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| Dear Yahoo!: |
| What are the presidential powers? |
Sarah
Greenville, Wisconsin |
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| Dear Sarah: |
The precise limits of presidential power are a source of an eternal legal debate, but the broad powers of the office are outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The president's basic constitutional responsibilities are thus: - Act as Commander in Chief of the Army and the Navy.
- Make foreign treaties, with two-thirds consent of the Senate.
- Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, and federal judges, with the approval of the Senate.
- Deliver a State of the Union address to Congress.
- Recommend
legislation to Congress.
- Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions.
- Adjourn Congress, in cases of a disagreement about adjournment.
- "Take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
- Receive foreign ambassadors and ministers.
While the president obviously has a tremendous amount of authority, his legislative power is limited. The president can recommend legislation, but only Congress can write it. The presidential veto is a very powerful tool, but it's not a line-item veto, and can be overridden with a two-thirds majority vote. It's important to note that the president can authorize the use of troops overseas without officially declaring war. For more
details on the power of the oval office, we refer you to the Presidential Powers category in the Yahoo! Directory.
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