formal and informal powers of the president

• in regards to the president, what did the founding fathers create?

  • a president who is head of state and government
  • created a singular executive
  • created an indirectly elected president
  • created a 'checked' president
• informal powers are ______ not constitutional?

  political
• what can the president's formal powers be divided into?

  • enumerated powers
  • implied powers
  • inherent powers
• what are enumerated powers?

  explicitly granted by Article II of the constitution or delegated by congress
• what are implied powers?

  these are implied by the text of the constitution
• what are inherent powers?


  not set out in the constitution but are needed by the president to carry out his role
• what type of power is the implicit authority from the constitution or congress and what is an example of it?

  implied powers

  Roosevelt used emergency powers to force Japanese-Americans into internment camps during WW2
• what type of power is being the head of the executive and what is an example of it?

  inherent powers

  After 9/11 George W Bush detained terrorist suspects for an indefinite amount of time and had them transported to other countries for interrogation
• what are the formal powers?

  • executive powers
  • legislative powers
  • appointment powers
  • foreign affairs powers
  • pardon powers
• what are the informal powers of the president?

  • the power to persuade
  • deal-making
  • agenda setting
  • executive influence
  • de facto party leader
  • world leader
  • direct authority and stretching of implied powers
  • bureaucratic power
• examples of presidential persuasion through perks

  • make deals and negotiations
  • make personal phone calls
  • offer help with legislation
  • look more favourably on judicial appointments
  • invite members of congress to the oval office
  • support in the next campaign
• when did Obama try and use the power to persuade and how?

  when he was trying to pass the Patient and Affordable care act 2010

  • delivered a state of the union address
  • took part in a televised session with senate democrats
  • addressed the house democratic caucus
• how can presidents use direct authority?

  • executive orders
  • signing of statements
  • recess appointments
  • executive agreements