Heimler's History: Roles and Powers of the U.S. President

Introduction

• Focus on Unit 2 of the AP Government Curriculum.
• Topic: Roles and powers of the President of the United States.
• Main goal: Explain how the President implements a policy agenda.

Policy Agenda

• An informal contract between the candidate and voters.
• Outlines the laws the President will work to implement.

Presidential Powers

Formal Powers

• Defined in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Veto Power

• President can veto any bill from Congress.
• "Veto" means "I forbid" in Latin.
• Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
• Bills not in line with the President's policy agenda are often vetoed.
• Pocket Veto: If Congress adjourns within the 10-day signing period and the President doesn't sign, the bill is vetoed.

Commander-in-Chief

• President leads the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Congress declares war (Article 1, Section 8).
• Example: President Biden ended the war in Afghanistan as part of his policy agenda.

Informal Powers

• Not mentioned in the Constitution but exist due to executive power nature.

Bargaining and Persuasion

• President can communicate with the public to influence Congress.
• Presidential approval ratings affect bargaining power.
• Example: Lyndon Johnson had high approval, enabling legislative success; Clinton had low approval, hindering success.

Executive Order

• A directive with the force of federal law, not actually a law.
• Utilized to manage federal bureaucracy.
• Examples: Trump's border wall funding, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Signing Statement

• President's interpretation and plan to execute a law when signing it.
• Can differ from congressional intent.
• Example: FDR's statement during WWII on a law section he found unconstitutional.

Executive Agreements

• Agreements between President and another head of state, not a formal treaty.
• Do not require Senate approval.
• Example: Obama's Paris Accord participation via executive agreement.
• Only valid while the President is in power (e.g., Trump and Biden's differing stances on the Paris Accord).

Conclusion

• Understanding of how formal and informal powers allow the President to implement policy.
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