Omar Bennett
The President of the United States is the Chief Executive of the country and is responsible for executing and enforcing laws created by Congress. The President also acts as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and appoints the heads of over 50 independent Federal commissions. The President's agenda, which is revealed during their inaugural address, forms the basis for much of the legislation Congress deliberates during their tenure. The President is supported by the Executive Office, which was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and is overseen by the White House Chief of Staff.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Chief Executive of the United States |
| Powers | Execution and enforcement of laws created by Congress |
| Appointment of members of the President's Cabinet | |
| Appointment of heads of federal commissions, federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal officials | |
| Agenda | Revealed during the inaugural address and refined during the annual State of Union address |
| Staff | Includes civil servants, policy experts, and other personnel |
| Chief of Staff | Position currently held by Susie Wiles, appointed by President Donald Trump |
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What You'll Learn
The US President is the Chief Executive
The President's agenda is the basis for much of the legislation Congress deliberates during their tenure. During their inaugural address, the President reveals their goals, which may be refined or added to during their time in office through the annual State of Union address. The President's agenda may be broad, such as a focus on expanding social services, or more unique and personal. To realise their agenda, the President must have a good working relationship with Congress and the support of the public, and be willing to compromise. Public opinion counts for a lot in deciding whether a President's agenda will be passed.
The Executive Office of the President, created in 1939, is responsible for tasks such as communicating the President's message to the American people and promoting trade interests abroad. The office is overseen by the White House Chief of Staff and includes civil servants who are regarded as nonpartisan and politically neutral, providing objective and impartial advice. The size of the White House staff has increased over time, and as of 2015, it included approximately 1,800 positions.
The President has the power to reorganise the Executive Office, and the Chief of Staff ultimately decides what the President needs to deal with personally and what can be delegated to other staff. Senior staff within the Executive Office have the title Assistant to the President, while second and third-level staff are given the titles Deputy Assistant to the President and Special Assistant to the President, respectively.
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The President's agenda and goals
The President of the United States is both the head of state and head of government, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President's agenda and goals are wide-ranging and varied, with the power to affect domestic and foreign policy.
In addition to trade, the President's agenda and goals may also encompass other areas of domestic and foreign policy. For example, during Trump's administration, there was a focus on reducing federal spending and cutting down the federal government, as well as on issues such as abortion and immigration.
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The Executive Office of the President
The EOP comprises the offices and agencies that support the work of the President at the centre of the executive branch of the US federal government. The office includes several entities, such as the White House Office (the staff working closest with the President, including West Wing staff), the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, and others. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building houses most of the staff.
The EOP is also referred to as a "permanent government" since many policy programs and their implementers continue between presidential administrations. The civil servants who work in the EOP are regarded as nonpartisan and politically neutral, allowing them to provide objective and impartial advice. The size of the White House staff has increased over time to include a range of policy experts responsible for managing various federal government functions and policy areas. As of 2015, the EOP included approximately 1,800 positions, most of which did not require confirmation from the US Senate.
The core White House staff appointments, and most EOP officials, are generally not required to be confirmed by the Senate, although there are some exceptions, such as the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. Congress also has some control over the EOP, including through its appropriation powers and its right to investigate the operation of the office.
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The Chief of Staff role
The President of the United States is the country's chief executive officer. The role of Chief of Staff to the President is both managerial and advisory. The Chief of Staff is the head of the Executive Office and oversees the Executive Office of the President (EOP). The Chief of Staff decides what the President needs to deal with personally and what can be delegated to other staff.
The Chief of Staff is responsible for selecting senior White House staff and supervising their offices' activities. They are also responsible for managing and designing the overall structure of the White House staff system. They manage the flow of information to and from the President's desk and direct, manage, and oversee all policy development.
The Chief of Staff is also responsible for protecting the President's political interests and negotiating legislation and funds with Congress leaders, Cabinet secretaries, and extra-governmental political groups to implement the President's agenda. They advise the President on any issues the President may set and are involved in the President's scheduled appearances. They preview the President's speeches and briefings to understand what attention may be attracted by the statements and meet with the President and other staff prior to important appearances to help shape the intended impact.
The Chief of Staff must be able to negotiate with Congress, the executive cabinet, and donors and supporters. They are typically responsible for creating a structure of reporting and decision-making for White House staff, which is largely based on the President's style of operation. Chiefs of Staff have been labeled "strong" and "weak" based on the structure of the White House. A “strong” Chief of Staff requires all information intended for the President to go past their desk to maintain a very hands-on management style, while a “weak” Chief of Staff does not require such a reporting method before information reaches the President.
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The President's relationship with Congress
The President of the United States is the country's chief executive officer. The President's relationship with Congress is vital to American politics. The Constitution calls for the President and Congress to work together constructively for the benefit of the nation. This relationship has been described as the "central link" in American politics.
The President and Congress are interdependent. The President needs Congress to enact policies and pass bills, while Congress needs the President to sign off on its legislation. The President has the power of recommendation, lobbying, agenda-setting, and bargaining to influence Congress. A positive relationship with Congress is marked by the passage of the President's bills and the confirmation of their appointments, even if Congress is dominated by the opposing party.
Congress has the power to investigate the Executive Office, confirm presidential nominees for the Supreme Court and the Executive Office, and ratify treaties negotiated by the President. It also controls the power of the purse, which affects the Office of Management and Budget and the funding of other federal departments and agencies. In recent years, Congress has restricted the President's powers with laws such as the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the War Powers Resolution.
The degree of the President's influence over Congress depends on factors such as the leadership of Congress, the President's political influence, and the boldness of their initiatives. It is in the government's interest to keep disagreements between the President and Congress out of the public eye, as public scandals benefit neither party.
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Frequently asked questions
The President of the United States serves as the Chief Executive of the country.
The Chief Executive enters office with an agenda and uses the resources available to execute it. They also have the power to appoint the heads of over 50 independent Federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Chief Executive's agenda forms the basis of much of the legislation that Congress deliberates during their tenure. The President also has the responsibility of enforcing laws created by Congress.
Public opinion plays a significant role in deciding whether the Chief Executive's agenda will be passed. For example, President George W. Bush's $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan was passed by Congress in just over a week due to public support.
Democrats often focus on expanding social services, whereas Republicans tend to focus on reducing government spending.
