Transcript Diplomatic, Military, Legislative and Judicial Powers of


The power to make treaties (formal
agreements between two or more
sovereign states)
› Senate must approve all treaties with a 2/3
vote of members present = Advice and
Consent
› Treaties have the same legal standing as
acts of Congress

Executive Agreements (a pact between
the President and the head of a foreign
state)
› Agreements do NOT have to be approved
by the Senate
› Agreements do not supersede federal laws
of the laws of any State
› When a new President takes office, he/she
may keep or disregard Agreements made
by previous Presidents

Power of Recognition – the President
may receive diplomatic representatives
of another sovereign state
› Basically, the President, acting for the United
States, acknowledges the legal existence of
that country and its government
› The president may also show displeasure with
the conduct of another country
 Persona non grata – an unwelcomed diplomat
or representative
The Constitution makes the Chief
Executive the Commander-in-Chief
 Presidents delegate much of their
command authority to military
subordinates
 The President has the final authority over,
and responsibility for, all military matters


War Powers Resolution of 1973
› The President can commit American military
forces to combat only if:
 Congress has declared war
 Congress has authorized that action
 When an attack on the nation or its armed
forces has occurred
The President may recommend
legislation, usually done through the
State of the Union Address
 The veto power – The President may veto
(reject) legislation passed by Congress

› Pocket Veto – Can only be used at the end
of a congressional session – If Congress
adjourns within ten days (not including
Sundays) of sending a bill to the President,
and the President does not act on it, the bill
becomes void
Reprieve – the postponement of the
execution of a sentence
 Pardon – legal forgiveness of a crime
 Clemency – mercy or leniency powers
involving federal offenses
 Commutation – the power to reduce a
fine or length of a sentence
 Amnesty – a blanket pardon offered to a
group of law violators
