Transcript The Roles of the Executive Branch

The Roles of the President
The Constitution holds the
President responsible to carry
out the duties of the Executive
Branch. In carrying out these
tasks, the President takes on
different roles:
Chief Executive
Most important role
 Head of the federal bureaucracy
 Carries out the nation’s laws through the
executive branch employees (determines the
specific provisions of each new law)
 Issues executive orders (has the force of a
law)
 The power to appoint government officials
(ambassadors, judges, heads of government
agencies and cabinet members) which are
approved by the Senate

Chief Diplomat
Primary responsibility for dealing with other
countries
 Appoints ambassadors (representatives of the
United States) to foreign countries where the
US recognizes the government
 Make treaties, with the advice and consent of
the Senate, with foreign nations
 Make executive agreements with the leaders
of other countries (does not have to be
approved by the Senate)

Commander in Chief
Leader of the armed forces- final authority
over military matters
 Only the President can order American
soldiers into battle
 The War Powers Act- limits the President’s
authority to wage war- requires the President
to immediately notify Congress when
soldiers are sent to battle
 During peacetime, the President can use
troops to keep peace and order

Legislative Leader
Get Congress to pass laws that will advance
the President’s program
 Signs or Veto bills passed by Congress
 Makes the State of the Union Address once
a year to Congress
-presents the President’s goals for the nation
for the upcoming year
 Prepares a budget to recommend how
government should raise and spend money

Party Leader
 No
special powers or privileges given
to the President
 Helps the party by appointing
government jobs through patronage,
makes speeches and personal
appearances in support of party
members who are running for election
 Helps unify the party and give it
direction
Judicial Leader
Power to appoint federal judges and
Supreme Court Justices who have the same
views as the President
 Grants pardons to people convicted of
committing federal offenses
 Issues reprieves to a person until a higher
court can rule on the case
 Grants amnesty- similar to a pardon, but to a
group rather than an individual

Chief of State
 Symbol
of the United States
Government
 Represents the whole nation
 Ex: when the President honors certain
individuals, they are acting as the
Chief of State