Answer: 3. The two main sources of a president’s informal powers are access to the media and the president’s position as party leader.
The democratic president of a country is granted formal and informal powers. Formal powers include final control over legislative decisions, chief of armed staff, executive power, etc. However, the informal powers of the president are access to the media and party leadership. The president can access the media to relay information to the people and also has the position of the party leadership for his tenure.
Establishing a powerful constitution to put in place a strong executive was essential as put forward by the framers of this important document. Article II of the US constitution defines the executive power in the country vested in a president. These are the formal powers given to the president but there are other informal powers claimed by presidents over the years.
Other than the powers captured in article II of the US constitution, the presidents have gained such powers as bargaining and persuasion duties, issuing executive orders, negotiating executive agreements and issuing signing statements.