26.

Examine the powers and functions of the President of USA. 

Following are the powers and functions of the President of USA: 

i. Chief Administrator : The President is the head of national administration. It is his duty to see that the Constitution, laws and the treaties of the United States and the judicial decisions given by the federal courts are properly implemented throughout the country. He is assisted in carrying his functions by the entire federal bureaucracy. In case a Republican government is threatened in a particular state or if there is a danger of invasion of that state, the President has got the right to act on his own initiative.

ii. Commander-in-Chief : The President being the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of the United States is responsible for the defence of the country. He appoints military officers with the advice of the Senate and can remove them at will. Although the power to declare war lies in the hands of the Congress yet the President can make war unavoidable and necessary by his conduct in administration. As Commander-in-Chief, the President decides where troops are to be located and stationed. Every action of the armed forces on land and sea is carried out according to the orders of the President.

iii. Power of Appointment : As administrative head, the President appoints, with the advice and consent of a simple majority of the Senators present, Ambassadors, Ministers, Federal Judges and other officers of the United States whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in the Constitution.

iv. Power of Removal : The President enjoys unchecked authority to remove persons he disapproves as executive members. This power, however, does not cover the officials appointed by the commissions. It is to be remembered here that regarding the removal of the judges the President enjoys limited powers.

v. Treaty-making Power : The President has the power to make treaties with sovereign states. However, all such treaties have to be approved by a 2/3rd majority of the members present and voting in the Senate.

vi. Conduct of Foreign Policy : The US president is the chief architect of the US foreign policy. He does not only make the foreign policy but also conducts foreign affairs of the USA. The foreign policy decisions of the US President create an impact upon all the nations of the world.

vii. Legislative powers: Even though the US Constitution has vested the legislative powers in the hands of the Congress, yet, the President has been given some role in the legislative sphere. Some of the legislative powers of the US president are–

(a) Messages to the Congress : The President can send messages proposing some legislative measures which is generally not ignored by the Congress, as it comes from the highest authority of the State. The President also reports to the Congress on the state of union and on problems which he believes require immediate action on the part of the Congress. Such message is sent both to the Congress and the people and it is communicated through the television.

(b) Exercise of Veto Power : The Constitution mentions that every bill passed by the Congress requires the consent of the President to become a law. The President has to sign within ten days of submission failing which the bill becomes a law even without the President's signature.