What Are the President's Powers?
The President of the United States of America heads the executive branch of a three-pronged government system. The judicial and legislative branches comprise the other two prongs. All three work together to lead the country and serve as a system of checks and balances so that none grow too powerful. To run for president, a person must be 35 years old, a natural born citizen and have lived in the country for a minimum of 14 years.
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Commander-in-Chief
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The president acts as the commander-in-chief of the United State's armed forces. He can order troops to go on missions or bomb foreign countries, however, the president cannot declare war without first receiving Congressional approval. The president can also negotiate treaties with foreign leaders, or he can authorize the Secretary of State to negotiate on his behalf. However, the Senate has the ultimate discretion in authorizing a treaty. The president also has the power to decide whether to use nuclear weapons.
Administrative
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The president appoints heads of federal departments that include the Departments of State and Transportation. He also appoints heads of other organizations vital to the nation's interest, such as the Federal Reserve and Security and Exchange Commission. The president also has the power to create new departments. For example, President Bush created the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11. Congress must ultimately approve any of the president's plans. The president is also responsible for enforcing the laws that Congress passes.
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Legal
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The president works with Congress to develop laws, although he can not draft laws. For example, President Obama worked with Congress to pass federal health care reform in 2010. Whenever Congress passes a law, the president can sign or veto it. Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The president can pass executive orders, which are laws that bypass Congressional approval. The president can also pardon people charged with federal crimes, with the exception of impeachment.
Responsibilities
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The Constitution requires the president to brief Congress "from time to time" about his activities. Typically, this address comes each January, when the president talks to all the American people over television in his State of the Union speech. In the speech, the president outlines his agenda for the coming year. He addresses the major issues of the time, which can range from economic concerns to national security threats, and outlines how he plans to solve them.
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References
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