Functions of the Executive Branch of the US Federal Government
With the latest election there have been many civic conversations in the community and our classes. Here is a quick
reference sheet about the powers and limitations of the executive branch for reference.
1. How does the Constitution limit the power of the government?
The Framers of the Constitution wanted to
limit the powers of the national
government. They wanted to make sure no
one group had too much power, so they
divided and balanced the power among
three groups – legislative, executive, and
judicial branches. Also, they gave each
group a way to check the power of the other
two groups. This means they can stop the
other groups from making decisions or
taking action.
2. What are the powers of president (executive branch)?
The president is the head of the executive branch. This position carries out and enforces laws passed by Congress. The
Framers wanted to do two things – give enough power to the president to carry out laws, but not so much that the
position could outweighed the other two groups and the president become a dictator. The Constitution lists the duties
and power of the president as:
1) leads the military,
2) makes treaties (agreements with other countries),
3) appoints ambassadors (representatives of the US in other countries),
4) appoints judges to the Supreme Court (judicial branch),
5) gives pardons (forgiveness) to people that committed crimes against the country,
6) leads all the departments in the executive branch,
7) suggests laws and policies (including the budget) to Congress (legislative branch),
8) makes foreign policies (how the country interacts with other countries), and
9) makes executive orders, which means the executive branch takes the power from the legislative branch to make
or approve a new law. However, the judicial branch still checks this power, and the law can be struck down if it is
not constitutional. Executive orders usually happen in time of war and emergencies.
3. How is the president’s power limited?
Here are some examples of how the Framers made sure the president didn’t have too much power.
1) Appointments: The president can appoint certain positions, but the Congress has to approve them.
2) Treaties: The Senate has to approve all treaties the president makes before they can start.
3) War: The president can conduct a war, but the Congress is the only group that can declare a war.
4) Veto: The president can veto (reject) a bill Congress creates; however, Congress can then pass it if two-thirds
vote to approve it.
5) Impeachment: If the president does something wrong, the House of Representatives can put the president on
trial. If found guilty, the president can be removed from office.
Functions of the Executive Branch
November 2016
LSamorano - Social Studies
Resources
Reading and lessons
 Congress for Kids
 Ducksters: Checks and Balances
 Kids.gov: The Branches of Government
 iCivics
 Bell Ringer: Executive Orders
 Lesson Plans: Congress at Work: The Presidential Veto and Congressional Veto Override Process
Videos
 Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances: Crash Course Government and Politics #3
 Separation of Powers
Functions of the Executive Branch
November 2016
LSamorano - Social Studies