President of the United States

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The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788 and the first president took office in 1789.

The president serves as the chief executive and leader of the executive branch of the United States government. Article Two of the United States Constitution establishes the president as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and enumerates powers specifically granted to the president, including the power to sign into law bills passed by both houses of the Legislature, to create a Cabinet of advisors, to grant pardons or reprieves, and, with the "advice and consent" of the United States Senate, to make treaties and appoint federal officers, ambassadors, and federal judges (including Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States). Article Two also defines a presidential term at four years; subsequently, the Twelfth Amendment (1804) revised the procedure for electing the president and the Twenty-second Amendment (1951) established presidential term limits.

The United States was the first nation to create the office of president as the head of state in a modern Republic, and today the presidential system of government is used in many countries throughout the world. As of 2007, forty-two men have been President of the United States. George Washington was the first President of the United States, and George W. Bush is the 43rd and current president. From the early 20th century, the United States' status as a superpower has led the American president to be one of the world's best-known public figures.

Contents 1 Origin 2 General description 2.1 Requirements for holding office 2.2 Term of office 2.3 Election 2.4 Campaign 2.5 Salary 2.6 Privileges of office 2.7 Secret Service 2.8 Succession 2.9 Resignation 3 Office-holders 4 Life after the presidency 5 Presidential statistics 5.1 Births 5.2 Deaths 5.3 Deaths in office and assassination attempts 5.4 Longevity of former presidents 5.5 Elections 5.6 Unelected presidents 5.7 Resignations and impeachments 5.8 Terms of office 6 Other facts 7 See also 8 Further reading 9 Notes 10 External links 10.1 Official 10.2 Presidential histories 10.3 Speeches 10.4 Miscellaneous

Origin

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Main article: Articles of Confederation

The Treaty of Paris (1783) left the United States independent and at peace but with an unsettled governmental structure. The Second Continental Congress had drawn up Articles of Confederation in 1777, describing a permanent confederation but granting to the Congress—the only federal institution—little power to finance itself or to ensure that its resolutions were enforced. In part this reflected the anti-monarchy view of the Revolutionary period, and the new American system was explicitly designed to prevent the rise of an American tyrant to replace the British King.

However, during the economic depression that followed the Revolutionary War the viability of the American government was threatened by political unrest in several States, efforts by debtors to use popular government to erase their debts, and the apparent inability of the Continental Congress to redeem the public obligations incurred during the war. The Congress also appeared unable to become a forum for productive cooperation among the States encouraging commerce and economic development. In response a Constitutional Convention was convened, ostensibly to reform the Articles of Confederation but that subsequently began to draft a new system of government that would include greater executive power while retaining the checks and balances thought to be essential restraints on any imperial tendency in the office of the president.

Before the 1788 ratification of the Constitution, there was no comparable figure with executive authority. Individuals who presided over the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary period and under the Articles of Confederation had the title "President of the United States of America in Congress Assembled", often shortened to "President of the United States". They had no important executive power. The president's executive authority, tempered by the checks and balances of the Judicial and Legislative branches of the Federal Government, was designed to solve several political problems faced by the young nation and to anticipate future challenges, while still preventing the rise of an autocrat over a nation wary of royal authority.

General description

Article Two of the United States Constitution, coupled with several articles of amendment, establish the requirements one must meet in order to become president, as well as the term of office, method of election, and powers.

Requirements for holding office

The President must be a natural born citizen of the United States (or a citizen of the United States at the time the U.S. Constitution was adopted), at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least fourteen years.

Term of office

The president and vice president serve a term of office of four years. The Twenty-second Amendment (which took effect in 1951) provides that no one may be elected to the office more than twice, and that no one may be elected president more than once who has held the office of (or acted as) president for more than two years of another's term. Prior to the ratification of this amendment, and following the precedent set by George Washington, an unofficial limit of two terms was generally observed, with the only exceptions being Theodore Roosevelt, who ran unsuccessfully for a third nonconsecutive term (although his first term was to finish the term of President William McKinley, who was assassinated—hence he was only elected once, for his second term), and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected 4 times, served three full terms and died in his fourth after just over 12 years in office. Ulysses S. Grant also briefly sought a third nonconsecutive term, making an unsuccessful run for the Republican Party nomination in 1880. Since the amendment went into effect, three presidents have served two full terms: Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Richard Nixon was elected to a second term but resigned before completing it. Current President George W. Bush will become the fourth should he complete his current term, on January 20, 2009. Lyndon B. Johnson was the only president since the ratification of the amendment to have been eligible to have served more than 2 terms, having served only 14 months of John F. Kennedy's term after becoming president following the latter's assassination. Harry S. Truman himself was not subject to term limits, as the 22nd specifically states that it both did not apply to the current term of the president in office upon its ratification (Truman) or "to any person holding the office of president when this Article was proposed by the Congress" (Truman). He briefly allowed his name on the ballot for the 1952 election (but did not campaign), and officially withdrew after losing the New Hampshire primary.

Election

Main article: United States Electoral College

Presidents and vice presidents of the United States are elected every four years indirectly through the United States Electoral College. They are the only nationally-elected offices in the United States, since executive officers and judges are appointed, United States Senators are elected at the state level, and United States Representatives are elected at the district level.

