Article II
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. ...
The President shall be 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...
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
...
[He] shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Use of Force
Dueling Lincoln Quotations
"Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, is to and you allow him to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose– and you allow him to make war at pleasure ...This, our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us." -- letter to William Herndon, February 15, 1848
"Was it possible to lose the nation, and yet preserve the constitution? By general law life and limb must be protected; yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never wisely given to save a limb. I felt that measures, otherwise unconstitutional, might become lawful, by becoming indispensable to the preservation of the constitution, through the preservation of the nation." --letter to Albert G. Hodges, April 4, 1864
Since January 20, 2025:
- Iran
- Venezuela: boat bombings and capture of Maduro):
- Yemen: Air strikes against Houthi militants
- Counterterrorism Strikes in Iraq, Nigeria, and Somalia.
The president has a totally unchecked power to start a nuclear war. The process exists to authenticate the president's commands, not to challenge them.
Investigation and Prosecution
- James Comey: charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction related to his 2020 testimony. The indictment was dismissed.
- John Bolton: indictment for alleged unauthorized retention and transmission of classified information.
- Letitia James New York Attorney General indicted in October 2025 on bank fraud and false statements charges. Case dismissed.
- Jerome H. Powell said DOJ as opened a criminal investigation into Powell; prosecutors are looking at cost overruns.Threats: Regulatory Action and Funding
- Universities and funding
- Law firms representing Trump adversaries: contracts
- Media companies and FCC license threats
Soft Power: "Power to Persuade"
Support from congressional Republicans and One Big Beautiful Bill
