<P> The powers of the President of the United States include those powers explicitly granted by Article II of the United States Constitution to the President of the United States, implied powers, powers granted by Acts of Congress, implied powers, and also a great deal of soft power that is attached to the presidency . </P> <P> The Constitution explicitly assigns the president the power to sign or veto legislation, command the armed forces, ask for the written opinion of their Cabinet, convene or adjourn Congress, grant reprieves and pardons, and receive ambassadors . The President oversees federal law execution by directing and removing executive officers . The president may make treaties, which need to be ratified by two - thirds of the Senate, and is accorded those foreign - affairs functions not otherwise granted to Congress or shared with the Senate . Thus, the President can control the formation and communication of foreign policy and can direct the nation's diplomatic corps . The president may also appoint Article III judges and some officers with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate . In the condition of a Senate recess, the president may make a temporary appointment . </P> <P> Article II of the Constitution expressly designates the president as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States ." Since the National Security Act of 1947, this has been understood to mean all United States Armed Forces . U.S. ranks have their roots in British military traditions, with the President possessing ultimate authority, but no rank, maintaining a civilian status, other than the title of Commander in Chief . Before 1947, the President was the only common superior of the Army (under the Secretary of War) and the Navy and Marine Corps (under the Secretary of the Navy). The National Security Act of 1947, and the 1949 amendments to the same act, created the Department of Defense and the services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force) became subject to the "authority, direction and control" of the Secretary of Defense; the civilian cabinet - level official serving as the head of the Department of Defense and who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate . </P> <P> The power to declare war is constitutionally vested in Congress, but the president has ultimate responsibility for the direction and disposition of the military . The present - day operational command of the Armed Forces is delegated to the Department of Defense and is normally exercised through the Secretary of Defense . The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Combatant Commands assist with the operation as outlined in the presidentially approved Unified Command Plan (UCP). </P>

List and explain the powers of the president