The Powers and Roles of the President Presidential Leadership.

The Powers and Roles of the President

Presidential Leadership

Constitutional Powers

• The Founders wanted to make the executive strong, but not so powerful that he would become another king.

• The main job of the executive is to carry out the laws. Having a strong executive makes it easier for government to respond to problems and enforce laws.

Constitutional Powers

• The founders also wanted an executive branch that would protect liberty, private property, and business.

• They also wanted the executive to keep the legislature in check.

Constitutional Powers

• The President is mainly responsible for:– National security– Appointing heads of executive

departments– Conducting foreign policy– Appointing federal judges– Faithfully executing the laws

Informal Powers

• The list of powers granted by the Constitution is small.

• Presidents have gained other powers over time from a variety of sources.

• Some Presidents expand the power of their job because they have powerful personalities.

Informal Powers

• Teddy Roosevelt said that the President has the power to do anything that the nation needs, as long as it isn’t forbidden by the Constitution or by law.

• This is a way of saying the President has a lot of implied powers.

Informal Sources of Power

• During the civil war Abe Lincoln did many things that would normally be illegal.

• He jailed people without a trial and suspended the writs of habeas corpus.

• Legally he had no authority to do that.• But Lincoln argued that the

Constitution gave him the power to do whatever was necessary to protect the union.

• In the end most people agreed that this was true.

Informal Power

• Although Congress usually complains that the President has too much power…

• They usually grant the President special powers, or more powers, when there is an emergency or a special situation that needs to be dealt with.

Limits on Power

• Congress limits the power of the President by:– Congressional override of the

Presidential veto– Congress can impeach the President– Presidential appointments can be

denied by the Senate– Congress has the power to deny

funding to any proposed program

Limits on Power

• Federal Courts limit the President’s power by:– Marbury v. Madison established

judicial review (the Supreme Court’s ability to declare laws or actions unconstitutional through review)

– Some of FDR’s New Deal plans were struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

Limits on Power

• Presidential power is also limited by the bureaucracy:– They can block programs by

failing to provide necessary information

– By misinterpreting instructions– Or by not completing a task

properly

Limits on Power

• Public Opinion limits the President’s power by:– Not allowing presidents to carry

out political programs through bad press and opinion

– If presidents do not meet the high expectations of the people, their actions are usually condemned.

Roles of the President

• Head of State– Serves as host to visiting diplomats

and leaders– Chief diplomat– He represents the collective image

of the United States

Roles of the President

• Chief Executive– Making sure the laws are carried out– Executive branch employees more

than 200 million employees to help enforce the laws and programs Congress creates

– President is in charge of these employees

• They do this by influencing how laws are implemented

Chief Executive

• President’s influence how laws are carried out in many ways– Executive orders (rules that have the force

of law)– Through the appointment power he can

further his political agenda by appointing people who agree with it

– Firing members of the Cabinet and other appointees if they don’t agree with him

– Impoundment: the President can refuse to spend the money Congress gives him which means the agency can’t do anything

Chief Executive

• He can grant reprieves: postponing legal punishment

• He can grant pardons: release from legal punishment

• He can also grant amnesty: a pardon for a large group who have done something against the government (usually granted during war time)

Chief Legislator

• The Executive Branch proposes legislation it wants to see passed.

• Pres. describes his legislative program in his annual State of the Union address.

• His program usually reflects his values and beliefs

• Usually the President has members of his staff work closely with Congress to get laws he supports passed.

Economic Planner

• President must give a yearly economic report to Congress– Council of Economic Studies helps the

President prepare this report

• Responsibility to promote high employment, production, and purchasing power

• President also prepares federal budget (which is then approved by Congress)

Party Leader

• Represents his party and speaks on behalf of candidates who are running for other positions

• Presidents are expected to appoint members of their party to available positions

Chief Diplomat

• Makes key decisions about the relationships the U.S. has with other countries (foreign policy)

• Congress often fights over who has power over foreign policy – the President usually wins

• He represents the country to other nations

Chief Diplomat

• Sole power (meaning only he can do this) to make treaties with other countries

• Treaties are formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries

Chief Diplomat

• He makes executive agreements: pacts between the president and the head of a foreign government

• These are legally binding, just like treaties, but do not require consent of the Senate

Commander in Chief

• President has the power to command troops, therefore, he can make war

• BUT ONLY CONGRESS CAN DECLARE WAR

• Many Presidents have sent troops to combat without a formal declaration of war.

Commander in Chief

• Presidents are responsible for key military decisions

• Some Presidents have come from military backgrounds… (Andrew Jackson, William H. Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower)

• while other have no experience at all.