Final answer:
As Chief of State, the president has the authority to issue executive orders, which are directives that have the force of law and instruct how to implement legislation, without needing separate congressional approval. The correct answer is option d.
Step-by-step explanation:
As Chief of State, the president has the authority to issue executive orders, directives to members of the executive branch regarding how to execute the laws passed by Congress. These executive orders are instruments used by the president to manage and direct government operations, including the disbursement of funds for various programs without separate congressional authorization. While they have the force of law, they do not require approval by Congress, but they can be challenged in courts or reversed by subsequent administrations.
Executive orders have played significant roles in American history, with instances such as Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency under Nixon. Their use is a testament to the president's executive powers as outlined in the Constitution, where the responsibility of the president to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed' serves as a basis for such orders.
However, the usage of executive orders indicates a more direct and, at times, unilateral approach to governance that can circumvent the slower legislative processes but can also incite legislative or judicial challenges.