Powers of the President

Powers of the President

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Article II of the Constitution states that "executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America." This seems simple, but it is actually very complicated!

1. The president is the chief executive.

This means that the president has the authority to execute (carry out or enforce) the laws passed by Congress (federal laws). This also makes the president the head of federal law enforcement like the FBI.

2. The president is the head of the executive branch.

It is the president's job to oversee the many parts of the executive branch. We'll see more about these agencies later in the unit.

3. The president can issue executive orders.

An executive order is a directive from the president that gives guidance about how to manage federal government operations. Executive orders can be enforced the same ways as legislation passed by Congress.

4. The president appoints and removes specific officials. Some of these appointments require Senate approval. Among these are:

• heads of executive departments

• heads of executive agencies

• federal judges

• military officers

• ambassadors (representatives of US in other countries)

5. The president negotiates treaties and makes executive agreements with heads of other countries. Treaties require Senate approval but executive agreements do not.

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6. The president is commander-in-chief of US armed forces.

7. The president has certain judicial powers related to persons convicted of crimes. Keep in mind that these powers refer to the federal judicial system.

• pardon - frees a person from serving a sentence

• amnesty - group pardon

• commutation - lessens a person's sentence

• reprieve - allows a person to postpone serving a sentence

Multiple Select

Check the qualifications for the presidency.

• at least 35

• citizen for 12 years

• natural-born citizen

• reside in home state

Open Ended

List a benefit the president receives other than salary.

Multiple Choice

The president is responsible for carrying out federal laws.

• false

• true

Multiple Choice

The president can approve a treaty without the Senate.

• false

• true

Multiple Choice

The Senate can require the president to issue executive orders.

• false

• true

Multiple Choice

The lessening of a sentence is

• amnesty.

• commutation.

• pardon.

• reprieve.

Multiple Choice

The president can fire the vice president.

• false

• true