The President’s Job and Making Foreign Policy

Constitutional Powers The president’s main job is to carry out the laws passed by Congress. The Constitution gives the president power to veto, call Congress into special session, serve as commander in chief, and receive foreign officials. The president can make treaties, appoint judges and top government officials, and pardon convicted criminals.

Constitutional Powers In the State of the Union address each year, the president informs Congress of important issues facing the nation and proposes new legislative programs.

Roles of the President As Chief Executive, the president is in charge of 14 cabinet departments and more than 3 million government workers. The president appoints the head of cabinet departments and large agencies, with Senate approval. The president may not make laws but can issue executive orders-rules or commands that have the force of law.

Roles of the President The president can appoint federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. This power is important because the way the Supreme Court interprets laws greatly affects life in the United States. Most presidents appoint justices who share views similar to their own. John G. Roberts, Jr. Chief Justice

Roles of the President The president may grant pardons, or declarations of forgiveness and freedom from punishment. The president may issue a reprieve, an order to delay a person’s punishment until a higher court can hear the case. The president may also grant amnesty, a pardon toward a group of people. George W. Bush commuted I. Lewis Libby, Jr.’s sentence

Roles of the President The president directs foreign policy, deciding how the United States will act toward other countries. As commander in chief, the president is in charge of all branches of the armed forces. Congress and the president share the power to make war. Only Congress can declare war, but the president can order soldiers into battle.

Roles of the President Congress has declared war only five times, yet presidents have sent troops into action more than 150 times. This situation may threaten the system of checks and balances. After the undeclared Vietnam War, Congress passed the War Powers Act. This law requires the president to notify Congress immediately when troops are sent into battle. The troops must be brought home after 60 days unless Congress approves a longer stay or declares war.

Roles of the President Only Congress may introduce bills, but the executive branch proposes legislation. All presidents have a legislative program that they want Congress to pass. They make speeches to talk to key members of Congress to build support for their programs. The president’s staff works on the laws with members of Congress.

Roles of the President The president and Congress often disagree. One reason is that the president represents the whole nation. Congress members represent only their state or district. Another reason is that the president can serve only two terms. Many Congress members win reelection many times and remain in office for decades. As a result, the president often wants to move faster on programs than members of Congress do.

Roles of the President As head of state, the president hosts visiting foreign leaders and caries out ceremonial functions, such as giving medals to the country’s heroes. As the country’s economic leader, the president must plan the federal budget and try to deal with such problems as unemployment, rising prices, and high taxes.

Roles of the President The president is the leader of his or her political party. The party helps the president get elected. In return, the president gives speeches to raise money and help fellow party members win office.

The President and Foreign Policy Foreign policy is a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations. The basic goal of American foreign policy is national security, the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm. International trade is another goal and is vital to economic prosperity. Trade can create markets for American products and jobs for American workers

The President and Foreign Policy A third goal is promoting world peace. Even distant wars can disrupt trade and endanger U.S. national security. A fourth goal is to promote democracy and human rights around the world. The executive branch includes a large foreign-policy bureaucracy. It includes the State Department, Defense Department, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Security Council.

The President and Foreign Policy The president and Congress share the power to conduct foreign affairs. The president is the chief diplomat and commander in chief. Congress has the power to declare war, prohibit certain military actions, and spend-or withhold-money for defense. The Constitution does not make clear how the executive and legislative branches can use their powers. As a result, the branches compete for control of foreign policy.

The President and Foreign Policy Treaties are formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries. Some, such as NATO, are agreements among nations for mutual defense. The Senate must approve a treaty by two-thirds vote. However, the president can make an executive agreement with the leader of another country without Senate approval.

The President and Foreign Policy An ambassador is an official representative of a country’s government. The president appoints ambassadors, with Senate approval. Ambassadors are sent only to countries where the United States accepts the government as legally in power. President Bush and former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte The United States gives foreign aid in the form of money, food, military assistance, or other supplies to help other countries.

The President and Foreign Policy The president makes agreements with other nations about what products may be traded and the rules of trade. Sometimes the rules include trade sanctions, or efforts to punish another country by imposing trade barriers. Another punishing tool is the embargo-an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with the target nation.

The President and Foreign Policy Congress takes the lead in imposing tariffs on imported goods and in joining international trade groups. One such group in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As commander in chief, presidents may use the military to carry out some foreign policy decisions that could involve deploying armed forces or launching missile attacks.