Presidents Have Seven Major Duties. Five of These Are Based on the Constitution; Serving

Chief Executive Presidents have seven major duties. Five of these are based on the Constitution; serving as head of As the nation’s chief executive, the state, chief executive, chief legislator, chief President sees that the laws of Congress are carried diplomat, and commander in chief. Two other roles out. The Executive Branch employs more than 2 not mentioned in the Constitution have developed million people to enforce the laws and programs over the years. These are economic planner and that Congress establishes. The President is in charge political party leader. of these employees and the federal departments and Head of State agencies for which they work. One tool the President has to influence how As head of state, the President represents the laws are carried out is through executive orders. nation and performs many ceremonial duties. Executive orders are rules that have the force of Serving as host to visiting kings, queens, and heads law. They are mean to clarify an existing law, or of foreign governments, the President is the nation’s direct a federal agency. For example, President chief diplomat. Other ceremonial duties are less Harry Truman used an executive order to integrate important, but receive a great deal of attention. the armed forces in 1948. Lighting the national Christmas tree, giving awards and medals, making public service statements on important issues, meeting public figures from musicians to business leaders are all considered a part of the role of the President.

The President is both the head of state and the chief executive. In most countries, these are two separate duties. One person – sometimes a king or As chief executive, the President appoints, queen, is the ceremonial head of state, while another with Senate approval, all federal judges, including person – such as a prime minister, leads the the justices of the Supreme Court. Presidents can government. use this power to influence the course of government by appointing judges that share their This difference is important; much of the political ideology. mystery and excitement that surround the presidency exists because the President is more than Reprieves and Pardons As chief executive, a politician. the President can grant “reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States.” A reprieve is postponement of punishment, while a pardon is a release from legal punishment. In 1974, President Gerald Ford granted “a full, free and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon” for any crimes the former President may have committed in connection with the Watergate scandal. The President’s role as chief economic planner has grown rapidly since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The Employment Act of 1946 gave new duties to the President. This law Amnesty Finally, the President may also directed the President to submit an annual economic grant amnesty. Amnesty is a group pardon to report to Congress. individuals for an offense against the government. The President also has the duty to prepare Amnesty often applies to military personnel. For the federal budget every year. The President example, Presidents Ford and Carter granted supervises the work and spends many months with amnesty to men who fled the draft during the budget officials deciding which programs to support Vietnam War. and which to cut back.

Chief Legislator Party Leader

Congress expects the Executive Branch to The President’s political party expects the propose legislation it wishes to see enacted. chief executive to be a party leader. The President Usually, the President describes planned legislative may give speeches to help fellow party members programs in the annual State of the Union message running for office, or attend fundraising activities to to Congress. This message is meant to call attention help raise money for the party. to the Presidents ideas about how to solve important problems facing the country. Presidents are expected to appoint members of their party to available government jobs. Political When the President and the majority of patronage, which is the appointment to political Congress are from different political parties, the office, rewards those who supported the party and President must work harder to influence members President during an election. of Congress to support a particular program. Being a political party leader can be a Presidents may hand out political favors to difficult role for a President. People expect a get Congressional support. They may visit the home President, as head of the government, to represent state of a member of Congress to help support their all Americans. Many Presidents face conflict reelection. Or a President may start a new federal between leading their own political party and project that will bring money and jobs to a member leading the country. of Congress’s home state or district. Presidents may also invite members of Congress to important White Chief Diplomat House social events. The President directs the foreign policy of An important presidential tool in lawmaking the United States, making decisions about the is the veto power. Each bill Congress passes is sent relations between the United States and other to the President for approval. Presidents sometimes countries. Presidents are given access to classified use the threat of a veto to force Congress to stop a information about foreign affairs. The Central bill, or change it to better fit the Presidents wishes. Intelligence Agency, the State Department the These threats succeed because Congress often finds Department of Defense, the Department of it difficult to gather the needed 2/3 votes to override Homeland Security and the National Security a veto. Council all constantly provide the President with the latest information needed to make foreign policy Economic Planner decisions. Members of Congress, who lack access to that type of information, often find it difficult to numerous conflicts. The War Powers Act of 1973, challenge the President’s decisions. allows the President to send American troops into combat areas without Congressional approval. As chief diplomat, the President has the sole power to make treaties, formal agreements between Under the act, the President can only send the governments of two or more countries. As part combat troops into battle or into areas where of the Constitutional system of checks and balances, ''imminent'' hostilities are likely, for 60 days without a declaration of war by Congress. The President can extend the time the troops are in the combat area for 30 extra days, without Congressional approval, for a total of 90 days. The act, however, does not specify what Congress can do if the President refuses to comply with the act. Congress could presumably suspend all funds for such troops and override a Presidential veto.

Generals, admirals and other military leaders run the armed forces on a day-to-day basis. The however, two-thirds of the Senate must approve all President, however, is responsible for key military treaties before they can go into effect. decisions. For example, the President has the authority to order the use of atomic weapons, a tremendous responsibility.

The President has other duties as commander in chief. During a war, the President can take actions at home to support a war effort. The President may also use the military within the nation, either to put down rioting or aid in times of natural disasters.

The role as head of state, chief legislator, economic planner, chief diplomat, and commander in chief gives the President broad powers. Today, the President of the United States is the most powerful single individual in the world. Commander in Chief

Presidents can back up their foreign policy decisions with military force when necessary. The Constitution makes the President commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States.

The President shares with Congress the power to make war. Presidents ask for Congressional approval to send troops into battle. The United States has not officially declared war since World War II, despite being involved in