' The president has the power to initiate hostilities without consulting Congress ' ( ... ) But what the framers actually meant by that clause was that once war has been declared , it was the President 's responsibility as commander - in - chief to direct the war . Alexander Hamilton spoke in such terms when he said that the president , although lacking the power to declare war , would have `` the direction of war when authorized or begun . '' The president acting alone was authorized only to repel sudden attacks ( hence the decision to withhold from him only the power to `` declare '' war , not to `` make '' war , which was thought to be a necessary emergency power in case of foreign attack ) . Since World War II , every major military action has been technically a U.S. military operation or a U.N. `` police action '' , which are deemed legally legitimate by Congress , and various United Nations Resolutions because of decisions such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution or the Resolution of The Congress Providing Authorization for Use of Force In Iraq . The President may require the `` principal officer '' of any executive department to tender his advice in writing . While the Constitution nowhere requires a formal Cabinet , it does authorize the president to seek advice from the principal officers of the various departments as he ( or she ) performs their official duties . George Washington found it prudent to organize his principal officers into a Cabinet , and it has been part of the executive branch structure ever since . Presidents have used Cabinet meetings of selected principal officers but to widely differing extents and for different purposes . Secretary of State William H. Seward advocated the use of a parliamentary - style Cabinet government to President Abraham Lincoln , but was rebuffed . Later , Woodrow Wilson advocated use of a parliamentary - style Cabinet while he was a professor , but as President he would have none of it in his administration . In recent administrations , cabinets have grown to include key White House staff in addition to department and agency heads . President Ronald Reagan formed seven subcabinet councils to review many policy issues , and subsequent Presidents have followed that practice . The President , furthermore , may grant pardon or reprieves , except in cases of impeachment . Originally , as ruled by the Supreme Court in United States v. Wilson ( 1833 ) , the pardon could be rejected by the convict . In Biddle v. Perovich 274 U.S. 480 ( 1927 ) , the Supreme Court reversed the doctrine , ruling that `` ( a ) pardon in our days is not a private act of grace from an individual happening to possess power . It is a part of the Constitutional scheme . When granted it is the determination of the ultimate authority that the public welfare will be better served by inflicting less than what the judgment fixed . '' Clause 2 : advice and consent Clause ( edit ) The President exercises the powers in the Advice and Consent Clause with the advice and consent of the Senate . He shall have Power , by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate , to make Treaties , provided two thirds of the Senators present concur ; and he shall nominate , and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate , shall appoint Ambassadors , other public Ministers and Consuls , Judges of the supreme Court , and all other Officers of the United States , whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for , and which shall be established by Law : but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers , as they think proper , in the President alone , in the Courts of Law , or in the Heads of Departments . Treaties ( edit ) Main article : Treaty Clause The President may enter the United States into treaties , but they are not effective until ratified by a two - thirds vote in the Senate . In Article II however , the Constitution is not very explicit about the termination of treaties . The first abrogation of a treaty occurred in 1798 , when Congress passed a law terminating a 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France . In the nineteenth century , several Presidents terminated treaties after Congress passed resolutions requesting the same . In 1854 , however , President Franklin Pierce terminated a treaty with Denmark with the consent of the Senate alone . A Senate committee ruled that it was correct procedure for the President to terminate treaties after being authorized by the Senate alone , and not the entire Congress . President Pierce 's successors , however , returned to the former procedure of obtaining authorization from both Houses . Some Presidents have claimed to themselves the exclusive power of terminating treaties . The first unambiguous case of a President terminating a treaty without authorization , granted prior to or after the termination , occurred when Jimmy Carter terminated a treaty with the Republic of China . For the first time , judicial determination was sought , but the effort proved futile : the Supreme Court could not find a majority agreeing on any particular principle , and therefore instructed the trial court to dismiss the case . Appointments ( edit ) Main article : Appointments Clause The President may also appoint judges , ambassadors , consuls , ministers and other officers with the advice and consent of the Senate . By law , however , Congress may allow the President , heads of executive departments , or the courts to appoint inferior officials . The Senate has a long - standing practice of permitting motions to reconsider previous decisions . In 1931 , the Senate granted advice and consent to the President on the appointment of a member of the Federal Power Commission . The officer in question was sworn in , but the Senate , under the guise of a motion to reconsider , rescinded the advice and consent . In the writ of quo warranto proceedings that followed , the Supreme Court ruled that the Senate was not permitted to rescind advice and consent after the officer had been installed . After the Senate grants advice and consent , however , the President is under no compulsion to commission the officer . It has not been settled whether the President has the prerogative to withhold a commission after having signed it . This issue played a large part in the famous court case Marbury v. Madison . At times the President has asserted the power to remove individuals from office . Congress has often explicitly limited the President 's power to remove ; during the Reconstruction Era , Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act , purportedly preventing Andrew Johnson from removing , without the advice and consent of the Senate , anyone appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate . President Johnson ignored the Act , and was later impeached and acquitted . The constitutionality of the Act was not