Powers of the President

The Constitution gives the president many important powers. As chief executive, the president appoints secretaries of the major departments that make up the president’s cabinet. Today there are 13 major departments in the executive branch: the Department of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labour, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, and Education. As chief executive, the president also appoints senior officials of the many agencies in the expansive bureaucracy. A change of President also produces changes in other jobs in the federal administration.

As head of state, the president represents the country abroad, entertains foreign leaders, and addresses the public. As director of foreign policy, he appoints foreign ambassadors and makes treaties with other nations. The president also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and as head of his political party.

In the United States, the president and legislature are elected separately, housed separately, and they operate separately. His division is a unique feature of the American system. In the parliamentary systems that operate in most western democracies, the national leader, or prime minister, is chosen by the parliament.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20