Warm Up Please take your paper being used for this week’s warm ups and answer the following question: What specific powers would you give the President? Think about the constitutional requirement that the President “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” Write three powers and explain each.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Objective:  Students will be able to analyze the powers of the President and how they are used. Materials Needed: Notebook, pen/pencil, 1 sheet of paper for quickwrite at the end of class

Formal Powers “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” the President enforces, administers, and carries out the law the Constitution requires the President to execute all federal laws, no matter what the chief executive’s own views of any of them may be

Appointment Powers The President appoints the following positions: ambassadors and other diplomats Cabinet members and their top aides the heads of independent agencies all federal judges, U.S. marshals, and attorneys top officers in the military All appointments are to be confirmed by the Senate

Powers of Clemency Clemency: mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive Pardon: release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime Amnesty: a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators Commutation: the power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime

Other Formal Powers power to veto legislation Line-Item Veto: they have sought the power to cancel out some provisions in a measure while approving others not an actual power for the President, but many Governors have this power the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union” call Congress into special sessions

Executive Orders and Executive Privilege Executive Order: directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law The President must have the authority to use these in order to exercise his powers to enforce laws Executive Privilege: the President’s power to refuse to disclose information Cannot be used to prevent evidence from being heard in a criminal proceeding (U.S. v. Nixon, 1974)

Executive Orders and Executive Privilege Executive Discretion: in executing and enforcing law, the executive branch also interprets it unless the Courts say otherwise Laws written by Congress are often broad, so it is up to the President to determine how the law will be applied on a day- to-day basis These decisions are carried out through executive orders