Presidential Powers

1) Executive Orders
The President, as the head of the Executive Branch,
can direct each agency to perform certain tasks.

(In other words, the President has the power to

decide how the government executes the laws)

-Do not need congressional approval

-Carry the same weight as laws

Types:

Proclamations- ceremonial directives (i.e. National

Character Counts Week, declare H1N1 “National
Emergency”)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/proclamations

National Security Directives- Military Orders

Do Executive Orders give the

President too much power?

Examples of EO’s
-Clinton sends troops to Yugoslavia
-Lincoln declares the Emancipation Proclamation
-Obama closes detention base at Guantanamo, Cuba

2) Executive Agreements
The President does not have the power to approve
 treaties, but is granted the ability to hammer out lesser
agreements with foreign powers.

3) Military Powers
The President directs the operations of the US military
War Powers Act (1973): The president cannot commit
troops to any mission for more than 60 days without
Congressional Approval

4) Appointments
The President chooses people to take Cabinet-level
positions and Federal Judgeships. (must be approved
by a majority vote in the Senate)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/nominations-and-appointments

5) Pardons
The President may excuse a convicted federal felon
from their sentence

Amnesty- a pardon granted to a group of people

6) Veto

Unofficial (Evolutionary) Powers

1. Economic Planning
 The President proposes the federal budget to
Congress

Several economic-centered agencies are under the

direct control of the Whitehouse

2. Executive Privilege
The President has been able to maintain confidentiality
and refuse to testify, or provide information, to
Congress

US vs. Nixon-

3. Impoundment
The President may not act upon Congressional action
(i.e. not fund it)

4. The power of Persuasion