US President’s Powers and Responsibilities: Article II
Chapter 13 – Exam 3 Review: Article II of the US Constitution
Purpose of Article II
- Article II of the Constitution defines the Executive Branch of the US Government.
President’s Expressed Powers
The President’s expressed powers, as outlined in the Constitution, include the following:
- Delivering a “State of the Union” report (message).
- Convening a special session of Congress.
- Receiving foreign ambassadors.
- Proposing legislation (necessary and expedient).
- Carrying out the laws passed by Congress.
War Powers: President vs. Congress
The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action. It forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without Congressional authorization for the use of military force or a declaration of war by the United States. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.
Executive Agreement vs. Executive Order
- An executive agreement involves two or more parties reaching a consensus.
- An executive order is a directive given to subordinates, whether they agree or not.
Executive Privilege
Executive privilege is the constitutional principle that permits the President and high-level executive branch officers to withhold information from Congress, the courts, and ultimately the public.
Legislative Initiative
Legislative initiative is the constitutionally defined power to propose a new law (bill).
President’s Delegated Powers
Delegated powers are powers granted by Congress to help the President fulfill his duties.
President’s Inherent Powers
Inherent powers are powers inherent in the President’s power as chief of the Executive Branch.
The Cabinet and the “Inner Cabinet”
- A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the Executive Branch. They are usually called ministers, but in some jurisdictions, they are sometimes called Secretaries.
- The Inner Cabinet includes only the ministers (or Secretaries of State, etc.) who are closest to the executive head of state, Prime Minister, or equivalent (notably presiding) officer.
The “Kitchen Cabinet”
The term “Kitchen Cabinet” was used by political opponents of President Andrew Jackson to describe his ginger group, the collection of unofficial advisers he consulted in parallel to the United States Cabinet (the “parlor cabinet”) following his purge of the Cabinet at the end of the Eaton affair and his break with Vice President John C. Calhoun.
White House Staff
The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, who is also the head of the Executive Office.
Purpose of the President’s Signing Statement
A signing statement may serve multiple purposes:
- Rhetorical: To point out positive or negative aspects of the bill and how they fit in with the administration’s views.
- Political: To define or clarify what the President views as ambiguous aspects of the bill.
- Constitutional: To announce the President’s view of the constitutionality of certain aspects of the bill.