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● Articles
of Confederation
● Constitution
● Legislative
Branch
● Executive
Branch
● Judicial
Branch
● Checks and Balances
● Bill
of Rights
● Political Parties
Executive Branch
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The 42nd President
of the U.S., William J. Clinton
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 The
chief executive of the United States is the president, who, together
with the vice president, is elected to a four-year term. Under
a Constitutional Amendment passed in 1951, a president can be elected
to only two terms. Except for the right of succession
to the presidency, the vice president's only constitutional duties
are to serve as the presiding officer of the Senate; the vice president
may vote in the Senate only in the event of a tie.
The
powers of the presidency are formidable,
but not without limitations. The president, as the chief formulator
of public policy, often proposes legislation to Congress. The president
can also veto any bill passed by Congress. The veto
can be overridden
by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
As head of his political party, with ready access
to the news media, the president can easily influence public
opinion regarding issues
and legislation that he deems
vital.
The
president has the authority to appoint federal judges as
vacancies
occur,
including members of the Supreme Court. All such court
appointments are
subject to confirmation
by the Senate.
Within
the executive branch, the president has broad powers to issue regulations
and directives
regarding the work of the federal government's many departments
and agencies. He also is commander in chief of the armed forces.
The
president appoints the heads and senior
officials of the executive branch agencies; the
large majority of federal workers, however, are selected through
a nonpolitical civil service system. The major departments
of the government are headed by appointed secretaries
who collectively make up the president's cabinet.
Each appointment must be confirmed by a vote of the Senate. Today
these 13 departments are: State, Treasury,
Defense,
Justice, Interior,
Agriculture,
Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Transportation, Energy
and
Education.
Under
the Constitution, the president is primarily responsible for foreign
relations with other nations. The president appoints ambassadors
and other officials, subject to Senate approval, and with the secretary
of state, formulates and manages the nation's foreign policy. The
president often represents the United States abroad in consultations
with other heads of state, and, through his officials, he negotiates
treaties with other countries. Such treaties must be approved by
a two-thirds vote of the Senate. The president also negotiates with
other nations less formal "executive agreements" that
are not subject to Senate approval.
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