The President of the United States has a very demanding job. The Constitution outlines many of the duties of a president, but modern society and technology have also changed and expanded the expectations placed on a president in some ways. These are seven of the major areas of responsibility that presidents manage.
First responsibility is being the Chief of State. This role requires a president to be an inspiring example for the American people. In some nations, the chief of state is a king or a queen who wears a crown on special occasions, celebrates national holidays, and stands for the highest values and ideals of the country. As the American Chief of State, the president is a living symbol of the nation. It is considered a great honor for any citizen to shake the president’s hand. An example of this was when President Obama gives the National Humanities Medal to Stanford literary scholar Ramón Saldívar in honor of his cultural explorations of the U.S-Mexico border.
Second is being the Chief Executive wherein the president is the “boss” for millions of government workers in the Executive Branch. He or she decides how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and chooses officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch. An example of this was when President Bush nominated Representative Porter J. Goss, the longtime chairman of the House of Intelligence Committee, to head the Central Intelligence Agency.
Third is being the Chief Diplomat where the president decides what American diplomats and ambassadors shall say to foreign governments. With the help of advisors, the president makes the foreign policy of the United States. One example of this was when Michelle is pretty in purple as the Obamas welcome Japanese Prime Minister and his wife for glittering White House state dinner wherein Obama gave a humorous speech thanking Japan for ‘karate, karaoke, anime and emojis’.
Fourth is being the Commander-In-Chief. The president is in charge of the U.S. Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. The president decides where troops shall be stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how weapons shall be used. All military generals and admirals take their orders from the president. An example was when President Harry S. Truman ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Fifth is being the Legislative Leader. Only Congress has the actual power to make laws, but the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress in its lawmaking. Presidents may urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not favor. For example, President Franklin Roosevelt indicated in a signing statement in 1943, during World War II, that he felt Section 304 of the Urgent Deficiency Appropriations Act of 1943 (ch. 218, 57 Stat. 431, 450 (1943)) was unconstitutional, but that he had no choice but to sign the bill “to avoid delaying our conduct of the war.”
Sixth is being Chief of Party. In this role, the president helps members of his or her political party get elected or appointed to office. The president campaigns for those members who have supported his or her policies. At the end of a term, the president may campaign for reelection. For example, President Obama announced that Senator Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire, is his nominee for commerce secretary.
And lastly, being the Guardian of the Economy. In this role, the president is concerned with such things as unemployment, high prices, taxes, business profits, and the general prosperity of the country. The president does not control the economy, but is expected to help it run smoothly. An example of this was when Labor leaders meet with Obama wherein Officials in Washington are hoping to help stimulate economic investment and job creation in Detroit.