The powers in order of importance: 1.Diplomat in Chief
2.Commander in Chief
3.The Veto Power
4.Inherent Powers
5.The Appointment Power
6.Administrator in Chief
7.The Power to Inform and Convene Congress
8.The Pardon Power
What the powers mean:
This power gives the President the ability to make treaties, with a 2/3 vote of consent from Congress. It also makes him head of state and responsible for meeting with leaders of foreign nations. He appoints ambassadors.
The Constitution gives the President the power to preside over the armed forces. Although Congress holds the power to declare war, the President is the one who makes the quick decisions in a time of crisis.
The President is the final step in the process of a bill becoming a law. He can shoot down bills passed by Congress and send them back with a message offering suggested changes. He cannot veto parts of a bill, he must vote on the bill as a whole.
These are the powers implied in the Constitution. Eugene v. Debs gave the President the leeway to act to "ensure the general welfare of the public" while Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v Sawyer limited these powers.
The President holds the power to appoint a number of officials, ranging from those at government agencies to their staff. Many of the appointments must be approved by Congress. They also nominate Supreme Court Justices.
As head of the Executive Branch, the President holds the power to ensure that laws are faithfully executed. He also holds the power to make Executive Orders as long as they are grounded in Federal Law.
The President holds the power to convene Congress on special occasions. He can also adjourn Congress. He must inform them periodically on his goals by way of the State of the Union Address.
The President holds the power to grant clemency. He can do this in several ways. He can pardon or commute a person, or he can grant a respite. A pardon is an official forgiveness of an acknowledged crime. Amnesty is a pardon of a group. To commute a sentence is to change a punishment. It does not erase the crime as a pardon would. A respite is a temporary suspension of a prosecution or punishment.