presidential roles

chief of state

• This means the president is the ceremonial head of the government of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation.

• Holidays, state dinners, etc.

• Think of the King of England

chief citizen

• The President is expected to be the “representative of all the people.”

• The moral leader of the country—care more about the country than themselves.

chief executive

• They are in charge of the domestic and foreign affairs of this country.

• The general running/decision-making of the country

chief administrator

• The President is the chief administrator, or director, of the executive branch (2.7M employees at the cost of $2.5 trillion a year)

• The head “boss” of all federal employees

chief diplomat

As the nation’s chief diplomat, the President plans American foreign policy and is the chief spokesperson to the rest of the world.

commander in chief

The Constitution makes the President the commander in chief, giving them complete control of the nation’s armed forces (army, navy, air force, and marines)

chief legislator

• In their State of the Union Address each year they set an agenda for the lawmakers.

• Works with Congress to get certain laws passed.

chief of party

• The President acts as the chief of party, the acknowledged leader of their political party.

• Works with party to get others elected and guide policy.