Qualifications for and Enumerated Powers of

the Presidency

Libertyville HS

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Overview of the Executive Branch

• What is the purpose of the Executive Branch? (Brainstorm!)– Enforce laws– Run government– Keep the peace– Engage in foreign policy

• How does the Executive Branch carry out its purpose? (Brainstorm!)– Federal bureaucracy– Persuasion of people,

Congress

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Overview of the Executive Branch

• What is the role of the President?– Lead country– Lead military– Act as chief executive– Chief diplomat– Head of political party– Chief citizen

• How does the President do his / her job?– By being elected– Through persuasion of

people– Through persuasion of

Congress

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Overview of the Executive Branch

• With what branch does the President most often compete to run the government?–Legislative Branch!

• Why?!?!–Power struggle–Conflict built in to system (checks /

balances)

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Constitutional Qualifications for

President / VP• President

– Age?• 35 years of age

– Born where?• Natural born citizen

– Residency requirement?• Yes – 14 years in USA

• Vice President?– Same as president (20th

Am)– Additionally, VP cannot

be from same state as President

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Enumerated Powers of President: C in C

• Constitutional authority: II, 2(1)

• President designated Commander in Chief of Armed Services

• Presidential division of war power– Congress’ power ???– President is C in C– If Congress declares war, Pres

gets special wartime powers• Suspension of habeus corpus• Right to direct troops without

interference from Congress

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Enumerated Powers of President: Appointment

• Constitutional authority: II, 2(2)• Power to select high ranking

members of Executive Branch– Cabinet members– Federal judges– Ambassadors

• Check / balance by Senate, power to advise and consent to presidential appointments– ”Hold” of nominee– Filibuster available, as well

• Recess appointment– If congress goes into recess, President

may appoint person to position without approval of Senate

– Person holds position until end of next congressional term

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Enumerated Powers of President: Reporting

• Constitutional Authority: II, 2(1)

• Power to require reports from executive officers, cabinet members

• Establishes president’s authority over Executive Branch

• Makes president the Chief Executive of the US Government

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Enumerated Powers of President: Pardons

• Constitutional authority: II, 2(1)

• Pardon: release person from jail or prison

• Reprieve: relieve someone of death sentence

• Check / balance on the Judicial Branch

• Examples– Bill Clinton’s list of Pardons– George W. Bush’s

list of Pardons

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Enumerated Powers of President: Treaties

• Constitutional authority: II, 2(2)

• President, through the State Department, has authority to enter into treaties with foreign governments

• Check / balance by Senate – 2/3 vote required to ratify treaty

• Ratified treaties are treated just like acts of Congress

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Enumerated Powers of President: Reception

• Constitutional Authority: II, 3• Power to receive

ambassadors from other countries

• President is the face of America to the rest of the world

• Power to receive ambassadors is also the power to recognize the legitimate government of a country

• Example: fall of USSR

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Enumerated Powers of President: Convening

• Constitutional authority: II, 3• President empowered to give

State of the Union to joint session of Congress

• President empowered to advance his legislative agenda in Congress

• President empowered to convene either chamber of Congress – Convene to consider matters of

importance to President– House has never been convened – Senate has been convened dozens

of times – why?