The formal or informal powers of the U.S. President
Select one of the formal or informal powers of the U.S. President from your text or the lists below. Explain how your selected power has played a role in expanding the powers of the modern presidency. Use one specific example of presidential actions.
Examples of formal powers granted to the president by the Constitution are:
Commanding the military.
Appointing Supreme Court justices and cabinet heads.
Vetoing legislation.
Examples of the president’s informal powers are:
Issuing executive orders.
Negotiating executive agreements.
Claiming executive privilege.
Sample Answer
I will select the informal power of issuing executive orders to explain how it has played a role in expanding the powers of the modern presidency.
The power to issue executive orders is not explicitly granted to the president by the Constitution, but it has been interpreted by presidents to be a necessary part of their ability to execute the law. Executive orders are directives issued by the president that have the force of law. They can be used to implement new policies, change existing policies, or interpret the law.