Duties of the President

The Founding Fathers clearly spelled-out the duties of the President of the United States. None of these duties mentions the government take-over of GM, the banks, credit unions, home mortgages, college loans, public healthcare, or Wall Street. Nor is there any mention of appointing Czars without Congress confirming them. And finally, they do NOT give the President authority to determine the salaries for employees of private companies or let him determine who is "to big to fail." See for yourself…

Taken from the Constitution, here are the duties of the President:

• Provision 148, Article 11.2.1: "Before he can assume the duties of his office, the President must take the following oath: 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."


• Provision 149, Article 11.1.8: "The President shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States and of the militia of several states when they are called into active service by the federal government."


• Provision 150, Article 11.2.1: "The President may require the opinion, in writing, of the principle officers who superintend the various bureaus and agencies, or other services of the executive department. Such officers shall be required to report to the President any pertinent information he may desire concerning those duties and responsibilities assigned to any office."


• Provision 151, Article 11.2.1: "The People of the states empower the President to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States."


• Provision 152, Article 11.2.1: "The President shall not have power to grant reprieve or pardon in the case of impeachment proceedings brought against a judge or officer of the executive branch."


• Provision153, Article 11.2.2: "The President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided that two-thirds of the Senators who are present concur with the provisions thereof."


• Provision 154, Article 11.2.2: "The President shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States not otherwise provided for in this Constitution."


• Provision 155, Article 11.2.2: "The Congress may, by law, delegate to the President, the various courts, or the heads of departments authority to appoint inferior officers."


• Provision 156, Article 11.2.3: "The President shall have power to fill vacancies which occur while the Senate is in recess, but such commissions shall expire at the end of the next session if the appointment has not been confirmed by the Senate."


• Provision 157, Article 11.3: "The President shall, from time to time, give the Congress a report on the stat of the union."


• Provision 158, Article 11.3: "The President shall recommend to the Congress such measures as he shall consider necessary and expedient to improve the general welfare of the nation."


• Provision 159, Article 11.3: "On extraordinary occasions, the President may call together both the House of Representatives and the Senate in a special session."


• Provision 160, Article 11.3: "Should the House and the Senate disagree as to the date of their adjournment, the President may designate the time when their adjournment shall take place."


• Provision 161, Article 11.3: "The President shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign nations."


• Provision 162, Article 11.3: "The President shall see that the federal laws are faithfully administered and executed."


• Provision 163, Article 11.3: "The President shall commission all officers of the United States."


• Provision 164, Article 11.4: "The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States shall be subject to removal from office on impeachment for, and on conviction of, treason, bribery, of other high crimes and misdemeanors."

If you look closely at the duties outlined, you should notice that the duties performed by present day Presidents have surpassed the authorities given to them by the Founders. Why is this? Are they committing crimes of misdemeanors? Can they be impeached for these actions?