1. What a president CAN and CANNOT do.
Presidential Powers
What a president CAN
and CANNOT do.

2. Role of the Executive Branch
Each of the three branches of government has particular powers; however, each branch has certain powers over the other branches.
Why ?
This is done in order to keep each branch balanced and prevent one branch from ever gaining too much power.
Role of the Executive Branch:
To Enforce and Carry Out Laws

3. For Example… Congress may pass laws
... but the President can veto them.
The President can veto laws
… but Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote.
The President and Congress may agree on a law
… but the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional

4. More Examples
The President can appoint Judges and other government officials
… but the Senate must approve them.
There are many ways that the Constitution balances power. Real life conflicts that test the system have occurred throughout history.

5. Examples
After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson vetoed over 20 bills.
After the Civil War, Congress overrode over 20 Presidential vetoes.
In1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court; his nomination was defeated.
In 1935 and 1936 the Supreme Court declared the NIRA and then the AAA (two New Deal programs passed during the Roosevelt administration) unconstitutional.
In 1918 Congress refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles: a peace treaty ending World War I that President Wilson had worked very hard on.

6. The President has the Power to…
Veto bills approved by Congress
Nominate Cabinet members and Supreme Court judges.
Can RECOMMEND legislation
Make treaties with the approval of the Senate
Act as Commander-in-Chief during war
Grant pardons

7. In the law-making process…
It is quite difficult for a bill to be passed without the President’s approval.
When Congress passes a bill, they send it to the White House. The President then has THREE options:
Sign the bill into law
Veto the bill
Do nothing

8. Law-Making Process Cont.
Signing the Bill
Law goes into effect immediately.
Vetoes the Bill
Law does not go into effect; bill is returned to Congress unsigned.
Doing Nothing with the Bill (2 things occur)
If Congress is in session ten business days after the President receives the bill, the legislation will become a law without the President’s signature.
If Congress adjourns within ten business days of giving the bill to the President, the bill dies.
This is called a POCKET VETO (congress can do nothing to override the President’s decision).

9. The President Cannot… Make laws Declare war
Decide how federal money will be spent
Choose Cabinet members/Supreme Court Justices (HE CAN ONLY NOMINATE)
Line-item veto:
To strike only individual sections of a bill while still passing it (He MUST veto the bill in its ENTIRETY).