Final answer:
Article II of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers and responsibilities of the Executive Branch, specifically the presidency. It grants specific powers such as appointing officers and ensures that the president has the duty to execute laws faithfully. The framing of these powers is intentionally vague, leading to ongoing interpretation of the scope of executive authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Presidency and Article II of the U.S. Constitution
Article II of the U.S. Constitution describes the powers of, and the means of selecting, American presidents. It sets forth the role of the Executive Branch and enumerates the specific powers of the president, although these are not as clearly outlined as the powers of Congress found in Article I. The Constitution's framers were intentionally vague about the extent and limits of presidential powers, which has led to ongoing interpretations and discussions regarding executive authority.
Presidential powers under Article II include the appointment of officers and department heads, and the responsibility to ensure that the laws are "faithfully executed." The language implies a guardianship over the Constitution and the political system of the United States, although the exact nature of this guardianship has been subject to interpretation and debate throughout American history.
Article II Section 2 focuses on this aspect, by granting the president various powers with corresponding restrictions to balance authority within the federal government. Notably, the placement of Article II after Article I, which outlines legislative powers, suggests the importance of the executive function in governance, coming directly after the legislature.