presidency of the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction
Duties of the office
Historical development
- Postrevolutionary period
- The presidency in the 19th century
- Changes in the 20th century
Selecting a president
- The evolution of the nomination process
  - “King Caucus”
  - The convention system
  - Post-1968 reforms
- The modern nomination process
  - Deciding to run
  - The money game
  - The primary and caucus season
  - Presidential nominating conventions
- The general election campaign
Presidents of the United States
United States presidential election results

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presidency of the United States of America

United States government

Also known as: president of the United States of America

Written by Forrest McDonald, Michael LevySee All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2024 • Article History

Washington delivering his inaugural address

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Category: History & Society

Key People:: Garry Wills

Related Topics:: United States; first lady; United States presidential inauguration; nuclear football; presidential succession

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presidency of the United States of America, chief executive office of the United States. In contrast to many countries with parliamentary forms of government, where the office of president, or head of state, is mainly ceremonial, in the United States the president is vested with great authority and is arguably the most powerful elected official in the world. The nation’s founders originally intended the presidency to be a narrowly restricted institution. They distrusted executive authority because their experience with colonial governors had taught them that executive power was inimical to liberty, because they felt betrayed by the actions of George III, the king of Great Britain and Ireland, and because they considered a strong executive incompatible with the republicanism embraced in the Declaration of Independence (1776). Accordingly, their revolutionary state constitutions provided for only nominal executive branches, and the Articles of Confederation (1781–89), the first “national” constitution, established no executive branch.

Duties of the office

The Constitution succinctly defines presidential functions, powers, and responsibilities. The president’s chief duty is to make sure that the laws are faithfully executed, and this duty is performed through an elaborate system of executive agencies that includes cabinet-level departments. Presidents appoint all cabinet heads and most other high-ranking officials of the executive branch of the federal government. They also nominate all judges of the federal judiciary, including the members of the Supreme Court. Their appointments to executive and judicial posts must be approved by a majority of the Senate (one of the two chambers of Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, the other being the House of Representatives). The Senate usually confirms these appointments, though it occasionally rejects a nominee to whom a majority of members have strong objections. The president is also the commander in chief of the country’s military and has unlimited authority to direct the movements of land, sea, and air forces. The president has the power to make treaties with foreign governments, though the Senate must approve such treaties by a two-thirds majority. Finally, the president has the power to approve or reject (veto) bills passed by Congress, though Congress can override the president’s veto by summoning a two-thirds majority in favour of the measure.