Chapter 14
The Presidency in Action
Explain the expansion of Presidential power
List the President’s Executive powers,
military and diplomatic powers, and
legislative and judicial powers.
Growth of Presidential Power
l Article II of the Constitution (aka, the
Executive Article), gives the President some
of his powers.
l President can use mass media to capture
public attention.
l Critics of strong presidential power have
described the office as an imperial
presidency , which compares the President
to an emperor who takes strong actions
without Congress’ approval.
The Growth of Presidential Power
President stands
As single strong
Leader Of executive
branch
Americans have looked to
President for leadership
On complex issues.
As commander-in-chief,
the President has been
Asked to take decisive action in times
of national emergency.
Congress has granted the executive
Branch the authority to carry out many
Of its laws and has thus strengthened the
Presidency.
The President has used mass media
To capture public attention.
EXPANDED PRESIDENTIAL
POWER
Executive Powers
lThe President is the head of the
executive branch and must carry out the
provisions of federal law.
lPower comes mostly from Constitution
and the oath of office, the solemn
promise that each President take at the
inauguration to “preserve, protect, and
defend the Constitution.”
Exec. Powers
lOrdinance Power – power to issue
executive orders.
¡Executive Order – a directive, rule, or
regulation that has the effect of law. -> the
President must be able to issue orders to
implement his constitutional powers.
Congress backs this implied power.
Major Executive Powers of the
Presidency
The President
Has The Power To…
Enforce the Law
Administer the Law
Issue Executive Orders
Appoint and Remove
Executive Officials
Diplomatic & Military Powers
l Treaty – formal agreement with another nation, must
be approved by a 2/3rd vote of the Senate.
l Executive Agreement – pact with another nation’s
leader.
l Recognition – acknowledge and support the legal
existence of another country and its government.
l Send troops into combat without Congressional
authorization for 60 days. - War Powers Resolution
of 1973
Major Diplomatic & Military Powers of
the President
Treaties with
Nations
(Senate has
To approve)
Recognition
Major
Diplomatic
Powers
Of
President
Send U.S. Troops
To Combat
Executive
Agreements
w/ Heads
Of Nations
Legislative & Judicial Powers
The President’s
Legislative
Judicial
May recommend legislation
May grant a reprieve or pardon
May veto legislation with a regular
veto or with a pocket veto
May grant a pardon for a crime
May allow a bill to become a law
either with or without a signature
May grant amnesty to a group of
law violators
May commute the length of a
sentence or the amount of a fine
Important Terms
l Line-Item Veto – President approves most of a bill
while vetoing certain parts, or line items.
l Reprieve – a postponement of the execution of a
sentence.
l Pardon – legal forgiveness for a crime.
l Commutation – the power to reduce the length of a
sentence or the amount of a fine imposed by a court.
l Amnesty – a general pardon offered to a group of
law violators.
l Clemency – leniency or mercy. The above are
powers of clemency.