presidential powers

executive powers

• enforce laws, treaties, and court decisions

• issues executive orders to carry out policies

• appoints officials, removes officials

• assumes emergency powers

• presides over the cabinet and executive branch

legislative powers

• gives annual state of union message (constitutionally required)

• issues annual budget and economic reports

• signs or vetoes bills

• proposes legislation and uses influence to get it passed

• calls for special sessions of congress

military powers

• commander-in-chief of the armed forces

• final decision-making authority in matters of national and foreign defense

• provides for domestic order

diplomatic powers

• appoints ambassadors and other diplomats

• negotiates and executive agreements

• meets with foreign leaders in international conferences

• accords diplomatic recognition to foreign governments

• receives foreign dignitaries

judicial powers

• appoints members of the federal judiciary

• grants reprieves, pardons, and amnesty

party powers

• recognized leader of the party

• chooses vice-presidential nominee

• strengthens the party by helping members get elected (coattails)

• appoints party members to government positions (patronage)

• influences policies and platform of the party

chief legislator

• proposes legislation

• vetoes legislation

• calls special sessions of congress

checks of chief legislator

• congress can not pass suggested legislation

• congreess can override veto with 2/3 majority in both houses

chief executive

• enforces laws, treaties, and court decisions

• appoints officials to office

• issues executive orders to carry out laws

checks of chief executive

• congress passes laws and has “power of the purse”

• senate can reject appointments

commander in chief

• head of the armed forces

checks of commander in chief

• congress appropriates funds for the military

• congress declares war

• war powers act of 1973

chief diplomat

• sets overall foreign policy

• appoints ambassadors

• negotiates both treaties and executive agreements

• gives diplomatic recognition to foreign governments

checks of chief diplomat

• congress appropriates funds for foreign affairs

• senate can reject ambassadors and treaties

chief of state

• the ceremonial head of our nation

• tosses out the first ball of the baseball season, visits the areas struck by natural disaster

chief jurist

• appoints federal judges

• issues pardos and amnesty

checks of chief jurist

• senate can reject judicial appointments

• senators can place “holds” on appointments

• senators can filibuster nominations

chief of party

• selects the party’s chairman of the national committee

• political patronage

chief economist

• proposes budget

• responsible for overall health of economy

checks of chief economist

• congress must approve budget