Which of the following is NOT a power of the President?

The correct answer is that making laws directly without Congress is NOT a power of the President. The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. According to Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, all legislative powers are granted to Congress. Therefore, the President does not have the authority to create laws independently of the legislative process.

The President does exercise significant powers through various means, such as serving as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, where they can direct military operations and make strategic decisions. Negotiating treaties is also a key responsibility of the President, although such treaties require Senate approval to take effect. Additionally, the President can issue executive orders, which are directives that manage the operations of the federal government, but these orders cannot create new laws or bypass the legislative process established by Congress.