immediately settled . In Myers v. United States , the Supreme Court held that Congress could not limit the President 's power to remove an executive officer ( the Postmaster General ) , but in Humphrey 's Executor v. United States , it upheld Congress 's authority to restrict the President 's power to remove officers of the Federal Trade Commission , an `` administrative body ( that ) can not in any proper sense be characterized as an arm or an eye of the executive . '' Congress may repeal the legislation that authorizes the appointment of an executive officer . But it `` can not reserve for itself the power of an officer charged with the execution of the laws except by impeachment . '' Congress has from time to time changed the number of justices in the Supreme Court . Clause 3 : recess appointments ( edit ) President George W. Bush announcing the August 1 , 2005 recess appointment of John R. Bolton as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on . Main article : Recess appointment The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate , by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session . During recesses of the Senate , the President may appoint officers , but their commissions expire at the conclusion of the Senate 's next session . Section 3 : Presidential responsibilities ( edit ) He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union , and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may , on extraordinary Occasions , convene both Houses , or either of them , and in Case of Disagreement between them , with Respect to the Time of Adjournment , he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers ; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed , and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States . Clause 1 : State of the Union ( edit ) 2011 State of the Union Address given by former President Barack Obama The President must give the Congress information on the `` State of the Union '' `` from time to time . '' This is called the State of the Union Clause . Originally , Presidents personally delivered annual addresses to Congress . Thomas Jefferson , who felt that the procedure resembled the speech from the throne delivered by British monarchs , chose instead to send written messages to Congress for reading by clerks . Jefferson 's procedure was followed by future Presidents until Woodrow Wilson reverted to the former procedure of personally addressing Congress , which has continued to this day . Kesavan and Sidak explain the purpose of the State of the Union clause : The State of the Union Clause imposes an executive duty on the President . That duty must be discharged periodically . The President 's assessment of the State of the Union must be publicized to Congress , and thus to the nation . The publication of the President 's assessment conveys information to Congress - information uniquely gleaned from the President 's perspective in his various roles as Commander - in - Chief , chief law enforcer , negotiator with foreign powers , and the like - that shall aid the legislature in public deliberation on matters that may justify the enactment of legislation because of their national importance . Clause 2 : making recommendations to Congress ( edit ) The president has the power and duty to recommend , for the consideration of Congress , such measures which the president deems as `` necessary and expedient '' . At his inauguration George Washington declared in his Inaugural Address : `` By the article establishing the executive department it is made the duty of the President ' to recommend to your consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient . ' '' This is the Recommendation Clause . Kesavan and Sidak explain the purpose of the Recommendation clause : The Recommendation Clause also imposes an executive duty on the President . His recommendations respect the equal dignity of Congress and thus embody the anti-royalty sentiment that ignited the American Revolution and subsequently stripped the trappings of monarchy away from the new chief executive . Through his recommendations to Congress , the President speaks collectively for the People as they petition Government for a redress of grievances , and thus his recommendations embody popular sovereignty . The President tailors his recommendations so that their natural implication is the enactment of new legislation , rather than some other action that Congress might undertake . Finally , the President shall have executive discretion to recommend measures of his choosing . Sidak explained that there is a connection between the Recommendation clause and the Petition Clause of the 1st Amendment : `` Through his performance of the duty to recommend measures to Congress , the President functions as the agent of a diffuse electorate who seek the redress of grievances . To muzzle the President , therefore , is to diminish the effectiveness of this right expressly reserved to the people under the first amendment . '' Kesavan and Sidak also cited a Professor Bybee who stated in this context : `` The Recommendation Clause empowers the President to represent the people before Congress , by recommending measures for the reform of government , for the general welfare , or for the redress of grievances . The Right of Petition Clause prevents Congress from abridging the right of the people to petition for a redress of grievances . '' The Recommendation clause imposes a duty , but its performance rests solely with the President . Congress possesses no power to compel the President to recommend , as he alone is the `` judge '' of what is `` necessary and expedient . '' Unlike the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I , which limits Congress 's discretion to carrying out only its delegated powers , the phrase `` necessary and expedient '' implies a wider range of discretion for the President . Because this is a political question , there has been little judicial involvement with the President 's actions under the clause as long as Presidents have not tried to extend their legislative powers . In Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer ( 1952 ) , the Supreme Court noted that the Recommendations Clause serves as a reminder that the President can not make law by himself : `` The power to recommend legislation , granted to the President , serves only to emphasize that it is his function to recommend and that it is the function of the Congress to legislate . '' The Court made a similar point in striking down the line - item veto in Clinton v. City of New York ( 1998 ) . When President Bill Clinton attempted to shield the records of the President 's Task Force on Health Care Reform as essential to his functions under the Recommendations Clause , a federal circuit court rejected the argument and noted in Ass'n of American Physicians & Surgeons v. Clinton ( 1993 ) : `` ( T ) he Recommendation