Executive Power

When people think about the U.S. President, they tend to think about an all-powerful leader who has no limitations or bounds. People tend to forget that this is still a democracy, not a dictatorship, there for the President does not have the power to do anything and everything he pleases, whenever he wants. In all reality, yes, the President has a surplus amount of power but he also has a long list of limitations to that very power. 

The President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. He or she has the power to call into service the state units of the National Guard, and in times of emergency may be given the power by Congress to manage national security or the economy. He has the power to make treaties with Senate approval. He can also receive ambassadors and work with leaders of other nations. He is responsible for nominating the heads of governmental departments, which the Senate must then approve. In addition, the president nominates judges to federal courts and justices to the United States Supreme Court.

The President can also issue executive orders (which this post will be focusing on), that have the effect of law but do not have to be approved by congress. He can issue pardons for federal offenses, convene Congress for special sessions and veto legislation approved by Congress. However, the veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote by Congress

For the most part, that about summarizes the President's executive power. Now as to why I am addressing all this, President Barack Obama will be announcing as early as next week executive actions to overhaul the U.S. immigration system. He said he had decided to take these measures after an immigration revamp passed by the Senate died this year in the Republican-controlled House. His plans to act alone have infuriated newly empowered Republicans who believe they have earned a chance at the polls to write their own immigration laws.

Although, the President’s timing may be questionable, he does have complete rights to this executive order, even if it is just for votes in the next election.

“My executive actions not only do not prevent them from passing a law that supersedes those actions,” he said at a news conference on Nov. 5, “but they should be a spur for them to actually try to get something done.”

And with that statement, I believe he made great point, his actions don’t ensure that what he WANTS is going to happen, but that at least something will happen!