What are the duties of the Executive Branch?

The President of the United States is the Executive Branch per the Constitution. The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and he makes the decision to use nuclear weapons in war. He also has the authority to send troops into war, though Congress is the only branch that can formally declare war. The president also enforces treaties and shapes federal policies. He prepares a budget for Congressional approval. He also appoints federal officials, though some, such as Supreme Court Justices, require Senate ratification. The president selects his own cabinet, which consist of his advisers. The president can veto an act of Congress, but Congress can override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote. If the president does not take action on the bill within ten days, it becomes a law provided that Congress stays in session during those ten days. The president can also issue pardons. The most famous presidential pardon happened when Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon after Ford took office.