The 5 Powers of the Presidency

The president is democratically elected and resides at the White House.

The president is the dominant force in U.S. politics. Although the president does not govern alone, his executive powers affect the legislative and judicial branches. The powers of the presidency originate in the U.S. Constitution, where they were laid down in Article II. They give the president five different roles and responsibilities in governing the country.

Executive

As the chief executive, the president has the power to enforce the U.S. Constitution and any laws passed by Congress. As part of this responsibility, the president may issue executive orders to help enforce the laws. Furthermore, the president is also responsible for appointing all government officials, including Cabinet officers and Supreme Court justices. His appointments do, however, require approval from the Senate.

Legislative

The president also has the power to recommend legislation to Congress, give State of the Union addresses, where the president outlines his legislative agenda, and recall Congress into special session. If a president disagrees with a specific piece of legislation, he also has the power to veto it, although the veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority of each house.

Judicial

The president possesses judicial powers in government. This includes granting reprieves, amnesties and pardons, primarily to right wrongs in the system and to mitigate harshness. The power of pardon, in particular, can have a significant political impact, for example, President Lincoln pardoned Civil War deserters on the condition that they returned to their units to fight. In addition, the presidential power to appoint judges allows the president to have a significant influence in how the laws are interpreted and enforced.

Military

As the commander in chief of the armed forces, the president also maintains control over the armed forces. It is the president's responsibility to appoint military commanders, and he has the power to discharge officers and define the objectives for military operations. The president can also deploy the armed forces at home and abroad but cannot commit troops to an international conflict for more than 90 days. To do this, he must make a formal declaration of war, and this power is reserved for Congress.

Ambassadorial

In his role as chief ambassador, the president is responsible for setting the foreign policy agenda, directing diplomatic talks and negotiating treaties, although the latter must be ratified by the Senate. He also has the exclusive power to receive foreign ambassadors and plays an important role in appointing ambassadors to foreign nations, although his decision must be ratified with a two-thirds majority by the Senate.

References

• History Learning Site: The Powers of the American President
• ThinkQuest: A. P. E. Powers and Limitations
• "The Modern Presidency"; James P. Pfiffner; 2008
• U.S Constitution Online: Presidental Pardons