The Roles and Responsibilities of the President
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The president of the United States is one of the most important public offices in our nation, with responsibilities for the way our country operates and serves all who live here. Because of the authority of the office, people have a lot of expectations of the president. In a representative democracy like the U.S., the president’s powers are interconnected with other branches and functions of government. People give government authority and, therefore, have a right to participate in political power. And a crucial part of participation in democracy is to understand our system of government and hold our elected officials accountable.

So, what are the roles and responsibilities of the president? What are the powers and limits of the office? And how can people evaluate a president’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the office and hold a president accountable?

Roles and Responsibilities

The United States is a global power and one of the world’s strongest economies. Therefore, the president has responsibilities domestically to the people living in the U.S. and internationally in shaping relationships with other countries and international organizations. The president’s actions can affect people’s daily lives and individual freedoms as well as the common good of the nation and its international reputation.

The president wields both formal and informal powers that help them to carry out their duties as head of state and head of the government. As the only elected official who represents everyone in the U.S., the president is expected to be a unifying leader for the whole nation — not just for their political party or supporters. The president should, therefore, exemplify the highest leadership qualities and honor the values of democracy

Chief Executive

As head of the executive branch of government, the president is responsible for overseeing the execution and enforcement of laws for the well-being of everyone in the country and its territories. In this capacity, the president heads the federal bureaucracy, supervising executive agencies that issue and enforce rules and regulations based on laws passed by Congress, often as part of their policy agenda. With the Senate’s approval, the president appoints the 15 federal department officers — such as secretary of state, secretary of education, secretary of defense, secretary of commerce, secretary of homeland security.

The president also has the power to issue executive orders that serve as directives for managing the federal government. Executive orders are not laws, but they often stay in effect until they are canceled, revoked, expired or modified. Further, these orders are subject to judicial review as a part of the checks and balances system of the three branches of government. One of the most notorious executive orders in our nation’s history came from President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942. Executive Order 9066, which targeted Japanese Americans, called for the removal of all persons deemed a threat to national security to be removed from the West Coast to relocation centers, also known as internment camps, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While most executive orders are not as extreme in nature as this example, it is important to analyze whether a president’s executive orders are in keeping with our democratic values, laws and the Constitution.

The president’s executive orders are subject to judicial review, which is one way the judicial branch can check the power of the executive branch. However, since the president also holds some duties in the judiciary, appointing judges at various levels, they can have a strong impact on shaping the judicial system in the nation. Most notably, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president and confirmed by Congress. The Supreme Court plays a vital role in shaping laws in our nation, as exemplified by cases such as Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, that overturned policies of “separate but equal” and led to school desegregation. While appointing justices to the U.S. Supreme Court is often the most covered in the media, the president also appoints judges to federal circuit courts and appeals courts around the nation. This is arguably as important as the Supreme Court appointments because the lower courts hear far more cases and can rule on cases that never make it to the Supreme Court, making this an extremely important role of the president.

Commander in Chief

The president is responsible for military activities in the role of commander in chief of the armed forces. However, Congress has the constitutional responsibility to declare war. In modern times, presidents have increased powers to commit troops to conflicts with congressional approval even without formal declaration of war.

Chief of State

As chief of state, the president performs functions such as receiving heads of state of other countries, traveling abroad as the nation’s leader, and many symbolic duties such as honoring veterans and laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. In the capacity of chief of state, the president can serve as a unifying presence and symbolically represents the entire nation.

Chief Legislator

The president can recommend bills to Congress and hold meetings with party leaders in an effort to influence bills that may become law. Many of these daily conversations are carried out by the White House Office of Legislative Affairs at the president’s direction. The specific approach of this team varies with each president.

The Constitution grants the president legislative responsibility to sign congressional bills into law or to reject them with a veto. In some cases, the president can utilize a line-item veto to reject a portion of a bill. If a bill is vetoed, Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds majority vote. An informal option that the president can use comes through communication with congressional leaders over concerns about a bill which can allow Congress to reshape the bill and avoid a veto.

This example also applies to the federal budget that is developed collaboratively with the executive and legislative branches. The president proposes an annual budget, thereby setting legislative priorities for the year. During the annual State of the Union address, the president outlines goals for the upcoming year and reflects on the previous one. The State of the Union address is a chance to talk to the American people in the capacity of head of state about forthcoming goals that Congress is urged to support through the budget and legislation. 

