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Let’s pretend to go back in time to the founding of the United States, some 245 years ago. A different time, no doubt, in a world where religion dominates public discourse, where Europe is bursting with proletariat revolution, and the idea of self-determination for nation states is still 150 years away from becoming a reality. Slavery is ubiquitous, women’s rights are non-existent, and the welfare state is yet to be established. And, as all this is going on, the United States declares its independence from the most powerful force on Earth, the peerless British Empire.

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Who will now lead this republic, this distant utopia across the Atlantic Ocean that has been founded on the principles of the European Enlightenment? The leader of the revolutionary forces, General George Washington, was the obvious choice; and he was truly the precedent-setting President. From something as simple as to how the President would be addressed, a modest “Mr. President,” to how the office of the President would function, and how long a President would occupy the most noble of offices, can all be traced back to the doings of George Washington. Today, as the United States has developed into a super power, the President of the United States is often refered to as the leader of the free world, or the most powerful person on Earth. Let's start learning!

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Just like Congress makes up the legislative branch of government, the President makes up the executive branch. The President's roles and responsibilities are vast and varied, and allow him/her to greatly influence many aspects of the government. Let's discuss what exactly the President is tasked with.

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Commander-in-Chief

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Along with being a politician, the President is also the Commander-in-Chief, the highest-ranking person in the military, and thus ultimately has the final say on all related matters. The President is advised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a group of high-ranking military experts who consult the President on military affairs. Unlike politics, the military is not a democratic institution, and therefore the President's powers on military matters are not as checked as they are when it comes to legislative matters. This is why the United States needs level-headed people who are not demagogues running for the office, because they have the nuclear codes and can do what they want with them...But that's for a different day.

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However, the President cannot just declare war without approval of Congress. But once the wheels are set in motion, the major decisions of military operations are ultimately approved by, and therefore the responsibility of, the President. 

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Legislation

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The President plays a major role in the legislative process. Oftentimes the President proposes new legislation, which is then formally proposed in the House by a representative. For example, President Obama's Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, was passed through Congress, but was inspired by him. Perhaps more importantly than the President's ability to have Congress vote on laws that he/she puts forth, is his/her ability to veto laws once they are passed. The Presidential veto is like a trump card that can get played by the President once a bill passes both the House and Congress. It goes something like this. Let's say the House and Senate are both controlled by the Republican party, and the sitting President is a Democrat, as is the case currently. If the Republicans want to pass a law that the President finds unsuitable, he/she can squash it once it gets to his/her desk (all bills must have the President's signature to become law). So, where does the bill go from there? It gets sent back to Congress to get voted on again, except this time the bill needs to get passed with a two-thirds majority to override the veto. Here's a closer look at what I'm talking about.

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So, when it comes to passing bills, the President always has the final say, unless the House and Senate override the President's veto, which, as shown, is hard to do.

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Presidential Appointments

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Along with being the Commander-in-Chief, and having heavy legislative pull, the President also has the unique power of appointing people to very prominent positions within the executive and judicial branches. For example, the President choses who will fill his/her cabinet; that being the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Secretary of Homeland Security, etc. The President also appoints the Director of the CIA, the Attorney General, Supreme Court Justices (when one dies) etc. etc. etc. I think you get the point. Put it this way, all the important roles in the federal government that people don't vote on, are appointed, and they are often appointed by the President. Therefore presidential appointments are vitally important, as appointees have tremendous influence on the nation's economy, foriegn relations, and domestic policies.

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However, remember that these appointments must be approved by the Senate. The President can't pick his old high school buddy to be Secretary of State because he owes him a favour...

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Political Figure

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In addition to the concrete roles of the President, there are also responsibilites that are not so concretely defined. For example, the President is the Head of State, which means he/she represents the country all over the world. And it's not like they're the Head of State for Nauru (no offense to Nauru), but  they're the leader of the free world, the Commander-in-Chief to the greatest military power of all-time, the most powerful person on Earth! With all this power, comes great responsibility. A large group of advisors are appointed to assist the President in his/her decision making process. Experts from various fields can offer insight into matters that the President may not be as familiar with. In addition to this, the President must represent the interests of America around the globe, be sagacious in political disputes, and show resolve and determination in times of turmoil to a country that depends on stability and strength. 

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DID YOU KNOW?:

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• Despite being the most powerful person on Earth, the President, for his/her own safety is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle while in office. Ironic, isn't it? They are trusted with the nuclear codes, but don't let them get behind the wheel! 

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