How Much Power Does the President Really Have?

Schoolhouse Rock, my first glimpse of politics, it all started with I'm Just A Bill.

In the words of David Frishberg:

I'm just a bill 

Yes I'm only a bill, 

And I got as far as Capitol Hill. 

Well, now I'm stuck in committee 

And I'll sit here and wait 

While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate 

Whether they should let me be a law. 

How I hope and pray that they will, 

But today I am still just a bill. 

I'm just a bill 

Yes, I'm only a bill 

And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill 

Well, then I'm off to the White House 

Where I'll wait in a line 

With a lot of other bills 

For the president to sign 

And if he signs me, then I'll be a law. 

How I hope and pray that he will, 

But today I am still just a bill.

With the task of electing a new president right around the corner, it has made me think:

Just How Much Power Does the President Have?

Well let's see, he/she is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Financial Manager of the Federal budget/Bill Approver or Veto-er.

In all actuality the President has limited powers. Although the president is the Commander-In-Chief of our armed forces, he controls only a limited amount of funding to engage troops in combat.

The President is responsible for balancing our National Budget or not as we have seen but ultimately congress must approve with a majority almost all major decisions

The President has the authority to sign Bills into law or the power to veto them, however once again Congress may over-ride his veto.

The President is the Personnel Director, so to speak, and amongst his/her duties is to assign judges to the Supreme Court, and Foreign Ambassadors and other high official positions but yes, Congress must approve.

A President creates his own cabinet of experts to research and advise, after-all, there is no one person who knows it all.

The President and his cabinet create programs that may be federally financed but not actually part of the Federal Government such as FEMA, the FDA, and the IRS. These groups have influence on a large majority of federal regulations and laws. This is one of the areas that do not need the approval of Congress. Keep in mind, often the current President spends a good deal of time "cleaning up the mess of the prior establishment".

WHO IS THE CONGRESS?

This is a "house" made up of 100 Senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives. There is only one incident in history where most of Congress has agreed voting 435 for YES to 1 NO for our involvement in World War II.

All in all there is a checks and balance system. And that is what makes us a Democracy.

So it is important to vote for your President but equally important to vote for all of the members of Congress as well.

So as you prepare to Vote in 2008- it is important to take many points into consideration:

•1. Experience

•2. Strength

•3. Ability To Remain Cool, Calm and Collected

•4. Open-minded

•5. Good Moral Image

•6. Excellent Speaker

•7. Excellent Manager

•8. Good Listener

•9. Good Director

•10. Balanced

In my strong opinion, I believe Hilary Clinton is the one for the job. What is your opinion?