Executive Powers Flashcards
What are the President’s powers as Chief Executive?
- enforcement of laws
- appointment power
- removal power
- veto power
- pardon power
What are president’s powers as Commander-in-Chief?
If congress has not declared war President’s powers are limited to using military force in response to a surprise attack on the US
What are extent of President’s military powers in cases where President and congress disagree?
If president and congress disagree, President prevails with respect to battlefield tactical decisions
What is extent of President’s power regarding enforcement of laws?
The president can enforce but not create laws
What is President’s appointment power?
President has the power to appoint “high level officials” with the advice and consent of the Senate
What is Congress’s power regarding appointment of officials?
Congress can delegate appointment of inferior officers to the President, the judiciary or the head of an executive department
What are inferior officers for the purposes of the appointment power?
Inferior officers are anyone who has a superior, and whose appointment can be delegated by Congress
What is the President’s removal power?
- President can remove any executive appointee without cause
- President can remove executive officers who have fixed terms and officers who perform judicial or quasi-judicial functions, but the president must have cause for the removal
What is the president’s veto power?
President may veto an entire bill, but cannot issue a line-item veto by only cancelling certain provisions of a bill
What are limits to President’s veto power?
Congress can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House
What is the Presidential pardon power?
The presidential pardon power is for federal crimes
What are limitations on Presidential pardon power?
There are two primary limits on pardon power
1. pardon power is to issue pardons for federal crimes only
2. a pardon cannot undo an impeachment
What are president’s powers regarding international affairs?
- Treaty Power
- Executive Agreements
What are president’s powers regarding ability to enter treaties?
President may enter treaties, but they require 2/3 vote by the Senate to become effective
What effect do treaties have relative to federal law?
Treaties have the same status as current federal law, and will override earlier federal law