1. **State the problem:** Evaluate the expression $5^2 - (7 - 2 \times 3)$. 2. **Recall order of operations:** Use PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division from left to right, Addition and Subtraction from left to right). 3. **Calculate inside the parentheses:** Calculate $2 \times 3 = 6$. So the expression inside parentheses becomes $7 - 6$. 4. **Simplify parentheses:** $7 - 6 = 1$. Now the expression is $5^2 - 1$. 5. **Calculate the exponent:** $5^2 = 25$. So the expression is $25 - 1$. 6. **Subtract:** $25 - 1 = 24$. **Final answer:** $24$