Unit 6
Chapter 9, Section 1
Presidential Powers
Mr. Young
American Government
Essential Question
What are the
sources of (both
formal and
informal) and
limits to the
powers of the
president?
Learning Objectives
1. Constitutional Powers of the President as
described in the Constitution
2. Informal sources of Power that have lead
to a increase in Presidential Powers
3. Limit on the Power by Congress, Federal
Courts, Bureaucracy, and the People
Animaniacs Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvy0wR
LD5s8&feature=related
Created with Caution
Team Teach Question
Why do you think that the
founders created the office
of President with Caution?
Answer: Did not
want one person
with too much
power
Personal Characteristics
Independent Executive
Team Teach Question
1.The executive branch
carries out or enforces
the laws of which branch
of government?
Answer:
Congress
Photo of the 38th Congress
No Direct Participation in Voting
Constitutional Powers
Commander in Chief
Team Teach Question
1. Why do you think that they gave the
President the power of being
Commander-in-chief?
2. Why do you think that the founders did
not make it a requirement for the
President to have military experience?
Answer: They
wanted a civilian
who would not
always want war
Head of Executive Branch
Chief Executive
Judicial Powers of President
Legislative Powers
44 Presidents in 4 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnjczC
kS2cA
Informal Sources of Power
Thomas Jefferson
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson Video
http://www.history.com/shows/thepresidents/videos/jefferson-expandsexecutive-power#jefferson-expandsexecutive-power
Teddy Roosevelt
Lincoln in 1863
Lincoln in February 1865
Lincoln in April 1865
Civil War
Lincoln and Habeas Corpus
http://www.5min.com/Video/LincolnsAbuse-of-the-Presidential-Power294084084
First a definition: The Latin phrase habeas corpus means "you have the body." The
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus refers to a common-law tradition that
establishes a person's right to appear before a judge before being imprisoned. When
a judge issues the writ, he commands a government official to bring a prisoner before
the court so he can assess the legality of the prisoner's detention. When the privilege
of the writ is suspended, the prisoner is denied the right to secure such a writ and
therefore can be held without trial indefinitely. Habeas corpus is the only common-law
tradition enshrined in the Constitution, which also explicitly defines when it can be
overridden. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution says, "The privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion
the public safety may require it.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/histor…
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
George W Bush
Team Teach Question
How did each of these
Presidents use informal
sources of Power to
expand the powers of the
President?
Answer
By doing things
that had never
really been done
before.
Mandate of the People
Limitation by Congress
Impeachment of Pres. Clinton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GgPo2
cHFq0
Limitation by the Federal Courts
Limitation by Bureaucracy
Limitation by Public Opinion
Essential Question
What are the
sources of (both
formal and
informal) and
limits to the
powers of the
president?