Article I famously vests in Congress all legislative powers, quote, “herein granted,” unquote. Article II, in contrast, vests the executive power in a single President of the United States. Although the rest of Article II identifies a handful of specific, textual powers of the president over both domestic and foreign affairs, some of the president’s most important and most controversial powers are not to be found in the plain text of the Constitution.

I. Take Care Clause

Structurally, the...