The Power of The President of The United States

When one thinks of the President, one may think of his job as the Chief Executive of the nation’s largest bureaucracy; however, the president is also responsible for many more things and serves in several roles. For example, he typically plays a large role in legislation. The president has an overall influence over the legislative process.

The President of the United States has certain powers that come with his title which allow him to have a role in legislation. These powers are known as implied and enumerated powers. Implied powers are that which are not specifically addressed within the Constitution. Enumerated powers are given to the president in the Constitution. His powers can be divided up into two provisions. These provisions are the first which is stated in Article II Section 3 and the second in Article I Section 7. To sum it up, the first provision allows the president to give congress information from the State of the Union. The president’s job is to be able to address a State of the Union; however, in order to do so, he needs proper recommendations and information to which he can under this provision refer to the congress for. This falls under the enumerated powers category because it gives others the opportunity of some power constitutionally as well. The second of the president’s provisions is the power to veto. This is one of his implied powers. This allows the president the power to prohibit a bill from becoming law. Having this power gives the president importance to his title that no one else can possess. A bill can not become a law without his overall approval unless the House and Senate override the veto by over a two-thirds vote. This then can become known as a pocket veto which typically only occurs if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation during the final ten days of a session. If the president does not sign a bill within ten days, it has the possibility of automatically becoming a law. This only happens when and if Congress is not in session. If they are, a different process occurs with the President still being on top providing he makes his decisions in the time allotted.

Overall, the president is responsible for many things with legislation being a larger part than many realize. Some of his implied powers which haven’t been mentioned are his ability to establish a cabinet, executive privilege to withhold information from congress which is opposite from his enumerated powers to share the State of the Union with Congress, his executive orders, his proclamations, and agreements, and his ability to sign statements. Some of his enumerated powers that haven’t been mentioned are negotiating treaties with foreign entities, appointing ambassadors, power to fill vaccines, and receiving representations of foreign nations. The reasoning for these powers is to allow division and balance to his job. These powers allow for him to properly follow what the Constitution states while also adding his own twist. It also allows for others to get involved to an extent with him remaining at the head. The power of the President of the United States should never be underestimated especially his influences on the legislative processes.