1. Bellringer Answer the following question in a well-written paragraph.
Which role of the president is most important AND why?

2. G-U3-L2 President: Formal and Informal Powers
SSCG12 The student will analyze the various roles played by the President of the United States; include Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, chief executive, chief agenda setter, representative of the nation, chief of state, foreign policy leader, and party leader.

3. Formal Powers of the President
Constitutional or enumerated powers of the presidency
Found primarily in Article II of the Constitution

4. Executive Power: APPOINTING POWER
“Faithfully execute” the laws
The President has the power to appoint nearly three million federal civilian employees.
Once the President receives the consent of the Senate, he appoints most of the top-ranking officials in the Federal Government.
Some examples are: federal judges, cabinet members, heads of independent agencies, and officers of the military.

5. Executive Power: THE REMOVAL POWER
*The President can remove anyone from office who he has appointed.
*The only restriction on this power is that the President cannot remove Supreme Court Justices from the bench.
*Three major reasons for removal are: inefficiency in office, neglect of duty, or inappropriate behavior.

6. JUDICIAL POWERS
ACCORDING TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 2, CLAUSE 1 THE PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER TO ISSUE:
PARDON – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS LEGAL FORGIVENESS FOR A CRIME
AMNESTY – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS A PARDON FOR A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE
REPRIEVE – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS POSTPONING A SENTENCE
COMMUTATION- ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS A REDUCTION OF A SENTENCE

7. Legislative Powers Give State of the Union address to Congress
Recommend “measures” to the Congress
Presidential Veto
Veto Message within 10 days of passing the House of origin
Pocket Veto - President does not sign within 10 days
Congress can override with 2/3 majority from both Houses
Veto Politics
Congressional override is difficult (only 4%)
Threat of veto can cause Congress to make changes in legislation

8. Informal Powers
Those powers not explicitly written in the Constitution
Similar to “necessary and proper” powers of Congress
In the modern era (since 1933), the President’s informal powers may be significantly more powerful than his formal powers

9. Ordinance Power
Executive Orders : a rule issued by the President that carry the force of law
Clinton’s “Don’t ask don’t tell” gays in the military policy
FDR’s internment of Japanese Americans
GWB trying suspected terrorists in military tribunals
Notice for Japanese “relocation,” 1942

10. Executive Agreements
International agreements, usually related to trade, made by a president that has the force of a treaty; does NOT need Senate approval
Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana in 1803
GWB announced cuts in the nuclear arsenal, but not in a treaty; usually trade agreements between
US and other nations

11. Executive Privilege
Claim by a president that he has the right to decide that the national interest will be better served if certain information is withheld from the public, including the Courts and Congress
United States v. Nixon (1973) – presidents do NOT have unqualified executive privilege (Nixon Watergate tapes)

12. Presidential Superpowers
You are to create a Presidential Superhero that represents all of the different roles that the President plays in our government. You have 2 different options:
Create a superhero and weapons/powers that reflect the different roles of the President
Create a story by making a comic strip that tells a story of the Presidential superhero using all of his powers.

13. Closing Questions
Why are informal powers more important than formal powers, particularly to modern presidents?
Identify several advantages and disadvantages of the use of the president’s informal powers.
Has the use and perhaps abuse of the informal powers created an “Imperial Presidency?” Defend your answer.