Powers and Roles of the President

1. Powers and Roles of the President

2. Powers and Roles of the President • Article II Sec 1, of the Constitution provides that “the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” • This clause means that the president, as head of the executive branch, is responsible for executing or carrying out, laws passed by Congress

3. Legislative Leader • President recommends needed laws to Congress. • This is required by the Constitution • President also delivers several messages to Congress each year • These are usually in the form of the State of th Union Address • Televised speech that sets forth programs and policies for Congress to consider • These programs and policies usually address the country’s most pressing concerns

4. Commander in Chief • The president is head of the U.S. armed forces or commander in chief • All military officers answer to the president • The president has final say in how a war is fought • Congress has to declare war, but the president can send forces into any part of the world where danger threatens • Congress has to approve the action within 60 days

5. Foreign-Policy Leader • The president, as chief executive of one of the most powerful countries in the world, must give constant attention to U.S. foreign policy • Foreign policy is the government’s plan for interacting with the other countries of the world • President seeks to secure friendly relations with foreign governments while preserving national security • The president appoints officials to represent the U.S. government in foreign countries called diplomats

6. Foreign-Policy Leader • The art of interacting with foreign governments is called diplomacy • The president is the country’s chief diplomat • Presidential visits to foreign countries build international friendship and security and promote U.S. interests • Written communications among diplomats are called diplomatic notes • U.S. government makes written agreements, called treaties • All treaties must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate

7. Judicial Powers • The Constitution gives the president the power to appoint Supreme Court justices and other federal judges • These judicial appointments must be approved by a majority vote of the members of the Senate • President also has the power to grant reprieves and pardons to those who have committed federal crimes • A reprieve postpones the carrying out of a person’s sentence • A pardon forgives a person convicted of a crime and frees him or her from serving out the sentence • President also has the power of commutation or making a convicted person’s sentence less severe

8. Other Presidential Roles • President is the chief of state or the symbol of the United States and its people • President greets visiting foreign heads of state and travels as the U.S.’s head of state • President is also leader of their political party

9. Presidential Daily Life • At all times the president’s office must be in touch with key government officials • Many hours of the day are spent in meetings with presidential advisers • Some meetings involve the president’s political party • The president also delivers a great number of speeches • President must sign bills submitted by Congress