1. 7.2- The President’s Job
Civics & Economics

2. Duties of the President
The Constitution is the basis for the president’s power, it is listed in Article II

3. Duties of the President
The President’s main job is to execute, or carry out laws passed by Congress
President Obama signing the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

4. Duties of the President
The Constitution gives the president power to:
Veto or reject bills passed in Congress
“Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives…”
-Article I, Section 7, Clause 3

5. Duties of the President
Call Congress into special session

6. Duties of the President
Commander in chief of the armed forces
“The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States…”
-Article II, Section 2, Clause 1

7. Duties of the President
Receive leaders and other officials of foreign countries
President and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House April 2015

8. Duties of the President
Make treaties with other countries (Senate approves)

9. Duties of the President
Appoint government officials- heads of executive agencies, federal court judges, ambassadors, and other top government officials
(Senate approves)

10. Duties of the President
Pardon or reduce penalties against people convicted of federal crimes
“He shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”
-Article II, Section 2, Clause 1
Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford on September 8, 1974

11. Duties of the President
The State of the Union Address is a speech given by the President before a joint session of Congress to discuss important issues facing the nation
“He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union…”
-Article II, Section 3, Clause 1

12. Chief Executive
The president’s most important job is to carry out the nations laws; to do this he is in charge of 15 cabinet departments and 3 million civilians who work for the federal government
“He may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices.” –Article II, Section 2, Clause 1

13. Chief Executive
The president appoints the head of the cabinet departments and other agencies, with Senate approval
Hillary Clinton testifying at her Senate confirmation hearing January 13, 2009

14. Chief Executive
Executive Orders are rules or commands issued by the President that have the force of law
President Truman used an executive order in 1948 to racially integrate the armed forces

15. Chief Executive
The president appoints judges to the Supreme Court and other courts; this is important because the Supreme Court determines whether a law is constitutional

16. Chief Executive
The Constitution also gives the president power to grant pardons, which are declarations of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

17. Chief Executive
He can also issue a reprieve- orders to delay a person’s punishment until a higher court can hear the case

18. Chief Executive
Grant amnesty- a pardon to a group of people

19. Chief Diplomat Directs foreign policy, or strategy of the US
Makes key decisions about how the US acts towards other countries in the world

20. Commander in Chief
The president is commander in chief of the nation’s armed forces; this gives presidents the ability to back up their foreign policy decisions with force, if necessary

21. Commander in Chief
The president is in charge of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard; the top commanders of these branches are subordinate to the president

22. Commander in Chief
The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war but only the President can order soldiers into battle

23. Commander in Chief
Congress has declared war only five times, presidents have sent troops into action overseas more than 150 times since 1789
The War of 1812
The Mexican War
The Spanish-American War
World War I
World War II

24. War Powers Resolution (1973)
After the Vietnam War
The president must notify Congress within 48 hrs. when troops are sent into battle; they must be brought home within 60 days unless Congress gives approval for them to remain longer or declares war

25. Legislative Leader
Every president has a Legislative Program, these are new laws he wants Congress to pass

26. Warren G. Harding was the first to give a speech on the radio (1920)
Legislative Leader
He makes speeches to build support for these laws and meets with key senators and representatives to persuade them to support the proposed laws
Harry Truman was the 1st President to give a speech on TV (October 5, 1947)
Warren G. Harding was the first to give a speech on the radio (1920)

27. Head of State The president is the living symbol of the nation
In this role, he greets foreign visitors and carries out ceremonial functions for Americans such as lighting the national Christmas tree and giving out medals

28. Economic Leader
The president tries to help the country’s economy prosper; voters expect the president to deal with unemployment, rising prices, and high taxes

29. Economic Leader
The president plans the federal government’s budget each year, he meets with officials to decide what programs to support and what programs to cut back

30. Party Leader The president is the leader of their political party
Members of the party work hard to elect the president, in turn he helps party members who are running for office
The President also helps the party raise money