Legislative and Judicial Legislative and Judicial PowersPowers

Recommending LegislationRecommending Legislation

This gives the President the This gives the President the Message Power…Message Power…

With this power, he regularly sends With this power, he regularly sends three major messages to Capitol Hill three major messages to Capitol Hill on a yearly basis.on a yearly basis.

1.1. State of the Union State of the Union

2.2. Budget messageBudget message

3.3. Annual Economic ReportAnnual Economic Report

The Veto PowerThe Veto Power

The President is presented all Bills The President is presented all Bills and Resolutions that the Senate and and Resolutions that the Senate and the House must come to an the House must come to an agreement on.agreement on.

Once presented with this material Once presented with this material the President has four optionsthe President has four options

The Veto PowerThe Veto Power

1.1. He can sign the bill into lawHe can sign the bill into law

2.2. Veto it, then Congress must get 2/3 app. Veto it, then Congress must get 2/3 app.

To override it.To override it.

3.3. Allows the bill to become a law by not Allows the bill to become a law by not

acting on it.acting on it.

4.4. Or use a Or use a pocket vetopocket veto. How does this . How does this

process work?process work?

The Line-Item VetoThe Line-Item Veto

Line-Item Veto:Line-Item Veto: A A President’s President’s cancellation of cancellation of specific dollar specific dollar amounts (line amounts (line items) from a items) from a congressional congressional spending bill.spending bill.

Other Legislative PowersOther Legislative Powers Special Session of Congress can only be Special Session of Congress can only be

called by the President.called by the President.

The President has the power to prorogue The President has the power to prorogue (adjourn) a session if the two houses cannot (adjourn) a session if the two houses cannot

agree when to adjourn. This has never agree when to adjourn. This has never happenedhappened

Judicial PowersJudicial Powers

Judicial PowersJudicial Powers

The Constitution grants the President four The Constitution grants the President four powers of powers of clemencyclemency (to be used only in (to be used only in

cases of federal offenses) they are: cases of federal offenses) they are:

1. 1. Reprieve:Reprieve: The postponement of the execution of a The postponement of the execution of a

sentencesentence

2. 2. Pardon: Pardon: A legal forgiveness of a crimeA legal forgiveness of a crime

The Pardoning PowerThe Pardoning Power

3. 3. Commutation: Commutation: The power to The power to commute the length of a sentence commute the length of a sentence or a fine imposed by the courtor a fine imposed by the court

4. 4. Amnesty: Amnesty: A blanket pardon that is A blanket pardon that is offered to a group of law violators.offered to a group of law violators.