Overview of the Executive Branch,

Qualifications for, and Enumerated Powers of

the Presidency

Libertyville HS

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Overview of the Executive Branch

• What is the purpose of the Executive Branch? (Brainstorm!)– Enforce laws– Run government– Keep the peace– Engage in foreign policy

• How does the Executive Branch carry out its purpose? (Brainstorm!)– Federal bureaucracy– Persuasion of people,

Congress

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Overview of the Executive Branch

• What are the roles the President plays?– Lead country– Lead military– Act as chief executive– Chief diplomat– Head of political party– Chief citizen– Etc.

• How does the President do his / her job?– By being elected– Through persuasion of people– Through persuasion of Congress– Formal Powers from Constitution– Informal Powers, from tradition

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Enumerated Powers of President: C in C

• Formal Power? • President designated

Commander in Chief of Armed Services

• Executive / Congressional division of war power– Congress’ power = declare

war, fund it– If Congress declares war, Pres

gets special wartime powers• Suspension of habeus corpus• Right to direct troops without

interference from Congress

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Enumerated Powers of President: Appointment

• Formal Power?• Power to select high ranking

members of Executive Branch– Cabinet members– Federal judges– Ambassadors

• Checked by Senate power to advise and consent to presidential appointments– ”Hold” of nominee– Filibuster available, as well

• “Recess appointment”– If congress goes into recess (vacation or

adjournment) President may appoint person to position without approval of Senate

– Person holds position until end of next congressional term

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Enumerated Powers of President: Reporting

• Formal Power?• Power to require reports

from executive officers, cabinet members

• Establishes president’s authority over Executive Branch

• Makes president the Chief Executive of the US Government

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Enumerated Powers of President: Pardons

• Formal Power?• Pardon: release person from

jail or prison• Reprieve: relieve someone of

death sentence• Check / balance on the

Judicial Branch• Examples

– Bill Clinton’s list of Pardons– George W. Bush’s list of Pardons– Barack Obama’s statistical

abstract of his Pardons

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Enumerated Powers of President: Treaties

• Formal Power?• President, through the

State Department, has authority to enter into treaties with foreign governments

• Check / balance by Senate – 2/3 vote required to ratify treaty

• Ratified treaties are treated just like acts of Congress

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Enumerated Powers of President: Reception

• Formal Power?• Power to receive

ambassadors from other countries

• President is the face of America to the rest of the world

• Power to receive ambassadors is also the power to recognize the legitimate government of a country

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Enumerated Powers of President: Convening

• Formal Power?• President empowered to give

State of the Union to joint session of Congress – why?– President empowered to advance his

legislative agenda in Congress

• Presidential power allows convening of either chamber of Congress – Convene to consider matters of

importance to President– House has never been convened – Senate has been convened dozens of

times – why? (think of what Senate does to presidential appointments…)