Roles
•Commander-in Chief
•Head of State
•Chief Diplomat
•Party Leader
•Economic Planner
•Chief Legislator
•Chief Executive
Commander-in-Chief
•
In charge of US
armed forces.
•
President decides
where armed forces
are to be stationed,
their mission and
what weapons may
be used.
WAR POWERS ACT
•
Result of Vietnam
•
POTUS can deploy the military to a
hostile area/order military operations
against another country without a
declaration of war for 60 days.
•
POTUS must inform congress in
writing within 48 hours.
•
EX: Invasion of Grenada
(OPERATION URGENT FURY)
Head of State
•
•
•
Acts as example for and
symbol of the United
States
Represents America at
special occasions and
ceremonies.
EX: Awarding medals
and speechmaking.
President Johnson after awarding Medals of Honor to
Vietnam veterans.
Chief Diplomat
•
•
Conducts foreign policy
by directing the actions
of American
ambassadors (State
Department).
Signs treaties and
executive agreements
with leaders of other
nations.
FDR @ the Yalta Conference
Chief Politician/Party Leader
•
Presidents help members of
their party get elected or
appointed to office.
•
They make campaign
speeches needed for reelection.
•
Head of fund-raising for the
party.
Chief Economist
MONITORS:
• Unemployment,
• Inflation, taxation, business,
Also:
• Does not control the
economy, but can push laws
that will help/hurt it.
• Prepares the federal budget
Chief Legislator
•
President can propose bills,
act as driving force behind
them and must sign bills
into law.
•
Pressures members of
Congress to support his
agenda.
•
Presents his agenda to
Congress in the annual State
of the Union address.
President Nixon addresses a joint session of congress
Chief Executive
•
Sees that Congress’ laws are
carried out
•
Appoints key officials (Senate must
confirm)
•
Can issue executive orders.
•
Fire employees of the Executive
Branch.
•
Grants pardons & amnesty