“In Section 2 what shall the President be” is almost certainly referring to Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution , which describes what the President shall be and shall have power to do.

Below is a full “Quick Scoop”-style breakdown following your content rules.

In Section 2 What Shall the President Be?

Quick Scoop

Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution defines the President primarily as Commander in Chief and sets out several core powers, especially over the military, executive departments, pardons, and appointments. When people ask “in Section 2 what shall the President be,” they’re usually trying to decode this list of powers in simple language.

What Section 2 Actually Says (In Plain English)

Article II, Section 2 says that the President shall be :

  • Commander in Chief of:
    • The Army and Navy of the United States.
* The militia of the several states when they are called into U.S. service (i.e., National Guard-type roles in federal service).
  • Head of the executive departments’ leadership , with the power to:
    • Require written opinions from the “principal Officer in each of the executive Departments” on matters related to their duties.
  • Holder of the federal clemency power , with the authority to:
    • Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States.
* But **not** for cases of impeachment (Congress keeps that power separate).
  • Key player in foreign policy and appointments , with power (with Senate involvement) to:
    • Make treaties , so long as two‑thirds of the Senators present agree.
* Nominate and, with Senate advice and consent, appoint:
  * Ambassadors
  * Other public ministers and consuls
  * Judges of the Supreme Court
  * Other “Officers of the United States” created by law.
  • Temporary filler of vacancies , by:
    • Filling vacancies that happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions that expire at the end of the Senate’s next session.

So in short: in Section 2 the President is military chief, chief executive decision‑taker over departments, chief pardoner, and chief appointer/treaty‑maker (with the Senate).

Mini-Sections: The Big Roles

1. Commander in Chief

When Section 2 says “The President shall be Commander in Chief” , it means:

  • He directs overall military strategy and use of armed forces (subject to laws Congress passes).
  • He commands not just the standing military, but also state militias when they’re federally called into service.

Example: Ordering troops into action in a conflict zone, while Congress controls declarations of war and funding.

2. Executive Head and Adviser-in-Chief

Section 2 lets the President require written opinions from the heads of the executive departments.

  • This reinforces that the President sits at the top of the executive branch hierarchy.
  • It also helps create the Cabinet system, where top officials advise the President formally and informally.

3. Power of Reprieves and Pardons

Section 2 gives the President power to grant:

  • Reprieves : delaying or softening punishment.
  • Pardons : forgiving federal crimes (wiping or reducing legal consequences).

Crucially:

  • This power covers offenses against the United States (federal crimes),
  • But explicitly excludes impeachment — the President cannot undo Congress’s impeachment decisions.

4. Treaties and Appointments (With the Senate)

The President is not a lone actor in foreign policy and high appointments. Section 2 sets up shared powers :

  • Treaties :
    • President negotiates treaties.
    • They only become binding if two‑thirds of Senators present concur.
  • Appointments :
    • President nominates key officials.
    • Senate decides whether to confirm.
* This includes ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, Supreme Court Justices, and many other officers.

This structure forces cooperation between the President and Senate, preventing either from fully dominating foreign policy and high offices.

5. Filling Vacancies During Senate Recess

Section 2 also says the President shall have power to:

  • Fill vacancies that happen while the Senate is in recess.
  • These temporary appointments last only until the end of the Senate’s next session.

This keeps the government running even when the Senate is not available to confirm nominees.

How This Ties to “What Shall the President Be”

If you’re reading a civics book or worksheet asking: “In Section 2, what shall the President be?” it usually expects an answer like:

  • “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and of the militia of the several States when called into the actual service of the United States.”

Teachers or forums may also accept a slightly broader phrasing like:

The President shall be the Commander in Chief and hold key powers over executive departments, pardons, treaties, and appointments.

Quick HTML Table: Key Phrases from Section 2

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Constitutional Phrase</th>
      <th>What It Means</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States"[web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>President leads the national military and state militias when they serve under federal authority.[web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>"He may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments"[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>President can demand written advice from Cabinet-level leaders.[web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>"He shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment"[web:5][web:8]</td>
      <td>President can forgive or lessen federal criminal penalties, but not undo impeachment.[web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties"[web:3][web:8]</td>
      <td>Treaties need both presidential negotiation and a two‑thirds Senate vote.[web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>"He shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States"[web:3][web:8]</td>
      <td>President chooses top officials, but Senate must confirm.[web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>"The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session"[web:5][web:9]</td>
      <td>President can temporarily fill certain jobs when the Senate is not in session.[web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Tiny TL;DR

  • In Section 2, the President shall be the Commander in Chief and hold key constitutional powers over military command, department oversight, pardons, treaties, appointments, and temporary vacancies.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.