Clause is less an obligation than a right . The President has the undisputed authority to recommend legislation , but he need not exercise that authority with respect to any particular subject or , for that matter , any subject . '' Clause 3 : calling Congress into extraordinary session ; adjourning Congress ( edit ) To allow the government to act quickly in case of a major domestic or international crisis arising when Congress is not in session , the President is permitted to call extraordinary sessions of one or both Houses of Congress . If the two Houses can not agree on a date for adjournment , the President may adjourn both Houses to such a time as befits the circumstances . The last time this power was exercised was in 1948 , when President Harry S Truman called a special session of Congress . That was the twenty - seventh time in American history that a president convened such a session . Following the widespread adoption of transcontinental air travel in the second half of the twentieth century , Congress began meeting year - round . Since that time , it has always been in session on every occasion when the President might otherwise have perceived the need to call Congress into extraordinary session . Clause 4 : receiving foreign Representatives ( edit ) The President receives all foreign Ambassadors . This clause of the Constitution , known as the Reception Clause , has been interpreted to imply that the President possesses broad power over matters of foreign policy , and to provide support for the President 's exclusive authority to grant recognition to a foreign government . Clause 5 : caring for the Faithful execution of the law ( edit ) The President must `` take care that the laws be faithfully executed . '' This clause in the Constitution imposes a duty on the President to enforce the laws of the United States and is called the Take Care Clause , also known as the Faithful Execution Clause or Faithfully Executed Clause . This clause is meant to ensure that a law is faithfully executed by the President even if he disagrees with the purpose of that law . Addressing the North Carolina ratifying convention , William Maclaine declared that the Faithful Execution Clause was `` one of the ( Constitution 's ) best provisions . '' If the President `` takes care to see the laws faithfully executed , it will be more than is done in any government on the continent ; for I will venture to say that our government , and those of the other states , are , with respect to the execution of the laws , in many respects mere ciphers . '' President George Washington interpreted this clause as imposing on him a unique duty to ensure the execution of federal law . Discussing a tax rebellion , Washington observed , `` it is my duty to see the Laws executed : to permit them to be trampled upon with impunity would be repugnant to ( that duty . ) '' According to former United States Assistant Attorney General Walter E. Dellinger III , the Supreme Court and the Attorneys General have long interpreted the Take Care Clause to mean that the President has no inherent constitutional authority to suspend the enforcement of the laws , particularly of statutes . The Take Care Clause demands that the President obey the law , the Supreme Court said in Humphrey 's Executor v. United States , and repudiates any notion that he may dispense with the law 's execution . In Printz v. United States , the Supreme Court explained how the President executes the law : `` The Constitution does not leave to speculation who is to administer the laws enacted by Congress ; the President , it says , `` shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed , '' Art . II , § 3 , personally and through officers whom he appoints ( save for such inferior officers as Congress may authorize to be appointed by the `` Courts of Law '' or by `` the Heads of Departments '' with other presidential appointees ) , Art . II , § 2 . '' The President may not prevent a member of the executive branch from performing a ministerial duty lawfully imposed upon him by Congress . ( See Marbury v. Madison ( 1803 ) ; and Kendall v. United States ex rel . Stokes ( 1838 ) ) . Nor may the President take an action not authorized either by the Constitution or by a lawful statute . ( See Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer ( 1952 ) ) . Finally , the President may not refuse to enforce a constitutional law , or `` cancel '' certain appropriations , for that would amount to an extra-constitutional veto or suspension power . The President , while having to enforce the law , also possesses wide discretion in deciding how and even when to enforce laws . He also has a range of interpretive discretion in deciding the meaning of laws he must execute . When an appropriation provides discretion , the President can gauge when and how appropriated moneys can be spent most efficiently . Some Presidents have claimed the authority under this clause to impound money appropriated by Congress . President Jefferson , for example , delayed the expenditure of money appropriated for the purchase of gunboats for over a year . President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his successors sometimes refused outright to expend appropriated money . The Supreme Court , however , has held that impoundments without Congressional authorization are unconstitutional . It has been asserted that the President 's responsibility in the `` faithful '' execution of the laws entitles him to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus . Article One provides that the privilege may not be suspended save during times of rebellion or invasion , but it does not specify who may suspend the privilege . The Supreme Court ruled that Congress may suspend the privilege if it deems it necessary . During the American Civil War , President Abraham Lincoln suspended the privilege , but , owing to the vehement opposition he faced , obtained congressional authorization for the same . Since then , the privilege of the writ has only been suspended upon the express authorization of Congress . In Mississippi v. Johnson , 71 U.S. 475 ( 1867 ) , the Supreme Court ruled that the judiciary may not restrain the President in the execution of laws . In that case the Supreme Court refused to entertain a request for an injunction preventing President Andrew Johnson from executing the Reconstruction Acts , which were claimed to be unconstitutional . The Court found that `` ( t ) he Congress is the legislative department of the government ; the President is the executive department . Neither can be restrained in its action by the judicial department ; though the acts of both , when performed , are , in proper cases , subject to its cognizance . '' Thus , the courts can not bar the passage of a law by Congress , though it may later strike down such a law as unconstitutional . A similar construction applies to the