What is the role of the President in the

American Constitutional System?

Lesson 23

The President

• The majority of the Presidential powers we see today are not specifically listed in the Constitution

• Executive Power is not actually defined in a specific way

The President: Specific Powers

• Commander and Chief of the army and navy

• Head of the Executive department• Pardons, postponement of

punishment, and granting reprieves (cancel)

• Making treaties with the guidance and approval of the Senate. The Senate can vote down any treaty.

• Nomination of foreign ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, and judges of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

• Recommending legislation to Congress

• Reviewing legislation• Receiving foreign ministers

• Many presidents have seen the definition of presidential power as flexible.

• They use the vague version of power so they can adapt the Constitution in times of emergency• Wars, Depressions

• The Framers did not think there would be political parties. Therefore, the president was to be above all politics.

• President was not to be a monarch, but not a weak leader either

Original intent of the President?

Evolution of the Presidency

• Washington was considered powerful since he was the first. His actions set the precedent for the behavior of future presidents.

• Jefferson took a very hands off approach to government in most situations.

Andrew Jackson changed everything

Andrew Jackson• Jackson wants to

destroy the bank• Ordered the Secretary

of Treasury to remove funds from Federal Governments

• First secretary refused...resigned

• Second secretary refused...resigned

• Third secretary of Treasury: Accepted, did the job, and then resigned.

• All government funds were moved to state banks

• Jackson’s opponents called them “Pet Banks”

• The Bank of the U.S. now had little money, so they had to call in their loans

• Hundreds of business people went bankrupt

• Banks failed• Factories closed down• Workers were laid off

Impact of Bank removal

• People began begging Jackson to bring the bank back.

• Jackson shifted all attention to secretary of treasury Biddle

• Democrats begin to blame Biddle as well

• Depression appeared near.....• Bank of U.S. once again could issue

credit to state banks

.

• Since money was suddenly plentiful again, reckless investment stepped in

• Congress issued $30 million dollars in surplus funds to the states

• Turnpikes, canals and railroads were improved or built

.• Inflation began• Inflation: a fall in the value of money

• The Government gave out huge amounts of money for land

• There was so much money that the prices of the land were raised. Now the money is less valuable than it was just prior to the land price raise.

.

• To stop inflation Jackson ordered all land to be paid for in silver or gold.

• Land sales stopped• Panic and depression were on the

horizon.

Jackson

• Not only did Jackson take on the Bank System, he would use his power to veto liberally.

• Jackson vetoed bills 12 times, more than the previous Presidents combined

Abraham Lincoln• “Inherent Powers” were used often• Lincoln’s ability to use the unspoken

powers was prominant• Nationalizing the militia• Expanding the military w/out

approval• Suspending Habeas Corpus

Woodrow Wilson

• Took issues directly to the public in attempts to gain their support

Roosevelt• Used his power in perhaps the most

different number of ways• Used opinion polls to hear the

people’s ideas• Made a wide range of reforms• Government became heavily

involved in daily life

Foreign Policy

• Commander of the armed forces can send troops anywhere so countries will comply with our policies.

• Every president since FDR has sent soldiers abroad

• A declaration of war is not necessarily needed

Foreign Policy

• Treaties are solely negotiated and made by the President

• Senate must pass treaties with a 2/3 vote

Chief Diplomat

• Appoints and receives all ambassadors and representatives for/from other countries

Powers During Emergencies

• The president can generally do whatever they want during crisis

• In some instances the President had attempts him to limit these types of powers• George Bush in Iraq

Expansion of Presidential Power

• Five main reasons• The people of the U.S. require a

strong president• The Constitution is once again

vague• Main legislative proposer• Increased use of Executive Orders• Growth of national government

Limits on the President• Rejecting legislation• Refusal to ratify treaties• Asserting its constitutional power• Denying appointments• Denying funds to programs• Impeachment