Presidential Powers

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The Presidential Powers• Executive Powers:• Executing Laws

• very broad powers – President interprets how the law is to be carried out and enforced

• Executive Orders• instructions to states on how to carry out the laws

• Appointing Officials ***• Ambassadors, Officers of the United States, etc.

*** Must be confirmed by the Senate ***• Executive Privilege• the president’s right to not to hand over information to

Congress

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The Presidential Powers• Judicial Powers:• Appoint all Supreme Court Justices and federal judges ***• Appointees have to be confirmed by the Senate

• Reprieves, Pardons, Commutations• Reprieve• postponing the carrying out of a persons sentence

• Pardon• release from punishment of a convicted criminal, or;• immunity from charges of criminal activity

• Commutation• Lessening of the severity of a convicted person’s sentence

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The Presidential Powers

• Legislative Powers:• Recommending Legislation• usually done during State of Union address

• Vetoing Legislation• Lobbying• Campaign for members of their party

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The Presidential Powers

• Diplomatic Powers:• Making Treaties ***• must be approved by a two-thirds vote by

the Senate• Executive Agreements• informal agreements with foreign governments

• Recognizing Governments• Diplomatic Recognition

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The Presidential Powers

• Military Powers:• Committing Troops• Send them anywhere for many reasons

• Make recommendations about size of military and equipment

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• Using a sheet of paper you will:• Assign each presidential power a percentage of the “pie”• Determine how important you think each job is and how much

of the President’s time such be exercising that power.• the higher the percentage, the more important the job.

• Create a symbol and place that symbol in the powers that are checked by the legislature• Create a symbol and place that symbol in the powers

which you think that American people should have more of a say in• Each category (executive, judicial, diplomatic, legislative, military)

will need to be colored a different color (a total of 5 colors)

• Create a key/legend for the meaning of each color and symbol

The Presidential Powers Pie Chart