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The United States president is one of the most important jobs in the free world.

The United States has tremendous power all over the world. What the president does, his

roles, and where he gets his powers from can be broken down with the help of the United

States Constitution.

The presidency encompasses many areas of work. He must make treaties.

OConnor and Sabato (2006) state that the presidents power to make treaties with

foreign nations is checked by the constitutions stipulations that all treaties must be

approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Senate. (p. 285) Executive

agreements are easier to make than treaties, but easier to break. Dye (2003) says an

executive agreement signed by the president of the United States has much the same

effect in international relations as a treaty. However, an executive agreement does not

require Senate ratification. (p. 415). The president is also in charge of coming up with

the yearly budget for every fiscal year. Dye (2003) says With the passage of the Budget

and Accounting Act in 1921, Congress established the Office of Management and Budget

(originally named the Bureau of the Budget) to assist the president in preparing an annual

Budget of the United States Government for the presentation to the Congress and that

The presidents budget is simply a set of recommendation to the Congress. (p. 406)

The budget must be approved by Congress. Madison, in the Constitution, states [The

President] shall nominate, and 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(p. 1) OConnor and Sabato (2006) state

that Presidents can exercise a check on judicial power through their constitutional

authority to grant reprieves or pardons. A Pardon is an executive grant releasing an

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individual from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime before or after

conviction, an restores all rights and privileges of citizenship. (p. 289) Dickinson (2006)

argues [A president] can use the veto to prevent bills he opposes from becoming law.

Clinton used the veto as an important tool in his struggle with the Republican-

controlled Congress after 1994; he vetoed thirty-seven bills and was overridden only

twice. Although, the veto is a powerful instrument for shaping legislative outcomes, it is

also a blunt weapon; presidents can use it to block unwanted bills, but it is less helpful in

getting the presidents policies through Congress. (p. 476) Although the president is

precarious to the economy, he has zero control over it.

The President gets his powers from The Constitution. Article II of the

Constitution makes the president the Chief Administrator. Article II, Section 3 of the

Constitution dictates that the president must implement policy: take Care that the laws

be faithfully executed The president is also Chief Legislator . The president must

initiate policy. He may veto legislation passed by congress, though he may be overridden

by two thirds of Congress. He must convene special sessions of congress under

extraordinary occasions. He is also chief diplomat. Must make treaties with the advice

and consent of the senate He must exercise the power of diplomatic recognition: receive

Ambassadors. He may make executive agreements (Dye, p. 392) The constitution

makes the president Commander-in-Chief and that means he must command the United

States Army and appoint military officers. Being Chief of State means the president will

have executive power, may grant reprieves and pardons, represents the entire State, and

must appoint federal and Supreme Court judges. (Dye, p. 392) The War Powers Act is a

bill passed in 1973 to limit presidential war-making powers, it restricts when, why, and

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for how long a president can commit U.S. forces and requires notification of and, in many

cases, approval by Congress. (p. 209) The presidents most powerful tool is the power to

persuade. This is how he can get policy to pass.

He has several different roles he also plays. He is the party

leader.( http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/2b6.html) This means he represents his

party and everyone looks to him for innovation. He is also public celebrity number one.

This means he is the most public celebrity of all time. He is also the policy maker. He

has to get Congress to pass his program.

The president is the most powerful person in the country, perhaps the world. He

has to use his power very judiciously.