Powers of the President Flashcards
- Propose legislation
The Constitution gives the president power to propose legislation which he may do through annual state union address. They can also do it anytime through calling a press conference.
*In 2013, Obama used his state of union address to promote his policy proposals on job creation, gun control and immigration etc.
- Submit the annual budget
The OMB is an EXOP and they draw up the annual federal budget for the President, who then submits the budget to congress. This is then followed by a lengthy bargaining process between the President and congress, especially if it is a divided government.
*Trump’s budget causing the biggest government shutdown in 2018-2019.
- Sign legislation
Last part of the legislative process where he has to sign off on the bills (especially ones he wishes to take credit for).
Elaborate bill-signing ceremonies are often held, attended by house and senate members who have been supportive of the administration as well as interested parties who will be affected.
*At the bill signing ceremony of the Affordable Care Act, the democrats were invited alongside an 11 year old from Seattle who became an advocate for the reform after his mother died without health insurance.
- Veto legislation
They use the regular veto which they use as a bargaining tool since George Washington to George W Bush, Presidents have used just over 1,500 regular veto’s. Congress can override it but it rarely happens. They can also use a pocket veto but it can only be used at the end of a congressional session.
*George HW Bush used 15 pocket veto’s whereas George W Bush and Bill Clinton only used it once.
- Act as chief executive
The opening 15 words of Article II of the constitution grant the President all executive power so the president is chief-executive in charge of running the executive branch and the federal government. This is a huge job and tasks are often delegated to those who run the federal government principle departments and agencies. Modern presidents have needed their own bureaucracy to help them co-ordinate.
- Nominate executive branch officials
Power to nominate hundreds of officials to the executive branch. They nominate officials to their cabinet such as the treasury and agriculture. The senate must confirm all these appointments with a simple majority.
- Nominate all federal judges
Presidents nominate candidates for the supreme court, district and appeal courts. All judicial appointments are made for life and are confirmed by the senate.
- Act as commander-in-chief
Many Presidents have been involved with foreign matters, like Roosevelt fighting in WW2 or Truman fighting in Berlin.
Post cold war saw a diminution of Presidents commander in chief role.
Congress has the power to declare war but haven’t used this since 1941, however the US has been involved in wars since then.
*President George W Bush with the Iraq war 2003 and dealing with matters in 9/11 .
- Negotiate treaties
Presidents can negotiate treaties with other countries but the Senate has to ratify it with 2/3 majority.
*In 1920, the senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles after Wilson negotiated it on behalf of the USA
- Pardon
Presidents posses the power of pardon and use it with varying degrees of frequency.
- President Ford pardoned Nixon from Watergate
- Trump pardoned 237 people in 4 years compared to George W Bush who pardoned 189 people in 8 years.
- Head of state
They have to be the head of state especially in times of national tragedy, even acting as comforter-in-chief.
*George W Bush did this in the weeks following the 9/11 attacks. He addressed the nation on that night from the oval office and again 3 days later in an attempt to life peoples spirits.
