Job Description: US President
Article II of the United States Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government and defines the role of the President
The president shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
Powers:
- Enforce laws: The President has the authority to enforce laws and appoint agents to do so.
- Commander in Chief: The President is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military.
- Make treaties: The President can make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate.
- Appointments: The President nominates and appoints ambassadors, judges, and other officers.
- Reprieves and pardons: The President can grant pardons and reprieves for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
What a President Can Do and Cannot Do
A PRESIDENT CAN . . .
- make treaties with the approval of the Senate.
- veto bills and sign bills.
- represent our nation in talks with foreign countries.
- enforce the laws that Congress passes.
- act as Commander-in-Chief during a war.
- call out troops to protect our nation against an attack.
- make suggestions about things that should be new laws.
- lead his/her political party.
- entertain foreign guests.
- recognize foreign countries.
- grant pardons.
- nominate Cabinet members and Supreme Court Justices and other high officials.
- appoint ambassadors.
- talk directly to the people about problems.
- represent the best interest of all the people
A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .
- make laws.
- declare war.
- decide how federal money will be spent.
- interpret laws.
- choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.
One Person Can Do This?
According to Russ Vought (currently OMB Director)from Mandate for Leadership (Project 2025):
“The President must set and enforce a plan for the executive branch. Sadly, however, President today assumes office to find a sprawling federal bureaucracy that all too often is carrying out its own policy plans and preferences—or, worse yet, the policy plans and preferences of a radical, supposedly “woke” faction of the country”
Unitary Executive Theory
In American law, the unitary executive theory claims the President of the United States has sole authority over the executive branch. The theory is often invoked during jurisprudential disagreements about the president’s authority to remove employees, transparency and access to information, discretion over the implementation of new laws and the ability to influence agencies’ rule-making. There is disagreement about the doctrine’s strength and scope. Some interpretations are controversial for both constitutional and practical reasons. Since the Reagan administration, the Supreme Court has embraced a stronger unitary executive, supported by its conservative justices, the Federalist Society, and the Heritage Foundation.
It is quicker to implement without any inconvenient interference from congress or the judiciary. Ask Vladimir or Xi.
Pushing the Envelope
| USAID – Killing an Agency |
| USAID was created by an E.O. issued by President John F. Kennedy, based in part on authority provided in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. But a later act of Congress established USAID as its own agency. Another more recent provision of law explicitly requires both congressional consultation and notification to Congress for reorganizations, consolidations, or downsizing of USAID. The future of the US government’s primary overseas aid agency is in doubt, with employees locked out and the Trump administration planning to merge it with the US Department of State. Trump has made it clear he is not keen on spending to help people in need, unless closely aligned with an “America First” approach. The international development sector is braced for a negative impact on humanitarian programs around the world. |
| Soviet Style Detainment |
| Palestinian, former student, Mahmoud Khalil, has a green-card authorizing residency, is married to an American citizen, was arrested by federal immigration agents in Columbia University housing. Khalil was a leader of the pro-Palestinian protest movement at Columbia University, when noisy demonstrations against the war in the Gaza Strip erupted in college campuses around the country. This raises questions about how a legal permanent resident could face deportation — and what it could mean for issues of free speech on college campuses. What could happen to other innocent residents who have angered Trump and his Secretaries? |
| Disappearing Plane Loads |
| While the White House insists it complied with a recent court order temporarily blocking the president from invoking a rarely used wartime authority, ABC News’ review of flight data suggests the Trump administration ignored the court’s ruling. The dispute came after President Donald Trump invoked a centuries-old law that would give him the ability to deport any noncitizen with little to no due process. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is hearing arguments over Trump’s reliance on the Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador with no due process. |
| Lawyers Revenge |
| Trump has a long memory for being cheated and disrespected. His second term has seen blatantly illegal attacks motivated by his need for revenge. The courts have stepped up and suspended many of these orders. He’s targeting lawyers, punishing them for filing lawsuits he opposes, or hiring lawyers he doesn’t like. Several executive (EO) orders have targeted major law firms. These tactics, are intended to chill opposition. They are an attack on the foundation of the rule of law and are achieving their purpose. Some major law firms are surrendering to Trump’s illegal demands. |
How do we fix?
Asking AI:
Presidential impeachment in the United States is a significant process by which the House of Representatives can formally accuse a sitting president (or other federal officials) of misconduct, potentially leading to their removal from office.