Formal sources of Presidential Power

• Where are the formal sources of presidential power outlined in?

  Article 2
• The president has the power to run the government’s executive branch and uses the Executive Office of the President (EXOP) to help do this
• The president has powers to propose legislation to Congress
• The president proposes a legislative agenda to Congress in the yearly State of the Union Address but can also put forward legislation at any point in time
• The budget is a key legislation submitted by the president to Congress
• Who draws up the budget?

  Office of Management and Budget (OMB) which sits within the EXOP
• Once a bill is passed through the legislative process in Congress, the president has the power to sign the bill into law.
• If a president objects to legislation passed by Congress, they can veto it
• A vetoed bill must be returned to Congress within 10 days
• What is a pocket veto?


  When a president does not sign a bill until Congressional session has ended at which point the bill can no longer become law
• The president has the power to lead the US armed forces in foreign policy action
• The president is the Head of State.. The president carries out ceremonial functions on behalf of the USA and leads the nation during times of national crises
• The president has the power to nominate judges to the Supreme Court and the federal courts
• The president nominates officials to the executive branch, including the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors and heads of government agencies
• Presidential nominations must be approved by what?

  A vote in the Senate
• The president can make and negotiate treaties with other countries
• The president has the power to pardon citizens from criminal sentences
• How many pardons did Obama give?

  212
• The president will always carry the nuclear ‘football’ which has access to the nuclear codes to authorise a nuclear attack