Under the United States Constitution, which of the following is an enumerated power of the President related to appointments of federal officials?

Introduction / Context:
The United States Constitution outlines specific powers of the President, known as enumerated or expressed powers. One important category of these powers concerns appointments to key positions in the federal government, including judges and high officials. This question asks you to identify which option correctly describes an enumerated appointment power of the President and to distinguish it from powers that the President does not possess.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on enumerated powers of the President related to appointments.
• The options mention nominating judges and officials, declaring war, amending the Constitution and removing state governors.
• We assume knowledge of the separation of powers and the roles of Congress and the states.
• The correct answer must reflect a power clearly granted to the President in the text of the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
Article II of the United States Constitution states that the President 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 as established by law. This is an enumerated appointment power. Declaring war is a power granted to Congress, not to the President acting alone. Amending the Constitution requires proposals by Congress or a convention and ratification by the states, not unilateral presidential action. Removing elected state governors is not a presidential power; governors are chosen at the state level. Thus, the correct answer is the option that mentions nominating judges and high officials with Senate consent.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from Article II that the President nominates ambassadors, judges and other high officers, with the Senate providing advice and consent. Step 2: Examine option A, which states that the President nominates federal judges and high level officials subject to Senate consent. This matches the constitutional text. Step 3: Option B claims that the President can declare war unilaterally, which contradicts Article I where the war power is given to Congress. Step 4: Option C suggests that the President can directly amend the Constitution, but the amendment process involves Congress and the states, not unilateral presidential power. Step 5: Option D states that the President can remove elected state governors at will, which is not a power granted in the Constitution. Step 6: Therefore, option A is the only option that correctly describes an enumerated appointment power of the President.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall news reports when a new Supreme Court Justice or cabinet level official is selected. They usually state that the President has nominated a candidate and that the Senate will hold confirmation hearings and vote to confirm or reject the nominee. This real world pattern shows that nomination by the President plus Senate consent is the established process. By contrast, war declarations, constitutional amendments and removal of governors do not follow a path that gives the President sole authority. This real life observation confirms that option A accurately describes an enumerated presidential power.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because the Constitution grants Congress, not the President alone, the power to declare war, although the President is Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

Option C is wrong because the amendment process is clearly set out in Article V and involves Congress and the states rather than unilateral presidential action.

Option D is wrong because state governors are elected or selected according to state constitutions and cannot be removed at will by the President.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to overestimate the powers of the President because the office is highly visible and often discussed in the media. Some students may assume that because the President is Commander in Chief, he or she can declare war, or that as head of state the President can change the Constitution. These beliefs are not supported by the constitutional text. To avoid such confusion, it is important to link each presidential power to the relevant article and clause, and to remember that appointments of high officials are a central enumerated power of the President, exercised with Senate participation.

Final Answer:
Nominating federal judges and high level officials, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.