1. The President’s Role in the American Constitutional System
Unit Four Lesson 23

2. The President’s Constitutional Duties
Article II – the “Executive Power”
Commander in Chief
Head of the Executive Branch
Granting Reprieves and Pardons
Making treaties
with Senate confirmation
Nominating ambassadors & federal judges
Recommend legislation
Receive legislation passed by Congress
Receive ambassadors & other diplomats

3. How has the Presidency evolved?
Occupants of the White House have varied and so has the presidency under their lead
POWERFUL PRESIDENTS: Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, TRoosevelt, Wilson, FDRoosevelt, Kennedy
Used their position to create changes they believed necessary for the United States to grow/stay strong
They expanded the power of the presidency and its role within the government
“Feeble” presidency: GW Bush, Carter, Ford, Coolidge, Taft
Did not lead with authority
Let Congress take the lead

4. Foreign Policy Role Commanding the Armed Forces Making Treaties
Military can be used to defend the US and as a threat to help persuade other countries to comply with US policy
Can send US troops abroad – for various reasons
Making Treaties
Agreements with other nations – can be economic and/or defensive
Must be approved by the Senate
Appointing Ambassadors
The president decides who represents the US in foreign countries
Are the voice/face of the US in the country they are assigned to
Receiving Ambassadors
Accept ambassador as the voice of their nation – work through them
Refusal to accept ambassador is an insult/can destableize a nation

5. Presidential Powers during War
During war, presidents exercise powers NOT given to them in the Constitution
Cleveland – deployed federal troops during railroad strike
FDRoosevelt – Lend Lease Act
Truman – Gov’t operated steel plants during Korean War
Supreme Court has tried, at times, to rein in powers of the president during war
SC ruled Truman exceeded powers in taking over steel plants
SC debated powers of the president (funding) in the Vietnam war
SC ruled GWBush exceeded his powers in created special military commissions for ‘detainees’

6. Expansion of Presidential Powers
The presidency has grown in power in recent decades
US citizens expect our president to act in time of crisis
The people look to the president for help
Expansion of executive duties/authority
People want strong assertive leader
These leaders have expanded their powers
Constitution is very broad on presidential powers
Interpretation of job
Expansion of the president recommending legislation
As party leader, the president sets the agenda & suggests legislation
Executive Orders are used far more in recent years
Used to fill in the blanks in laws passed by Congress
Executive Branch has assumed the duties of state and local governments
Education, health car, transportation

7. Limiting the powers of the President
Rejection of the President’s agenda
FDR Court Stacking plan
Asserting Constitutional Authority
War Powers Act (1973) requires Congressional approval
Refusing to Ratify Treaties
Treaty of Versailles
Refusing to Confirm Presidential Appointments
Supreme Court nominee – Robert Bork
Refusing to fund Presidential Programs
Congress refusing funding for Johnson’s plan for Vietnam
Removing the President from Office
Impeachment

8. How Presidency differs from a Prime Minister
In a MULTIPARTY system, the legislative branch chooses the Prime Minister (same party)
Cabinet members are usually members of Parliament
This ties the two branches together
In the US (2 Party system), the President is elected independently from the legislative branch
President and majority party in either house of Congress may be from different parties
Constitution DOES NOT require Congress to pass legislation from the leader, nor ratify treaties
President’s actions are open to review, might be declared unconstitutional
President serves a fixed 4 year term, limited to 2 terms or 10 years

9. Review Questions
What factors explain the growth of presidential power during the nation’s history
Has Congress relinquished too much power to the president?
How is the system of chicks and balances designed to limit the exercise of presidential power?
How well does the system of chicks and balances work? Why?
How can public opinion affect presidential power?
How would you define a “feeble” executive? In what ways might a feeble executive be as dangerous as an overly “energetic” executive?
What are the differences between a president and a prime minister?