Powers of the

President
 Bellringer

There are four people interested in being President

of the United States. Determine whether or not they
meet the basic requirements.

Thirtyyear old from New Jersey who has been a Senator for
fouryears already.

Seventysix year old former House of Representatives

member.

Thirtyseven year old Governor of California who was a

famous actor after moving from his birth country of Austria.

Thirtyfive year old business woman born in North Carolina.

 The Framers

They argued about whether or not there

should be a President at all.
Why?
 Power

Presidential power has grown over the past two

centuries.
The Constitution is vague on certain aspects of
presidential powers, some Presidents filled the
void (ex: Lincoln and both Roosevelt Presidents).
Presidents who remain on the sidelines on issues
are deemed poor leaders.
The executive branch has expanded (more
employees).
 Power

Citizens have tended to want the

government to get more involved.
Sometimes there is need for
immediate and decisive action.
 Limits to Power

No President can become all powerful.

Ex: Harry Truman tried to seize and operate

several steel mills when they threatened to
shut down during the height of the Korean
War.
Only Congress can seize private property
during war.
Congressional Oversight

A check on executive power.

Congress keeps a close
watch over the executive
branch to make sure that
they are complying with laws.
 Critics and Supporters

Critics: think the President is too powerful,

acts without consulting Congress, and
sometimes acting in secrecy.
Supporters: the President must be able to
react quickly to events at home and abroad,
in consultation with advisors and Congress.
 The Power to Execute the
Law
Enforcing, administering, or
carrying out laws.
The President has to enforce
laws whether they personally
agree with them or not.

This deals with all federal laws.

 Executive Orders

Directives, rules, or regulations that have

the effect of law.
Can deal with a lot of different subjects.
Ex: Establishing a White House Council on
Women and Girls.
Ex: Setting out medical countermeasures to be
taken in the event of a biological weapons
attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JUDSeb2zHQ0&t=21s
 Executive Privilege

The power to refuse to disclose certain information

to Congress or to the federal courts.
Congress has never recognized executive privilege.
They often try to compel executive officials to testify
at congressional committee hearings, but Presidents
have resisted this by citing executive privilege.
The Supreme Court has recognized the existence
and need for executive privilege, but it cannot be
used to prevent evidence from being heard in a
criminal proceeding.
 Appointments

The President names most of the top-

ranking officers of the federal government.
Ex: Ambassadors, Cabinet members, all
federal judges, and all officers in the armed
forces.

The nomination is sent to the Senate. A

majority vote is needed to confirm to
appointee.
 Removal Power

The President has the power to remove any

officer they appointed, except for federal
judges.
Typically this does not happen because the
President will try to get the officer to resign.
Trying to be cautious about this power.
 The Powers of
Clemency
The President has some judicial powers.

Clemency: mercy/leniency
May only be used in cases involving federal
offenses.

Reprieve: postponement of the execution of a

sentence.
Pardon: legal forgiveness of a crime.

These usually happen after a person has been

convicted, but can happen before the person is
tried or even formally charged.
 Pardons

In 1974 President Gerald Ford gave a full,

free and absolute pardon unto Richard
Nixon for all offenses against the United
States which he has committed or may
have committed or taken part in during the
period from January 20, 1969, through
August 9, 1974.
Watergate Scandal

Have to be accepted by the person it is

given to.
Nearly all are accepted.
Commutation and Amnesty

Commutation: The power to reduce a fine or

the length of a sentence imposed by a
court.
Amnesty: a blanket pardon offered to a
group of law violators.
Ex: Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to those
who evaded the draft for the Vietnam War.
 Legislative Powers

Initiates, suggests, and demands that

Congress enact much of the major
legislation that it produces.
A President whose party controls both houses
typically has an easier time getting laws
passed.

Message power: sends three major

messages to Congress each year.
State of the Union
Budget message
Economic report
 Legislative Powers

Can call Congress into a special session.

The power to prorogue (adjourn) Congress

in the event that the two houses cannot
agree on a date for their adjournment.
This has never happened.
 The Power of the Veto

Veto: The bill is returned to Congress.

Congress can override this by a 2/3 vote in
each house.
Threatening a veto can defeat a bill or prompt
changes.

Pocket Veto: used only at the end of a

congressional session.
If Congress adjourns within 10 days of sending
the bill to the White House and the President
chooses not to act on it, the bill dies.
 The Power of the Veto

If the President decided to veto a bill, the

entire measure must be rejected.
Line-Item Veto: cancelling out some aspects
of a measure, but approving others.
We do not have this, but some think we
should.
Supporters: Potent weapon against wasteful
spending.
Opponents: It would shift too much power to
the executive branch.
The Power to Make Treaties

Treaty: formal agreement between two or

more sovereign states.
The President negotiates
these and then the Senate
has to approve it by a 2/3 vote.
Executive Agreements

Pact between the President and the head of

a foreign state, or their subordinates.
Do not have to be approved by the Senate.

Do not supersede federal law or the laws of

any state.
Other than that, they are binding.
The President that comes after can remove
them.
 The Power of
Recognition
Acknowledging the legal existence of a
country and its government.
This can be done through exchanging
diplomatic representatives.
Persona non grata: an unwelcome person.
A way for the President to show displeasure
with a country by asking for a recall of that
nations diplomatic representative.
 Commander in Chief

Presidents delegate much of their command

authority to military subordinates.
Not required to do so.

Congress has not declared war since WWII.

On 8 occasions since then they have enacted
joint resolutions to authorize the President to
meet certain international crises with military
force.
 Commander in Chief

The President can commit American military

forces abroad if
Congress has declared war.
Congress has authorized the action.
When an attack on the nation or its armed
forces has occurred.
 Tic-Tac-Toe

The next slide has a tic-tac-toe board on it.

You will do three of the activities, but they

must make a line!
Three across, down, or diagonal!
Interview Political Cartoon Poster
Pick a current or Draw your own Find three different
previous president you (appropriate) political powers of the
would want to cartoon that ties in with President. Make a
interview. Come up something we have poster that has all
with 10 (appropriate) talked about for the three of them with
questions you would Presidency. Write a descriptions of what
want to know about description of it. they do.
their job.
Postcard/Letter Chart Help Wanted Ad
Write a letter to the Make a chart about the Make a help wanted ad
Vice President. Tell the 9 different roles the for the President. Have
VP what their President has. Give the the requirements for
responsibilities are, definition of each and the job, as well as what
including what happens give examples of what they would have to do
if they become the role entails. in that job.
President (roles and
responsibilities).
Infographic Opinion Teach
Make your own Write a minimum of Pick a topic I talked
infographic about any two paragraphs about about and make your
topic I have talked presidential pardons. own way that you
about for the What are they? Do you would teach it to the
presidency. If you dont agree with them? Give class. Ex: Google Slides