Essay Undergraduate 700 words

Presidential Powers and Obama's Leadership in America

~4 min read

Abstract

This paper examines the constitutional powers and roles of the U.S. president as outlined in Article II of the Constitution, including executive appointments, legislative authority, clemency, and emergency powers. It then applies this framework to Barack Obama's presidency, analyzing how he navigated the 2008 financial crisis, managed foreign policy challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, and built political support across a polarized public. Drawing on commentary by Fareed Zakaria and Dana D. Nelson, the paper argues that Obama's calm leadership style, deliberative decision-making, and strategic combination of short-term stimulus with long-term progressive policy goals explain much of his early presidential success.

📝 How to Write This Type of Paper Writing guide — click to expand

▼

What makes this paper effective

It moves logically from the general (constitutional powers of presidents) to the specific (Obama's application of those powers), giving the argument a clear scaffolding.
It grounds claims in named sources — Fareed Zakaria, Christopher Lee, and Dana D. Nelson — lending credibility to the evaluation of Obama's performance.
It acknowledges complexity honestly, noting both ongoing economic weakness and genuine policy achievements rather than offering a one-sided assessment.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper uses a framework-then-application structure: it first establishes the formal powers of the presidency through constitutional references, then uses that framework as a lens to assess a specific president's effectiveness. This is a common and effective technique in political science essays, allowing the writer to evaluate performance against a defined standard rather than making purely subjective claims.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a broad discussion of presidential authority across countries before narrowing to the U.S. constitutional framework. It then details specific executive powers — appointments, clemency, emergency declarations — before pivoting to Obama's presidency, covering the challenges he inherited and the strategies he employed. A brief conclusion ties together public sentiment and policy outcomes. The structure is linear and straightforward, suitable for an introductory-level political science essay.

Introduction to Presidential Powers

Presidents in most countries are considered to be among the most powerful figures in government. Their powers are granted through each country's constitution, and they serve as key figures trusted by their citizens. The fate of a country rests in large part with its president, who carries the obligation of maintaining peace and stability. There are several powers and roles vested in the president; in the United States Constitution, these are outlined in Article II.

Constitutional Roles of the U.S. President

The president serves as both head of state and head of government. He represents the nation domestically and during foreign visits, and holds the mandate to offer diplomatic recognition to other states. In the United States, the president is responsible for preparing the federal budget, though it requires approval by Congress. The president also signs bills into law within ten days of receipt.

In the United States, the president appoints approximately 6,000 new federal positions prior to taking office. These appointments range from top officials of U.S. government agencies to members of the diplomatic corps and White House staff. Most appointments require the consent and advice of the United States Senate. The president also nominates federal judges, including justices to the U.S. Supreme Court and judges to the Courts of Appeals, all of whom must be confirmed by the Senate (Christopher Lee, 2006).

Executive Appointments and Emergency Authority

As head of the executive branch, the president appoints top officials from federal agencies. These positions are catalogued in the Plum Book. The president also holds the power of clemency — the authority to pardon or commute sentences. A commutation changes a punishment to time already served. Additionally, the president may declare a state of emergency, which allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bypass normal jurisdictional and administrative rules in order to respond rapidly to crises.

2 Locked Sections · 240 words remaining

Obama's Presidency: Challenges and Context · 110 words

"Financial crisis, foreign crises, and early agenda"

Evaluating Obama's Leadership and Success · 130 words

"Team work, calm style, and political strategy explained"

Unlock these 2 sections →

Conclusion

Christopher Lee. "Alito Once Made Case for Presidential Powers." Washington Post, January 2006. Retrieved 2009.

Dana D. Nelson. "The Unitary Executive Question." Los Angeles Times, 2008.

You’re 45% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 2 sections.

130,000+ paper examples AI writing assistant Citation generator Cancel anytime

Key Concepts in This Paper

Presidential Powers Article II Executive Appointments Clemency Emergency Authority Obama Leadership Economic Crisis Political Polarization Foreign Policy Constitutional Role