Title: The U.S. President and constitutional limits
Headings: The American President

Content: While the branches certainly are separate, with fairly clear demarcations of authority, one finds no hint of an "equal" division of authority among them in the Constitution. Rather, the founders clearly indicated precedence when they gave both pride of place in the Constitution and the lion's share of power to Congress (including the power to remove the President under circumstances which Congress itself defines), the only branch with representatives elected directly by the people, and therefore having the clearest democratic mandate. The President, who is not elected directly by the people, was given limited authority, and is answerable in all his actions to the more representative Congress. Constitutional Powers of the President
We can count some nine distinct presidential powers under the Constitution. Those are the powers the first "G.W." had in 1789, and they're all that the current "G.W." has. ( Pardon the unfortunate linkage of these two individuals â€“ the legendary with the laughable.) The Constitution's 27 amendments have not added an iota to presidential power. ( Well, they have indirectly, in that they have added immensely to the power of Congress, which in turn has delegated much of this power to the President.) Only three of the President's nine constitutional powers have substance: The so-called veto power, "executive power", and his position as commander in chief of the armed forces.