The Constitution: The Four Theories Of Presidential Power

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Article II of the Constitution, explains the role of the President or his Presidential Power. The President is the enforcer of the law, he is the Commander and chief of the Military, he can sign laws and treaties, he can veto laws, he can pardon offenses and he has the power to pick the US Supreme Court Justices. However the President cannot declare war, he does not write laws but he can propose them, the laws he vetoes can be overridden by a supermajority of congress. Treaties must be approved by congress and as well as the President’s cabinet picks and he SCOTUS picks. The President of the United States enjoys certain authorities to act in emergent situations. However this emergency power was never defined specifically in the Constitution. The Executive Branch is designed to be able to act quickly in times of war or national emergency but it is limited to situations …show more content…

These theories are constitutional theory, stewardship theory, unitary executive theory and prerogative theory. Constitutional theory is the understanding of presidential power by which presidents are able to explain their actions based on powers discussed or understood by the Constitution. Prerogative theory is the interpretation of presidential power that permits the president to do for the public good even if the deed is unlawful. Stewardship theory is the interpretation of presidential power by which presidents may act to advance the essentials of society except unlawful by the constitution or a ruling. The unitary executive theory is the understanding of presidential power under which the president not only has control over members of the executive branch, but whose authority is restricted only by the Constitution. Congress may hold the president accountable by condemnation, prosecution, or constitutional amendment but not by lawmaking that interrupts onto the chief executive’s Article II

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