Chief Diplomat

Diplomacy is an important aspect of the presidency that extends beyond the U.S., but often still has domestic and international implications. The president has the authority to make treaties and agreements with other nations that Congress then ratifies, including trade agreements. If the president were to advocate for tariffs on imported goods, for example, prices would likely rise because tariffs raise money for the government through taxes that are typically passed on to the consumer.

Cultivating strong relationships with allied nations as well as with other nations that we have relationships with is important for the global economy and our role on the world stage. While diplomacy relies upon the president’s direction and presence, their team of advisers and ambassadors to other nations also play an important role in communication and maintaining relationships. As with the heads of departments, the Senate must approve the president’s appointment of ambassadors. 

Checking Presidential Powers

Limits on the president’s authority rely on the separation of powers and system of checks and balances between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The integrity of elected officials in Congress and those appointed to the Supreme Court to honor the Constitution, rule of law and values of democracy is essential in checking the power of the presidency. For example, the Senate is responsible for vetting and approving the heads of federal agencies appointed by the president. This process should ensure that qualified officers are chosen for the important work of government that affects us all.

But what happens when senators put political partisanship to a president ahead of the good of the nation and allow unqualified individuals into positions of power? The same issues come into play in the selection and approval of Supreme Court justices and the integrity of those justices to uphold the Constitution rather than serve the agendas of any one party or president. Polarization and partisanship threaten democracy when officials fail in their roles to maintain our nation’s democratic values, especially the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.

The president is the elected leader of the entire U.S. and must serve all who live here — not merely one constituency. They are responsible to everyone, and we have the reciprocal responsibility of holding the president accountable for everyone’s well-being. This is a central characteristic of living in a democratic society. To evaluate a president’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the office, we must understand the role and responsibilities, powers and limits on power, and systems of accountability. We must also insist on accountability for our state representatives in Congress and those at all levels of government. By staying informed of current events, voting, and being engaged in your community, you can help to make your voice heard and push society in the direction that provides justice for all.

Considering Accountability

  • Is the currently elected president a unifying leader for the whole nation? To what extent does the president exemplify the highest leadership qualities? Do the president’s words and actions honor the values of democracy?
  • Stay informed about the president’s executive orders.  Are executive orders in keeping with our democratic values, laws and the Constitution? Are they targeting specific vulnerable groups? Do they respect the human rights of all people in the U.S? 
  • Stay informed about presidential appointments, including to federal agencies and ambassadors to foreign countries.  Are they qualified for their roles or are they being given positions because of political support for the president? Are senators upholding their duties to ensure qualified candidates, or are they approving candidates who are unsuited to positions because of partisan support for the president?
  • As commander in chief, to what extent does the president handle crises well, respect the Constitution with regard to war powers, and demonstrate the ability to manage military strategy? Does the president demonstrate commitment to the welfare of all members of the armed forces and our country’s national security?
  • Has the current president appointed justices to the Supreme Court? To what extent are those justices upholding the Constitution or favoring the president? Is the Supreme Court demonstrating adherence to the Constitution in ensuring the independence of the judiciary and the system of checks and balances on the president’s powers?
  • To what extent are current congressional representatives serving the people or the president? Are members of congress, especially those who belong to the president’s political party, adhering to the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine and holding the president accountable?

Reflection and Action

  1. Given the roles of the U.S. president above and current domestic and international issues, what qualifications do you think a president needs to have? Consider whether there are particular career experiences we should look for in a national leader (e.g., is a constitutional lawyer more qualified than a business executive)?
  2. What does it mean to hold the president accountable for governing in a way that considers the needs of all people? What might a government that considers all people look like in your daily life?
  3. Take Action: Attend events or write to your congressional representatives voicing your perspectives or community concerns. Senators and representatives can help to hold the president accountable through checks and balances. Contact your state senators to insist they ensure qualified leadership in all government agencies.
  4. Take Action: Author op-ed articles and submit to local and national newspapers to help shed light on issues that you care about.
  5. What are some civic actions that we can engage in to hold our elected officials, including the president, accountable? How can we discuss and educate people in our social circle and communities about accountability?