Presidential power and executive authority

¶ … Power of the American President [...] how the U.S. President derives most of his power from Formal Powers. The U.S. President is the Commander-in-Chief of the nation, and probably the most powerful leader in the world. The Formal Powers of the President are formidable and keep the President powerful, and yet not so powerful that he takes over the entire government. The Formal Powers give power, but keep the leader in check, which is a vital part of democracy.

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

The Formal Powers of the President are certainly important and formidable, for they give the person who is arguably the most powerful leader in the world some extraordinary authority and control. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and can (as we recently saw with George W. Bush), command them into war, even without the support of allied nations or the United Nations. This is probably the most important Formal Power of the President - the ability to command the armed forces, and the nation. Because of this, Americans must trust their President implicitly.

The Formal Powers of the President also make him the chief diplomat of the nation. He is empowered to make treaties, nominate and receive ambassadors, and travel the world as an ambassador for our country. Because of the power of the United States in the world, both economically and politically, this makes the President a formidable leader in the world, certainly one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful anywhere. This Formal Power is important for a number of reasons, including giving the President the ability to maintain (or disrupt) world peace. He is also the head of state, and so represents our country ceremonially and diplomatically around the world. Ultimately, what the world thinks of our country is a direct result of the representation of our President, and this also makes him one of the most important leaders in the world, for the world looks to him for aid, understanding, and diplomacy.

The Formal Powers of the President also give him decisive control over the courts and Congress. He nominates judges to the Supreme Court and other courts, and can recommend and veto legislation to Congress. He also holds considerable political clout over his party and his party members throughout the country. This power can last long after the President has left office, as the judges appointed do not face term limits, as the presidency does. Thus, the President of yesterday still wields some power today through his political nominations.

Of course, the President also has many informal powers, such as his distinct personality, his power to persuade people because of his personality and empathy, and his ultimate ability to get things done in the White House, and around the world. Personality is an important part of politics today, and so the informal powers of the President are also extremely important, but they pale in comparison to the Formal Powers of the President. It seems a President cannot be elected today who does not appeal to the people, and this is an example of the informal powers at work. Today, a leader must be charming, trustworthy, and at least appear honest for the people to elect him, and the man (or woman) who can create the best, most believable personality, is probably the one who will gain the trust and vote of the people.