Presidential Powers
The Constitutional Powers:
1. "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the
United States" (Article II Section 2).
2. "He shall have Power ... to make treaties" (Article II, Section 2).
3. "... he shall appoint Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, judges
of the Supreme Court" (Article II, Section 2).
4. "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the
United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with
his objections-" (Article 1, Section 7). This is called the power of veto.
5. "... he shall have Power to Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses - against
the United States. (Article II, Section 2)
Limits and Constraints:
The president's constitutional powers are balanced by the countervailing powers that
the constitution assigned to Congress.
1. "The Congress shall have Power... To declare war." (Article 1, Section 8).
2. "He shall have Power by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to
make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senate present concur. (Article 2,
Section 2).
3. "He... by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, judges of the Supreme
Court and all other officers of the United States. (Article II, Section 2).
4. "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the
United States; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it.. If
after such reconsideration-two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the
Bill it shall be sent...to the other house ... and if approved by two thirds of
that house, it shall become a law. (Article I, Section 7).
5. "The President.... shall be removed from Office on impeachment for, and
Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours."
(Section II, Section 4).
The Constitutional Powers:
1. "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the
United States" (Article II Section 2).
2. "He shall have Power ... to make treaties" (Article II, Section 2).
3. "... he shall appoint Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, judges
of the Supreme Court" (Article II, Section 2).
4. "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the
United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with
his objections-" (Article 1, Section 7). This is called the power of veto.
5. "... he shall have Power to Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses - against
the United States. (Article II, Section 2)
Limits and Constraints:
The president's constitutional powers are balanced by the countervailing powers that
the constitution assigned to Congress.
1. "The Congress shall have Power... To declare war." (Article 1, Section 8).
2. "He shall have Power by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to
make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senate present concur. (Article 2,
Section 2).
3. "He... by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, judges of the Supreme
Court and all other officers of the United States. (Article II, Section 2).
4. "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the
United States; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it.. If
after such reconsideration-two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the
Bill it shall be sent...to the other house ... and if approved by two thirds of
that house, it shall become a law. (Article I, Section 7).
5. "The President.... shall be removed from Office on impeachment for, and
Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours."
(Section II, Section 4).