executive branch . Clause 6 : officers ' commissions ( edit ) The President commissions `` all the Officers of the United States . '' These include officers in both military and foreign service . ( Under Article I , Section 8 , the States have authority for `` the Appointment of the Officers ... of the ( State ) Militia ... `` ) The presidential authority to commission officers had a large impact on the 1803 case Marbury v. Madison , where outgoing Federalist President John Adams feverishly signed many commissions to the judiciary on his final day in office , hoping to , as incoming Democratic - Republican President Thomas Jefferson put it , `` ( retire ) into the judiciary as a stronghold . '' However , in his haste , Adams ' Secretary of State neglected to have all the commissions delivered . Incoming President Jefferson was enraged with Adams , and ordered his Secretary of State , James Madison , to refrain from delivering the remaining commissions . William Marbury took the matter to the Supreme Court , where the famous Marbury was decided . Section 4 : impeachment ( edit ) Depiction of the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson , in 1868 , Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding . Main article : Impeachment in the United States The President , Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States , shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for , and Conviction of , Treason , Bribery , or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors . The Constitution also allows for involuntary removal from office . The President , Vice-President , Cabinet Secretaries , and other executive officers , as well as judges , may be impeached by the House of Representatives and tried in the Senate . Any official convicted by impeachment is immediately removed from office . The Senate may also choose to bar the removed official from holding any federal office in the future . No other punishments may be inflicted pursuant to the impeachment proceeding , but the convicted party remains liable to trial and punishment in the courts for civil and criminal charges . See also ( edit ) Unitary executive theory References ( edit ) Jump up ^ `` The U.S. Constitution With Declaration of Independence , US Government Printing Office '' ( PDF ) . gpo.gov . Retrieved May 17 , 2017 . Jump up ^ http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp Jump up ^ Prakash , Sai Prakash . `` Essays on Article II : Executive Vesting Clause '' . The Heritage Foundation . ^ Jump up to : `` The Electoral College '' . ncsl.org . Retrieved May 17 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Joint Congressional Committee on Presidential Inaugurations '' . U.S. Senate . Retrieved November 10 , 2006 . Jump up ^ 5 U.S.C. § 3331 Jump up ^ Cf : Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer , 343 U.S. 579 , 637 ( 1952 ) ( Jackson , J. , concurring ) ( `` When the President acts pursuant to an express or implied authorization from Congress , '' his actions are `` supported by the strongest of presumptions and the widest latitude of judicial interpretation , and the burden of persuasion ... rest ( s ) heavily upon any who might attack it . '' ) . Jump up ^ Boumediene v. Bush , 553 U.S. 723 , 797 ( 2008 ) ( `` ( M ) ost federal judges ( do not ) begin the day with briefings that describe new and serious threats to our Nation and its people . '' ) . Jump up ^ Woods , Thomas ( July 7 , 2005 ) Presidential War Powers , LewRockwell.com Jump up ^ Woods , Thomas ( 2013 ) . `` Presidential War Powers : The Constitutional Answer '' . Liberty Classrooom . Retrieved September 6 , 2013 . Jump up ^ Gaziano , Todd . `` Essays on Article II : Opinion Clause '' . The Heritage Foundation . Jump up ^ Biddle , at 486 Jump up ^ United States Senate . `` Treaties '' . senate.gov . Jump up ^ United States Library of Congress ( February 15 , 2011 ) . `` Primary Documents in American History Treaty of Alliance with France '' . loc.gov . Jump up ^ John H. Haswell , University of Minnesota ; United States Department of State ( 2010 ) . Treaties and Conventions Concluded Between the United States of America Since July 4 , 1776 . google.books.com . pp. 1,232 . Jump up ^ Goldwater v. Carter , 444 U.S. 996 ( 1979 ) Jump up ^ Myers v. United States , 272 U.S. 52 ( 1926 ) . Jump up ^ Humphrey 's Executor v. United States , 295 U.S. 602 , 628 ( 1935 ) . This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document . Jump up ^ Bowsher v. Synar , 478 U.S. 714 ( 1986 ) ^ Jump up to : Vasan Kesavan and J. Gregory Sidak ( 2002 ) . `` The Legislator - In - Chief '' . William and Mary Law Review . 44 ( 1 ) . Retrieved June 28 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Sidak , Gregory ( August 1989 ) . `` The Recommendation Clause '' . Georgetown Law Journal . 77 ( 6 ) : 2079 -- 2135 . SSRN 296114 . ^ Jump up to : Kesavan , Vasan . `` The Heritage Guide to the Constitution : Recommendations Clause '' . The Heritage Foundation . Retrieved October 27 , 2012 . Jump up ^ U.S. Senate Turnip Day Session ( January 5 , 2011 ) . Jump up ^ United States v. Curtiss - Wright Export Corp. , 299 U.S. 304 ( 1936 ) , characterized the President as the `` sole organ of the nation in its external relations , '' an interpretation criticized by Louis Fisher of the Library of Congress . Jump up ^ Zivotofsky v. Kerry , 576 U.S. ___ ( 2015 ) . Jump up ^ `` Article II , Section 3 , U.S. Constitution '' . law.cornell.edu . Legal Information Institute . 2012 . Retrieved August 7 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : `` Take Care Clause Law & Legal Definition '' . USLegal.com . Retrieved July 5 , 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Take Care Clause . `` Take Care Clause '' . The Heritage Guide to the Constitution . The Heritage Foundation . Retrieved October 12 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Prepared by Devotion Garner . Updated by Cheryl Nyberg . `` Popular Names of Constitutional Provisions '' . Gallagher Library of the University of Washington School of Law . Retrieved November 23 , 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Chapter 12 - The Presidency Flashcards '' . Flashcard Machine . January 16 , 2012 . Retrieved July 5 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Walter E. Dellinger III ( September 7 , 1995 ) . `` CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN BINDING ARBITRATION '' . United States Department of Justice . Retrieved July 5 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Kinkopf , Neil ( September -- October 2005 ) . `` FURIOUS GEORGE - The belligerence of the Bush Administration in pursuing expansive power has a long Republican pedigree '' . Legal Affairs - The magazine at the intersection of Law and Life . Retrieved July 5 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Printz v. United States , 521 U.S. 898 , 922 ( 1997 ) . This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document . Jump up ^ Sai Prakash . `` Take Care Clause '' . The Heritage Guide to the Constitution . The Heritage Foundation . Retrieved August 27 , 2012 . Jump up ^ Johnson , at 500 Jump up ^ An example of this is Alcee Hastings who was removed from a federal judgeship , but was not barred from serving in another federal office . He was later elected to , and currently serves in , the House of Representatives . Jump up ^ Cf . Ritter v. United States , 677 F. 2d 957 ( 2d . Cir. 19 ) 84 Ct . Cl. 293 , 300 ( Ct . Cl. 1936 ) ( `` While the Senate in one sense acts as a court on the trial of an impeachment , it is essentially a political body and in its actions is influenced by the views of its members on the public welfare . '' ) ; STAFF OF H. COMM . ON THE JUDICIARY , 93D CONG. , CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT 24 ( Comm . Print 1974 ) ( `` The purpose of impeachment is not personal punishment ; its function is primarily to maintain constitutional government . '' ) ( citation omitted ) , reprinted in 3 LEWIS DESCHLER , DESCHLER 'S PRECEDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , H.R. DOC . NO . 94 ‒ 661 ch. 14 , app . at 2269 ( 1977 ) . External links ( edit ) Kilman , Johnny and George Costello ( Eds ) . ( 2000 ) . The Constitution of the United States of America : Analysis and Interpretation . CRS Annotated Constitution : Article 2 Mount , Steve . ( 2003 ) . `` Presidential Pardons . '' ( hide ) United States Constitution Articles Preamble II III IV V VI VII Amendments Ratified Bill of Rights 5 6 7 8 9 10 Others 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pending Congressional Apportionment Titles of Nobility Corwin Amendment Child Labor Repealed Eighteenth Amendment Unsuccessful Equal Rights District of Columbia Voting Rights List of Amendments Bill of Rights ( Amendments 1 -- 10 ) Reconstruction Amendments ( Amendments 13 -- 15 ) Amendment proposals in Congress Convention to propose amendments State ratifying conventions Formation History Articles of Confederation Mount Vernon Conference Annapolis Convention Philadelphia Convention Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Connecticut Compromise Three - Fifths Compromise Committee of Detail Signing Independence Hall Syng inkstand The Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers Massachusetts Compromise Virginia Ratifying Convention Hillsborough Convention Rhode Island ratification Drafting and ratification timeline Clauses Appointments Appropriations Assistance of Counsel Bills of credit Case or Controversy Citizenship Commerce Compact Compulsory Process Confrontation Congressional enforcement Contract Copyright and Patent Double Jeopardy Due Process Equal Protection Establishment Exceptions Excessive Bail Ex post facto Extradition Free Exercise Free Speech Fugitive Slave Full Faith and Credit General Welfare Guarantee Impeachment Import - Export Ineligibility Militia Natural - born citizen Necessary and Proper New States No Religious Test Oath or Affirmation Origination Petition Postal Presentment Privileges and Immunities Privileges or Immunities Recess appointment Recommendation Self - Incrimination Speech or Debate Speedy Trial State of the Union Supremacy Suspension Take Care Takings Taxing and Spending Territorial Title of Nobility Treaty Trial by Jury Vesting Vicinage War Powers List of clauses Interpretation Concurrent powers Constitutional law Criminal procedure Criminal sentencing Dormant Commerce Clause Enumerated powers Equal footing Executive privilege Incorporation of the Bill of Rights Judicial review Nondelegation doctrine Preemption Saxbe fix Separation of church and state Separation of powers Taxation power Unitary executive theory Display and legacy National Archives Charters of Freedom Rotunda Independence Mall Constitution Day Constitution Gardens National Constitution Center Scene at the Signing of the Constitution ( painting ) A More Perfect Union ( film ) Worldwide influence US Government Portal Law Portal Wikipedia book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution&oldid=838110353 '' Categories : Articles of the United States Constitution Article Two of the United States Constitution Executive branch of the United States government Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles incorporating text from public domain works of the United States Government Articles needing additional references from November 2013 All articles needing additional references Use mdy dates from September 2017 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2008 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from February 2008 Talk Article Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español فارسی Français Русский Simple English 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 April 2018 , at 00 : 18 . 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Question: where in the constitution is the executive branch referenced


Vikings ( season 5 ) - wikipedia Vikings ( season 5 ) Jump to : navigation , search Vikings ( season 5 ) DVD cover art for the season 's first half Country of origin Canada / Ireland No. of episodes 10 Release Original network History Original release Part 1 : November 29 , 2017 ( 2017 - 11 - 29 ) -- January 24 , 2018 ( 2018 - 01 - 24 ) Season chronology ← Previous Season 4 List of Vikings episodes The fifth season of the historical drama television series Vikings premiered on November 29 , 2017 on History in Canada . The series broadly follows the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his crew , and later those of his sons . The first season of the series begins at the start of the Viking Age , marked by the Lindisfarne raid in 793 . The fifth season consists of a double order of twenty episodes , split into two parts of ten episodes ; the second half will premiere in 2018 . The premise of the fifth season differs from the previous four after the departure of Travis Fimmel as Ragnar , and it now follows the adventures of his sons . Jonathan Rhys Meyers is introduced as a major character , after his initial appearance in the fourth season 's finale . Contents ( hide ) 1 Cast 1.1 Main 1.2 Recurring 1.3 Guest 2 Episodes 3 Production 3.1 Development 3.2 Casting 3.3 Music 4 Reception 4.1 Critical response 5 Historical inaccuracies 6 References 7 External links Cast ( edit ) Main article : List of Vikings characters Main ( edit ) Katheryn Winnick as Queen Lagertha , a shieldmaiden and Ragnar 's ex-wife ; she is the queen of Kattegat . Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki , a gifted shipbuilder Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn Ironside , Ragnar and Lagertha 's son and Torvi 's husband John Kavanagh as The Seer , the seiðrmann of Kattegat Peter Franzén as King Harald Finehair , a Viking ambitious to become the first King of Norway Jasper Pääkkönen as Halfdan the Black , Harald 's violent younger brother Moe Dunford as King Aethelwulf of Wessex Alex Høgh as Ivar the Boneless , fourth son of Ragnar and Aslaug Marco Ilsø as Hvitserk , second son of Ragnar and Aslaug Jordan Patrick Smith as Ubbe , eldest son of Ragnar and Aslaug Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Bishop Heahmund , a very religious warrior priest Main characters Sigurd , King Ecbert and Athelstan , who all died in previous seasons , briefly appear in `` The Departed '' played by body doubles . Additionally , George Blagden 's voice as Athelstan is heard in `` Full Moon '' , although the actor is uncredited . Recurring ( edit ) Josefin Asplund as Queen Astrid , Lagertha 's lover and , later , King Harald 's wife Ida Marie Nielsen as Margrethe , wife of Ubbe Ferdia Walsh - Peelo as Prince / King Alfred , Queen Judith and Athelstan 's son Georgia Hirst as Torvi , wife of Bjorn and Lagertha 's advisor Jennie Jacques as Queen Judith of Northumbria , daughter of King Aelle , wedded to King Aethelwulf Jonathan Delaney Tynan as Lord Cuthred , a nobleman in service of King Aethelwulf and Bishop Heahmund Keith McErlean as Lord Denewulf , a nobleman in service of Bishop Heahmund Darren Cahill as Prince Aethelred , Queen Judith and King Aethelwulf 's son Ben Roe as Guthrum , Jarl Borg and Torvi 's son Kieran O'Reilly as `` White Hair '' , Ivar 's bodyguard Frankie McCafferty as Sindric , a polyglot drifter Albano Jerónimo as Euphemius , a Byzantine commander Karima McAdams as Kassia , a Byzantine abbess Paul Reid as Mannel , Queen Judith 's cousin Khaled Abol Naga as Emir Ziyadat Allah , an Arab ruler Adam Copeland as Kjetill Flatnose ( / ʃjetil / ) , a violent and bold warrior who joins Floki 's expedition to set up a colony Kris Holden - Ried as Eyvind ( / eɪvɪnd / ) , a Viking of Kattegat who also joins Floki 's expedition Leah McNamara as Aud the Deep - Minded ( / eɪθ / ) , Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild 's daughter Jack McEvoy as Helgi the Lean , Eyvind and Rafarta 's son , who also joins Floki 's expedition Mei Bignall as Thorunn , Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild 's daughter and Helgi 's wife , who also joins Floki 's expedition Kelly Campbell as Ingvild , Kjetill Flatnose 's wife , who also joins Floki 's expedition James Craze as Bul , Eyvind and Rafarta 's son , who also joins Floki 's expedition Elijah Rowen as Asbjorn , who also joins Floki 's expedition Donna Dent as Rafarta , Eyvind 's wife , who also joins Floki 's expedition Rob Malone as Thorgrim , Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild 's son , who also joins Floki 's expedition Scott Graham as Frodi , who also joins Floki 's expedition Tallulah Belle Earley as Jorunn , Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild 's daughter , who also joins Floki 's expedition Ryan Henson as Hali , who also joins Floki 's expedition Svea Killoran as Asa , who also joins Floki 's expedition Anthony Brophy as King Svase , a Sami chief and an ally of Lagertha Dagny Backer Johnsen as Princess Snaefrid , Svase 's daughter Guest ( edit ) India Mullen as Aethegyth , a noblewoman from Wessex Frank Prendergast as Bishop Cynebert of York Laurence O'Fuarain as Hakon , a whale hunter of Vestfold Bosco Hogan as Lord Abbot of Lindisfarne Mabel Hurley as young Lagertha , appearing in a flashback Ross Matthew Anderson as Lagertha 's father , appearing in a flashback Clive Standen as Duke Rollo , a warrior and Ragnar 's brother ; he was granted the title of Duke of Normandy by Emperor Charles . Episodes ( edit ) See also : List of Vikings episodes No . overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original air date Part 1 50 51 `` The Departed '' David Wellington Michael Hirst November 29 , 2017 ( 2017 - 11 - 29 ) After Sigurd 's death , Ubbe , Ivar and Hvitserk rule jointly over their newly acquired land in East Anglia . Bjorn and Halfdan sail back to the Mediterranean Sea ; Floki sets sail for the unknown ; King Harald heads back to Kattegat . Meanwhile , Bishop Heahmund arrives at King Ecbert 's villa , celebrates the late sovereign 's funeral , and begins rebuilding the place . Aethelwulf and Judith are in exile with princes Aethelred and Alfred , the latter struck by sickness . Ivar persuades his brothers to go north and conquer the city of York . In Kattegat , Lagertha suggests that Harald was expecting to find Egil in her place , so he could take over the kingdom . Harald confesses and dares that she kill him . After days at sea , Floki finally reaches land , which he believes to be Asgard , the land of the Gods . In Kattegat , Harald is held prisoner by Lagertha . He proposes an alliance with her through marriage , but she refuses and has sex with him while he remained tied up . Harald 's men free him and capture Astrid ; they leave Kattegat and Harald offers Astrid the same proposition that he had to Lagertha . Prince Alfred has a vision in which Athelstan tells him the Vikings are in York , so King Aethelwulf joins forces with Bishop Heahmund . In York , Ivar shows his brothers that he can now stand and walk on his own feet with the help of new leg braces and a crutch . 52 `` Homeland '' Steve Saint Leger Michael Hirst December 6 , 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 06 ) Floki explores the new land he has encountered . In Norway , Astrid tempts Harald with the possibility of her alliance , whilst resisting his sexual advances . In the Mediterranean , Sindric advises Bjorn to arrive as a trader , with a few ships , and not as a warrior in command of an entire fleet . In England , the Saxons led by King Aethelwulf and Bishop Heahmund attack York , but are led into a trap . Aethelwulf 's son Aethelred is wounded and the Saxons are forced to retreat . Ubbe and Hvitserk propose a peace , but Ivar wants to continue the war . Aethelwulf seemingly accepts their offer , but Heahmund arranges to have the brothers humiliated . With Ubbe having lost face , Ivar secures his position as the leader of the Great Army . Ubbe and Hvitserk prepare to leave for Kattegat with their few followers ; however , at the last minute , Hvitserk defects to join Ivar . 53 `` The Plan '' Steve Saint Leger Michael Hirst December 13 , 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 13 ) Bjorn reaches Sicily , and agrees to act as bodyguard to its commander Euphemius . However , Sindric discovers that Euphemius is merely a client of the Arab Emir Ziyadat Allah , and Bjorn asks to visit him . Euphemius refuses but is persuaded to agree by Kassia , a famous nun , and they set sail for Kairouan in Africa . Meanwhile , in Kattegat , Ubbe agrees to ally with Lagertha against both Ivar and Harald . In Vestfold , Astrid finally agrees to Harald 's proposal , and they are married . Floki asks the gods for permission to bring settlers to his new land and prepares to sail . Outside York , the Saxons are joined by Judith 's cousin Mannel and his men from Northumbria . Heahmund persuades Aethelwulf to lay siege , and attack only when the Vikings are starving . Inside York , the Vikings pretend to burn bodies , and Ivar humiliates Hvitserk by not sharing his plan . Aethelwulf and Heahmund see the smoke from the fires and enter the apparently deserted city ; Heahmund is concerned that there are rats above ground . 