3/5 - US Presidency
Powers of the president
Executive Powers
Legislative powers
Appointing powers
Foreign affairs
The power of the pardon
functions of the Vice President
President is the chief executive of the federal government
The president prepares the annual budget, although it must be passed by Congress
The president proposes legislation in Congress
The president legislation passed by Congress to make it law
The president can veto legislation passed by Congress to prevent it becoming law
The president nominates officials to the executive branch (although many of these appointments must be confirmed by the Senate)
The president nominates all federal judges, including the Supreme Court justices when vacancies arise (although the Senate must confirm all these nominations)
The president is the commander-in-chief of the US military and can initiate military action (although Congress can only can declare war)
The president negotiates treaties with foreign powers (although these must be ratified by the Senate with a two-thirds majority)
The president can pardon someone who has acknowledged that they are guilty of a federal crime, but not someone who has been impeached
Taking over the president if this becomes necessary
Acting as the presiding officer of the Senate
Presiding over the counting of the Electoral College votes
25th Amendment allows the Vice president to become acting president if the president is declared disabled.
EXP: Lyndon Johnson becoming president in 1963 after John F Kennedy's assassination. In 1985, when President Reagan was hospitalised and his vice president George H>W Bush became acting President
The vice president can cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie
EXP: Al Gore cast his tie-breaking vote four times between 1993 and 2001, including two tie-breaking votes to help pass the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993 for President Bill Clinton
click to edit