1. Presidential Powers “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America” Article II of the Constitution

2. Executive Powers in the Constitution Command the armed forces Make treaties Approve or veto acts of Congress Send & receive diplomatic representatives Grant pardons & reprieves Faithfully execute the laws of the land

3. Executing the Law President executes, enforces, administers, & carries out the provisions of federal law Specific details necessary to the day-to- day administration of the law are usually left to be worked out by the executive branch This is done by the different departments of the executive branch

4. Ordinance Power Executive order- a directive, rule, or regulation that has the effect of law Arises from the Constitution & Congress

5. Appointing Power Power to appoint top administration officials Ambassadors & diplomats Cabinet members & their top aids All federal judges, attorneys, & marshals Officers of the armed forces Must have Senate approval

6. Removal Power The first Congress (1789) gave the president the power to remove from office those which he nominated to office The exception- federal judges

7. Diplomatic Powers Treaties Executive agreements- pacts between the President & the heads of foreign states (do not require Senate approval) Recognition- president indicates that the United States accepts that country as an equal in the “family of nations”

8. Military Powers As commander-in-chief the President has the final authority over & responsibility for any & all military matters Truman’s firing of General MacArthur MacArthur was found to be insubordinate to the commander-in-chief

9. War Powers May use the armed forces in undeclared war Began with John Adams & has been done by most modern Presidents Truman, LBJ, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II Power as commander-in-chief is much greater in a time of war During WWII Congress gave FDR the power to ration food & gasoline, & to control wages & prices, and to seize & operate certain private industries. May call State militias into federal service