54 5 `` The Prisoner '' Ciarán Donnelly Michael Hirst December 20 , 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 20 ) In York , Saxon celebrations are cut short when Vikings appear from the sewers and engage in battle . Heahmund is surrounded , but spared by Ivar , and captured . The Vikings retake and garrison the city , as the Saxons retreat . Ivar and Hvitserk sail for Kattegat , taking Heahmund with them . In Africa , Bjorn travels by caravan across the desert to meet Emir Ziyadat Allah , who welcomes him and offers to trade . Euphemius disappears and , at a banquet , the Emir explains that he had defected to support the Emperor and has now been captured and executed . The Vikings realise that Euphemius is the meal they are eating and that Kassia is more powerful than she seems . Bjorn , Halfdan and Sindric are arrested and are about to be executed as a sandstorm approaches . Meanwhile , Floki returns to Kattegat with tales of his fabulous new land and recruits settlers to return , despite Lagertha forbidding him from taking her warriors away . 55 6 `` The Message '' Ciarán Donnelly Michael Hirst December 27 , 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 27 ) Floki and the settlers prepare for their voyage but are betrayed to Lagertha , who is angry but lets them sail . On reaching the new land , the settlers discover that it is not as fertile as Floki had told them . Margrethe is vexed with Lagertha 's poor leadership ; the Queen threatens to enslave her again if she continues to plot against her . In England , the Saxons have retreated ; Alfred swears at Ecbert 's grave to pursue the former King 's vision of uniting the country . After collapsing during mass , Alfred recovers and decides to make a pilgrimage to Lindisfarne . Ivar returns to meet Harald , and makes an alliance with him ; they plan to attack Kattegat in two months ' time . Ivar threatens and persuades Heahmund to fight with them . Astrid betrays Harald by bribing Hakon , a fisherman , to warn Lagertha . She is blackmailed and raped by the crew , spied by a young boy . Hakon delivers the warning . Meanwhile , in Africa , Bjorn manages to escape during the sandstorm . With Halfdan and Sindric , he sails back to Kattegat . 56 7 `` Full Moon '' Jeff Woolnough Michael Hirst January 3 , 2018 ( 2018 - 01 - 03 ) Alfred reaches Lindisfarne , in search of the memory of his father , and hears his voice as he prays . Floki and the settlers begin creating a settlement near hot springs in their new land . Floki proposes a co-operative , democratic approach , but Eyvind does not trust him and accuses Floki of wanting to be King . Astrid tells Harald that she is pregnant , while Ivar and Heahmund discuss their plan of attack . Bjorn returns to Kattegat , where Lagertha has allied with King Svase of the Sami . Bjorn rejects Torvi and proposes to marry Snaefrid , Svase 's daughter . Lagertha and her allies discuss how to respond to Ivar 's attack , and decide to meet him in battle on land , assuming that he will not attack the town from the sea . Margrethe continues to urge Ubbe to betray Lagertha , so that when she is defeated , he can become King . 57 8 `` The Joke '' Jeff Woolnough Michael Hirst January 10 , 2018 ( 2018 - 01 - 10 ) Alfred returns from Lindisfarne , and argues that the Saxons must build a navy as the only way to stop further Viking incursions . In the new land , Floki proposes building a temple to Thor , but is opposed by Eyvind who warns that they all will starve come winter . Meanwhile , the armies of Lagertha , Bjorn and Ubbe , and of Harald , Ivar and Hvitserk , meet above Kattegat . Lagertha proposes peace talks , but Harald , then Ivar , reject a settlement . Before battle , Ivar takes Astrid and a third of their army towards shore , to protect their fleet . Hvitserk and his group try to flank , but are ambushed in the forest by the Sami . Battle begins , and Bjorn and Lagertha gain the upper hand , as Harald 's forces are outflanked . Ivar hears the fighting , but says it is too late to help . Heahmund is wounded , and Harald retreats . Lagertha refuses to kill Heahmund and orders that his life be saved . 58 9 `` A Simple Story '' Daniel Grou Michael Hirst January 17 , 2018 ( 2018 - 01 - 17 ) In the aftermath of the battle , Heahmund recovers , makes advances and pledges loyalty to Lagertha . Hvitserk secures reinforcements from Rollo , on condition that Bjorn 's life is spared . Bjorn seeks peace with Ivar and Harald , but is rejected ; Ivar moves to have him killed but is stopped by Harald . Ubbe , regretting marrying Margrethe , seeks solace with Torvi and the two have an affair . In Wessex , Aethelwulf dies and Judith persuades Aethelred to reject the throne and instead propose to the Witan that Alfred become king . In Floki 's colony , Thor 's temple is completed , but set afire and destroyed . Thorgrim , Kjetill 's son , accuses Bul , Eyvind 's son , of the arson . In the ensuing struggle , Thorgrim stabs Bul to death . 59 10 `` Moments of Vision '' Daniel Grou Michael Hirst January 24 , 2018 ( 2018 - 01 - 24 ) In Floki 's colony , Floki urges Eyvind to not seek revenge for Bul 's death , offering to make him lawgiver , in exchange for not starting a blood feud . When Thorgrim is found dead , Floki proposes that he be sacrificed to the gods . In Kattegat , Margrethe meets the Seer and reveals her ambitions to become queen . The Seer calls her mad and predicts that she will never be queen of Kattegat . The army of Lagertha faces those of Ivar and Harald . As they do battle , Hvitserk remembers Ivar accusing him of regret for his defection . Hvitserk faces Ubbe on the battlefield , but Ubbe is unable to hurt his brother . Hvitserk kills Guthrum , while Svase and Snaefrid are killed by Harald 's warriors . Astrid finds Lagertha and asks her to kill her , fearing her pregnancy . Lagertha reluctantly complies . Harald kills his brother Halfdan . As Ivar orders the Frankish reserves onto the field , Lagertha and Bjorn retreat . As Bjorn prepares to leave Kattegat , he finds Lagertha broken with her hair turned white . Across the fjord , Rollo arrives . Notes Jump up ^ The first two episodes aired together on History as a two - hour premiere , `` The Departed '' , but were released separately on streaming services and in digital stores , with the first part titled `` The Fisher King '' and the second `` The Departed '' . Production ( edit ) Development ( edit ) An Irish - Canadian co-production presented