Unit IV Lesson 1

Formal Powers of the President

Essential Question:• What are the institutions and

policy-making processes of the national government?

• What are the links between the branches of the national government, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, the media, and state and local governments?

Article I

*Preamble

Article I - The Legislative Branch

Article II -- The Executive Branch

Article III -- The Judicial Branch

Article IV -- Concerning the States

Article V - Amendment Process

Article VI- Legal Status of the Constitution

Article VII – Signatures

*Amendments

Presidents!!!

Articles of Confederation

Formal (“constitutional”) powers of the President:

* Carry out (enforce) laws passed by Congress

Article II Section 1

* Grant “reprieves” and “pardons” to those convicted of federal crimes

• Acts of Terrorism• Assassination• Robbing a Federal Bank• Bombing a Federal Building• Bribing of a Federal Official • Counterfeiting • Copyright Matters• Crimes on Indian Reservations• Espionage• Falsely Claiming Citizenship• Interstate Gambling• Assaulting or Killing a Federal

Officer

Article II Section 2

“Offenses against the United States”

“Reprieve”

“Pardon””

Governor

“Reprieve” “Pardon”

“Federal Crimes”

“Reprieve”

“Pardon”

Delaying or postponing punishment

“Reprieve”

“Pardon”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_pardoned_by_Barack_Obama

*Negotiate treaties with foreign nations

Article II Section 2

“Ratify”

“With the Advice and Consent of the Senate”

2/3rds

Article II Section 2

*Appoint Ambassadors Article II Section 2

“Embassy”

*Appoint Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices

Article II Section 2

There is still one more formal (constitutional) power of the President that we haven’t talked

about yet and it’s a biggie…

But We’ll Save That For Tomorrow

“The President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the

Army and Navy of the United States…”

Checks and Balances

“The President is the commander-in-chief of the

army and navy of the United States”

Which of the following is NOT a formal power of the President?

A. Declare war

B. Grant pardons and reprieves to individuals accused of offenses against the U.S.

C. Make appointments with the consent of the senate

D. Negotiate treaties with foreign nations

The difference between a pardon and a reprieve is:

A. A pardon lasts ten years, a reprieve lasts just one

B. Only governors can issue pardons

C. A pardon grants release from legal punishment while a reprieve merely postpones it

D. A pardon is used to forgive national crimes and a reprieve is used on state offenses

Which of the following is NOT a constitutional check that Congress has over

the President?

A. Congress can reject a president’s nominees for ambassadorships

B. Congress can reject a treaty the president has negotiated with another nation

C. Congress can remove a general the president has selected to conduct a battle

D. Congress can reject a president’s nominee to the Supreme Court and other federal courts

Homework!!!

Textbook Pages: 333-334,340-341

Graphic Novel Pages: 53,61-63