1. Powers and Roles of the President
The Executive Branch
Powers and Roles of the President

2. Legislative Leader
Constitution requires the president to deliver several messages to Congress each year
State of the Union- televised speech every January that sets forth the programs, policies the president wants Congress to put into place
Address the country’s most pressing concerns

3. Legislative Leader President also sends Congress an economic message
How the govt. should raise and spend money
Reviews current economic situation, recommends the appropriate laws and programs to help the economy
President’s power to veto discourages Congress from passing a bill the president does not like
Hard to override vetoed bills

4. Commander in Chief President is head of the U.S. armed forces
All military officers, in time of war and peace, ultimately answer to the president
President does not actually lead forces into battle
Stays in contact with military leaders, decides how wars will be fought

5. Commander in Chief
Only Congress can declare war, but President can send troops wherever there is danger
Even without a declaration of war
War Powers Act (1973)- limits the president’s military power
Troops can only be on the ground 60 days without Congressional approval

6. Foreign Policy Leader
Foreign policy- a government’s plan for interacting with other countries of the world
President must secure friendly relations while preserving national security
Meets with leaders and representatives of other countries
Also appoints officials to represent the U.S. in other countries

7. Foreign Policy Leader
Diplomacy- the art of interacting with foreign governments
President is the chief diplomat of the U.S.
Regularly meets/corresponds with leaders of foreign governments
Treaties- written agreements with other countries
President assumes final responsibility for treaties made with other countries
Senate must approve a treaty, but president is responsible for carrying it out

8. Judicial Powers
Constitution gives the president the power to appoint Supreme Court Judges
Judicial appointments must be approved by a majority in the Senate
Republican-led Congress refused to hear Obama’s appointment for over a year, so we only had 8 Supreme Court justices
Trump has nominated Neil Gorsuch

9. Judicial powers
Reprieves- postpones the carrying out of a person’s sentence
Gives that person more time to gather evidence or appeal for a new trial
Pardons- forgives a person who was convicted of a crime, frees him/her from their sentence
Commutation- make a convicted person’s sentence less severe

10. Presidential Daily Life
Must always be in touch with key govt. officials
Never far away from a phone or computer
Many hours of the day are spent in meetings with different advisers, members of Congress, and party officials
President also meets regularly with members of his cabinet

11. Presidential Daily Life
Speeches, radio and television appearances to connect directly to the public
Press conferences to explain and discuss government procedures and actions
Deal with bills in Congress, examine budgets, stay informed and reach decisions on foreign policy and national defense