An officer under the United States is anyone appointed to a Federal office either military or civilian. Elected officials cannot be officers under the United States. Electors are not officers under the United States. That is why Section 3 of Article 14 specifically lists Senators, Representatives and Electors since they are not covered by officers under the United States. President was not considered an Office under the United States (see McKnight 1878) so it is not covered under that part of the section. It is also not mentioned in the rest of the section therefore it cannot apply to the President (or Vice President).
Definition: Officer - One who holds an office of authority or trust in an organization, such as a corporation or government.
Are you sure about this? The word "office" is used throughout the Constitution, especially in Article II.
Article II Section 1Here's more...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...
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...
Before he enter on 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."
Article I Section 3:
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.I think limiting the use of the word "Officer" to only military positions is not the intent of the Constitution.
-PJ