by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer , the fifth season of Vikings was developed and produced by TM Productions and Take 5 Productions . Morgan O'Sullivan , Sheila Hockin , Sherry Marsh , Alan Gasmer , James Flynn , John Weber , and Michael Hirst are credited as executive producers . This season was produced by Keith Thompson for the first four episodes , and Liz Gill for the fifth to tenth episodes . Bill Goddard and Séamus McInerney act as co-producers . The production team for this season includes casting directors Frank and Nuala Moiselle , costume designer Susan O'Connor Cave , visual effects supervisor Dominic Remane , stunt action designer Richard Ryan , composer Trevor Morris , production designer Mark Geraghty , editors Aaron Marshall for the first , third , fifth and tenth episodes , Tad Seaborn for the second , fourth , sixth and eighth episodes , and Michele Conroy for the seventh and ninth episodes , and cinematographers Pj Dillon for the first and second episodes , Peter Robertson for the third , fourth , seventh , eighth , ninth and tenth episodes , and Suzie Lavelle for the fifth and sixth episodes . Casting ( edit ) At the same time that the series was renewed for a fifth season , it was announced that Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers would be joining the cast , as Heahmund , a `` warrior bishop '' . Vikings creator Michael Hirst , explained : `` I was looking at the history books , and I came across these warrior bishops . The antecedents of the Knights Templar : these are people who were absolutely religious , yet they put on armor and they fought . Do n't let their priestly status fool you , either . They were crazy ! They believed totally in Christianity and the message , and yet , on the battlefield , they were totally berserk . '' Former WWE star Adam Copeland was cast in a recurring role for the fifth season , as Kjetill Flatnose , a violent and bold warrior . He is chosen by Floki to join an expedition to set up a colony in a new land . Irish actor Darren Cahill will play the role of Aethelred in the fifth season . Nigerian actor Stanley Amuzie told local media he had landed a small role in the fifth season . The fifth season will also include Irish actor , musician and real - life police detective , Kieran O'Reilly , who will play the role of `` White Hair '' . In April 2017 it was announced that Danish actor Erik Madsen will join the cast for the fifth season , as King Hemmig . He spent several months of 2016 on the set of The Last Kingdom , portraying a Viking . Music ( edit ) The musical score for the fifth season was composed by Trevor Morris in collaboration with Einar Selvik . The opening sequence is again accompanied by the song `` If I Had a Heart '' by Fever Ray . Additional non-original music by Norwegian music group Wardruna is featured in the episodes `` The Plan '' and `` A Simple Story '' . The featured tracks are `` MannaR - Drivande '' , `` Løyndomsriss '' , and `` Heimta Thurs '' . The episode `` Homeland '' also features an original song titled `` Skidarima '' , written and performed by Einar Selvik . Reception ( edit ) Critical response ( edit ) The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100 % approval rating , with an average rating of 8.12 / 10 based on nine reviews . IGN awarded episode 10 , Moments of Vision , with a rating of 9 out of 10 . Entertainent Weekly gave the episode an `` A '' . Historical inaccuracies ( edit ) In `` A Simple Story '' , Aethelred is portrayed rejecting the throne in favour of his younger brother Alfred . In history , after the death of Aethelwulf three of Alfred 's elder brothers ruled , for two , five and six years respectively , all dying before Alfred took the throne in 871 . Writing in Forbes Magazine , Erik Kain described the storyline as `` just a huge unforced error '' . References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Greg Evans ( July 22 , 2017 ) . `` ' Vikings ' Gets Trailer & Season Premiere Date -- Comic - Con '' . Deadline . Retrieved July 22 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` History ( R ) Orders 20 Episode Sixth Season of Hit Drama Series `` Vikings '' `` . The Futon Critic . September 12 , 2017 . Retrieved October 14 , 2017 . ^ Jump up to : `` ' Vikings ' Creator Talks Jonathan Rhys Meyers ' New Character '' . 26 January 2017 . Jump up ^ Tsoumbakos , Rachel ( January 10 , 2017 ) . `` ' VIKINGS , ' SEASON 5 : JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS ROLE IS FINALLY REVEALED '' . Inquisitr.com . Retrieved January 12 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` The Departed ( Part 1 ) '' . Vikings . Season 5 . Episode 1 . 29 November 2017 . Event occurs at 1 : 05 and 8 : 05 . History . Jump up ^ `` The Departed ( Part 2 ) '' . Vikings . Season 5 . Episode 2 . 29 November 2017 . Event occurs at 19 : 05 . History . Jump up ^ `` Vikings : Season 5 - Part 1 on Amazon '' . Retrieved December 2 , 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Vikings , Season 5 on iTunes '' . Retrieved December 2 , 2017 . ^ Jump up to : Vikings . Season 5 . November 2017 . Event occurs at 2 : 00 approximately . History . Jump up ^ `` WWE Hall of Famer Adam Copeland on the Edge of TV Stardom '' . Jump up ^ `` ' Red Rock ' actor Darren Cahill joins ' Vikings ' Season 5 '' . The Irish Film & Television Network . Jump up ^ Izuzu , Chidumga . `` Stanley Aguzie : Nollywood actor lands role in `` Vikings '' `` . Pulse.ng . Jump up ^ `` How do we pitch Ireland as a movie location to Hollywood ? '' . Irish Independent . 17 November 2016 . Retrieved 12 December 2016 . Jump up ^ Petski , Denise ( 12 April 2017 ) . `` ' UnReal ' Casts Tracie Thoms ; Erik Madsen Joins ' Vikings ' '' . Jump up ^ NRK . `` Erik Madsen i ny høvdingrolle i `` Vikings '' `` . Jump up ^ `` Vikings : Season 5 '' . Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 12 , 2017 . Jump up ^ http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/25/vikings-moments-of-vision-review Jump up ^ http://ew.com/recap/vikings-season-5-episode-10/ Jump up ^ Kain , Erik . `` ' Vikings ' Season 5 , Episode 9 Review : ' A Simple ( Convoluted ) Story ' '' . Forbes Magazine . Retrieved 1 February 2018 . External links ( edit ) Official website Vikings on IMDb ( hide ) Vikings Episodes Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 `` All His Angels '' Season 5 Other Characters Awards and nominations Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vikings_(season_5)&oldid=833482299 '' Categories : 2017 Canadian television seasons 2017 Irish television seasons 2018 Canadian television seasons 2018 Irish television seasons Hidden categories : Official website not in Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano Português Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 31 March 2018 , at 20 : 43 . About Wikipedia

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