Introduction
The United States of America’s constitution has granted the president a range of diverse powers. These powers of the president in the United States of America are contained in the executive part of the constitution; in which the president is expected to exercise these powers in his or her rulings. The constitution alone is not the only sole source of power to the president within the United States of America; where in addition to the constitutional powers of the president, he or she is also entrusted with inherent powers which are not directly stated in the constitution (O’Conner, 33-47).
Discussion
As the constitution in the United States of America stipulates, the president is supposed to check over the congress in its proceedings through his power to sanction bills. This means that the president is entitled to ensure that, the congress works properly; as he is entrusted with the power to migrate people from one part of the nation to another based on security reasons; or economic logistics (Parenti 57-79).
More so, the president of the United States of America is in charge of the armed forces and the entire military system within the nation. In fact, the president is the chief and commander of the armed forces in the nation; thus the one who determines whether and when to send the army to certain regions for defense purposes.
- See O’Conner, especially chapter one and two for deeper analysis of the powers of the president.
- In 2008 edition, he insightfully explains the powers of the president in USA deeply: “Democracy for the Few”. (Parenti, Michael 57-60).
Based on this, therefore, the president commands the army even without a prior consultancy with the congress (O’Conner, 33-47).
Further, the president is also entrusted with the power to make internal decrees and policies within the nation. To be considered is that, this means that the president should ensure he is well acquitted with the nation’s state of the economy; on to which he will make decrees (Parenti 57-79).
The president of the United States of America further has the power to delegate any policies with the advice from the consent from the senate; which concerns the welfare of the people in the United States of America. Based on this, the president in the United States of America has the power to nominate and appoint ambassadors and other public ministers with advice and consent from the senate. More so, the president of the United States of America is entitled to nominate and appoint consuls, judges of the highest court, and all other public officers within the United States of America (Parenti 57-79).
Moreover, the president of the United States of America has the power to make and sign treaties in which two-thirds of the senators agree with the treaties made by him. Further, the president has the power to grant pardon to those who break the law excluding the cases of prosecution (Parenti 57-79).
- In 2009 edition, he insightfully explains the inherent powers of the president in USA deeply: “American Government: Custom Edition”. (O’Conner 37-39).
- In 2008 edition, he insightfully explains the powers of the president in USA deeply: “Democracy for the Few”. (Parenti 59-60).
Generally; the following are the main powers given to the president directly by the constitution. In addition to the direct powers granted to the president by the constitution; he also has inherent powers which are not reflected within the constitution. Further, these inherent powers are bestowed on the president though not written in the constitution; he or she is entitled to use the necessary and proper clauses to take various actions though not stated within the constitution (O’Conner, 33-47).
Additionally, these necessary and proper clauses have been used by several presidents in the united states of America to argue that; what they just did was inherently mandated for by the constitution and is part of their duties as per the constitution. Further, various presidents in the United States of America have been observed to use the inherent powers given by the constitution to take on certain actions. For instance, Jefferson and Washington who were USA presidents in the past were called by the congress to account for the activities that they engaged themselves in; as opposed to what the constitution stipulated; within which they argued to have acted according to the necessary and proper clauses in the constitution (Parenti 57-79).
More so, the use of necessary and proper causes in the constitution means that the president takes an action that though not specifically stated within the constitution; happens to fall under his docket of exercising power.
- In 2009 edition, he explains the inherent powers of the president in USA deeply: “American Government: Custom Edition”. (O’Conner 39-40).
- In 2008 edition, he deeply explains more powers of the president in the USA better: “Democracy for the Few”. (Parenti 63-64).
More specifically, this means that presidential actions are instituted within the constitution to the president to take actions for activities, which are not certain and their occurrences rare (O’Conner, 33-47).
Further, the use of the necessary and proper clauses may be successful or not, based on the various presidents as it has been observed in the past within the USA governance system. Washington and Jefferson are examples of the USA presidents who used the necessary and proper clauses successfully; as they were able to defend their actions satisfactorily when called to account for their accounts by the senate. For instance, Jefferson led many expeditions meant to liberate the United States of America from oppression by foreign powers; in which there occurred genocide in the process leading to the death of many Americans (O’Conner, 33-47).
More so, Jefferson separated the church from the state and said that the church was a solely institution; thus the state was not supposed to intervene in church affairs. By so doing, Jefferson seemed to go outside the bounds of the constitution as concerns his powers in which when called by the congress to explain for his actions he successfully asserted that his actions were inherent powers by the president. On the other hand, Washington was also convicted by the congress when he led the army in forcing the British troops from Boston; where he satisfactorily defended his actions claiming to be the inherent powers given to him by the constitution though not directly stated in the constitution (O’Conner, 33-47).
- In 2009 edition, he explains better the inherent powers of the president in USA, “American Government: Custom Edition”. (O’Conner 42-44).
Further, various USA presidents were not successful in utilizing the necessary and proper clauses within the constitution. A good example of a USA president who failed in using his inherent powers insufficiently was Lincoln. Thus as evidenced, from his actions in the civil war era in America; the actions were very questionable as he attempted to create inherent powers which were not at par with the constitution (Parenti 57-79).
On another account, Lincoln in his actions was illegal according to the constitution where he was alleged for various assassinations within the United States of America. His actions as evidenced by President Bush’s actions; who like his successor decided to keep his actions a secret. Further, the fact remained that President Lincoln used the necessary and proper clauses illegally when he organized for unjustified assassinations for various leaders within America (O’Conner, 33-47).
The delegation of powers refers to the acts of transferring authority from one individual to another; under which one of the individuals involved is acting on behalf of another. In a political situation, the delegation of powers refers to the way political leaders give powers to other people so that they can help them in the administrative process.
- In 2009 edition, he explains better the inherent powers of the president in USA, “American Government: Custom Edition”. (O’Conner 44-45).
- In 2008 edition, he deeply explains more powers of the president in USA better: “Democracy for the Few”. (Parenti 67-69).
In the current trend of technological advancement and civilization it has of late been assumed that, the president is part of the nation and thus should represent the whole nation by adhering to the ethical and moral standards existing within the society. Moreover, in the United States of America government; the president is perceived as the measure of standards in terms of ethical standards which people in the US have associated themselves with (Parenti 57-79).
As a popular leader, the US president is entrusted to ensuring the welfare of the nation as a whole, as well as the world in general. In this regard therefore, the president relies on the public prop up to help support; and passes legislative agendas through the congress which would ensure the welfare of the nation. By so doing the president gains trust of the citizens in respect to the issues through openness, straight forward governing and good leadership policies. Generally, the president of the US government assumes the position of the chief citizen, under which he has to be the role model to the whole nation (O’Conner, 33-47).
Conclusion
Having discussed the rights of the president within the United States of America; the president is entrusted with various powers through which he should act accordingly in ensuring fairness within his governance.
- In 2009 edition, he explains better the inherent powers of the president in USA, “American Government: Custom Edition”. (O’Conner 45-47).
- In 2008 edition, he deeply explains more powers of the president in USA better: “Democracy for the Few”. (Parenti 73-77).
Further, the powers bestowed on the process president by the constitution does not limit his actions in his rulings; in which other powers are saliently incorporated into the constitution though not directly stated in the constitution. In the current contemporary society, the president of the united sates of America is entrusted with the role of representing the nations’ character; through which he ought to ensure fairness in his rulings.
Works cited
O’Conner, Karen. et.al. “American Government: Custom Edition”. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing. (2009): 33-47.
Parenti, Michael. “Democracy for the Few”. New York: Thompson Wadsworth Publisher. (2008):57-79.