The President's Job Description

Fewer than 50 Americans have served as President of the United States. The President has many powers and duties

The Constitution spells out most of the President's powers and duties. Others have come about over time. The eight roles in the President's job are:

1.Chief of State-The President is the head of the government. He is the human symbol of the American people.

2.Chief Executive- The President is head of the executive branch, one of the three branches of government. He makes sure that the nation's laws, policies, and programs are carried out.

3.Chief Administrator- The President is in charge of most of the governments employees. He also manages the money used to run the government and its progrms.

4.Chief Diplomat- The President sets U.S. policies toward other countries. He also speaks for the country to the rest of the world.

5.Commander in Chief- The President is head of all U.S. military forces.

6.Chief Legislator- The President suggests new laws to Congress. He asks Congress to take action on important problems.

7.Chief of Party- The President is the unofficial leader of his political party because of his power and influence.

8.Chief Citizen- The President is expected to do what is best for all the nation, not just the special interests. He is the moral leader of Americans.

The President must carry out all these jobs at once. How a President does any one of them may affect how he does the others. For example, how a President acts as commander in chief during an unpopular war may influence how people see him as chief citizen.

The Constitution says that the President must: Be a natural born citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have lived in the united states for at least 14 years.

The Constitution sets the President's term at four years. At first, it placed no limit on how many terms a President could have. Until the 1940's, no President was in office more than two terms.. Then Franklin D. Roosevelt broke the tradition by winning a third and fourth term. In 1951, the 22nd Amendment limited Presidents to two terms.

Congress sets the President's salary. Since 1969, Presidents have earned $200,000 per year. Each year, the President also receives a $50,000 expense account. Other benefits include getting money for a large staff, travel and entertainment, living in the White House, nd vacationing at Camp David. Former Presidents received a pension for the rest of their lives.