AIM: How is power given and limited for the executive under the Constitution? Do-Now: Who is your favorite President? Why is this the case?

Presidential Powers Formal Powers = those that are found in Article II of the Constitution. Informal Powers = powers that are not explicitly written in the Constitution. "Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning by another branch of government.“ – R.M. Nixon

Formal Powers

Formal Powers: Commander-in-Chief Commander in Chief of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Formal Declaration of War comes from Congress President Bush aboard U.S.S. Lincoln, May, 2003

Formal Powers: Chief Executive Ordinance Power – power to run the executive branch May issue “commands” or “orders” President Bush holds cabinet meeting in October, 2005 President Clinton with Janet Reno, the first female Attorney General, February, 1993

Formal Powers: Chief Executive Appointment Power Federal Judges Cabinet members Heads of Agencies Ambassadors

Formal Powers: Chief Diplomat Make treaties Confers with Secretary of State Needs 2/3 Senate approval Not all are approved: Treaty of Versailles, Kyoto Agreement Recognize Nations Receive Ambassadors Spokesperson for US to other nations President Obama and Russian President Medvedev sign the New START Treaty to reduce Nuclear armaments

Formal Powers: Chief Legislator Give State of the Union address to Congress Convene both houses of Congress Laws Veto Sign Pocket Veto – not sign at end of Congress’ Session Not sign – becomes law in 10 days

Informal Powers

Informal Powers: Chief Executive Executive Orders Executive Agreements Executive

Informal Powers: Chief Executive Executive Orders - orders that have the weight of law Don’t have to be approved by any other branch or person Clinton signing his “don’t ask don’t tell” executive order for gays in the military

Informal Powers: Chief Executive Executive Agreements - International agreements made by a president that has the force of a treaty does NOT need Senate approval Jefferson made an executive agreement with France to make the Louisiana purchase

Qualifications for President

Presidential Qualifications Formal Qualifications – written in the United States Constitution, Article II Section I 35 years old 14 year resident of the US Natural Born Citizen

Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents 69% politicians 62% lawyers >50% from the top 3% wealth and social class 0.5% born into poverty 69% elected from large states 100% male Almost 100% Caucasian 97% Protestant 82% of British ancestry 77% college educated