On election day, the voting citizens select their preferred candidate, usually by voting for a slate of electors put forward by the candidate's party. The ballots for each voting citizen typically has the names of the candidates for president and vice president (running together on a ticket), and votes for those individuals translate at the state level into votes for the electors chosen from their respective parties. Although State Legislatures have the constitutional power to appoint slates of electors, all fifty states have established popular election of presidential electors. In December, following the general election, Electors gather at their respective State capitals to cast their ballots, which are then transmitted to Congress under the care of the sitting Vice President of the United States. Originally, under Article II, the electors cast two votes for the office of president, the individual with the most votes becoming president, the runner up becoming vice president. This changed with the 12th amendment, with each elector casting one vote for president and one vote for vice president. The ballots are counted and certified in January before both houses of Congress. Should a candidate for either president or vice president fail to achieve a majority of votes, the United States House of Representatives (voting by state) chooses the next president from among the candidates while the United States Senate (voting normally) selects the vice president

Campaign

Main article: United States presidential election

The modern presidential campaign begins before the primary elections, which the two major political parties use to clear the field of candidates in advance of their national nominating conventions, where the most successful candidate is made the party's nominee for president. The party's presidential candidate chooses a vice presidential nominee and this choice is rubber-stamped by the convention. Also, the party establishes a platform on which to base its campaign. Although nominating conventions have a long history in the United States, their substantive importance in the political process has greatly diminished; however, they remain important as a way of energizing the parties for the general election and focusing the public's attention on the nominees.

Nominees participate in nationally televised debates, and while the debates are usually restricted to the Democratic and Republican nominees, third party candidates may be invited (such as Ross Perot in the 1992 debates). Nominees campaign across the country to explain their views, convince voters, and solicit contributions. Much of the modern electoral process is concerned with winning swing states through frequent visits and mass media advertising drives.

Salary

Presidential pay history
Date established	Salary	Salary in 2007 dollars
September 24, 1789	$25,000	$531,000 (1789)
March 3, 1873	$50,000	$811,000 (1873)
March 4, 1909	$75,000	$1,607,000 (1909)
January 19, 1949	$100,000	$820,000 (1949)
January 20, 1969	$200,000	$1,067,000 (1969)
January 20, 2001	$400,000	$441,000 (2001)

The First U.S. Congress voted to pay George Washington a salary of $25,000 a year (about $531,000 in 2005 terms) — a significant sum in 1789. Washington, already a wealthy man, refused to accept his salary. Theodore Roosevelt spent his entire $50,000 salary on entertaining guests at the White House. (Morris: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt) Similarly, John F. Kennedy donated his salary to charities.^[1]

Traditionally, the president is the highest-paid government employee. Consequently, the president's salary serves as a traditional cap for all other federal officials, such as the Chief Justice. A raise for 2001 was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 because other officials who receive annual cost-of-living increases had salaries approaching the president's. Consequently, to raise the salaries of the other federal employees, the president's salary had to be raised as well. The President's monetary compensation is minuscule in comparison to the CEOs of most Fortune 500 companies and comparable to that of certain kinds of professionals e.g. attorneys and physicians in some parts of the United States. Overall the vast majority of U.S. presidents were very affluent upon entering office and thus were not dependent on the salary.

Allowances for Former Presidents
GSA Allowance FY,2007	Carter	Bush	Clinton
Pension	$188,000	$188,000	$188,000
Staff Salaries	96,000	96,000	96,000
Staff Benefits	2,000	63,000	64,000
Travel	2,000	55,000	64,000
Rental Payments	102,000	175,000	498,000
Telephone	10,000	16,000	77,000
Postage	15,000	13,000	15,000
Other Services	82,000	65,000	113,000
Printing	5,000	14,000	9,000
Supplies	5,000	15,000	16,000
Equipment	7,000	48,000	11,000
TOTAL	$514,000	$748,000	$1,160,000

Prior to passage by Congress of the Former Presidents Act (FPA) in 1958, retired presidents did not receive a pension. All living presidents in 1959 began to receive a pension of $25,000 per year, an office, and a staff. The pension has increased numerous times with Congressional approval. Retired presidents now receive a pension based on the salary of the current administration's cabinet secretaries (Executive Level I), which is $183,500 as of 2007.^[2]

The FPA, as amended, also provides former presidents with travel funds and mailing privileges. Secret Service protection for former presidents is also authorized by statute.

Privileges of office

The president is entitled to use the White House as his/her living and working quarters, and its entire staff and facilities, including medical care, kitchen, housekeeping and security staff. While traveling, the president is able to conduct the functions of the office from one of two custom-built Boeing 747 aircraft popularly known as "Air Force One."^[3] The president also utilizes a United States Marine Corps helicopter, designated "Marine One" when the president is aboard. Similarly, "Navy One," "Army One," and "Coast Guard One" are the call signs used if the president is aboard a craft belonging to these services.^[4] For ground travel, the president uses an armored presidential limousine, currently a heavily modified Cadillac DTS which uses the call sign "Cadillac One".

Secret Service

The sitting president and his/her family will be under constant protection by a United States Secret Service detail. Until 1997, all former presidents and their families were protected by the Secret Service until the president's death. The last president to have lifetime Secret Service protection is Bill Clinton; George W. Bush and all subsequent presidents will be protected by the Secret Service for a maximum of ten years after leaving office.^[5] However, debates in Congress have been raised concerning this decision. Following the increase in terrorism and threats to the president in general since 1997, lifetime protection is being reconsidered.

Succession

Main article: United States presidential line of succession

Article II of the Constitution provides that the vice president takes the place of president if the office were to become vacant. More detail is prescribed in the 20th and 25th amendments, and other laws extend the line of succession further.

The only president to be elected neither to the office of president nor vice president was Gerald Ford who was appointed by Richard Nixon and confirmed after his vice president, Spiro Agnew, resigned in 1973. Nixon later resigned and Ford succeeded to the presidency. Ford was never subsequently elected.^[6]

Resignation

By Act of Congress, the president may resign only if his written resignation is delivered to the Secretary of State.^[7] The only president to resign was Richard Nixon, on August 9, 1974.

Office-holders

Main article: List of Presidents of the United States

See also: President of the Continental Congress

1.George Washington1789–1797	2.John Adams1797–1801	3.Thomas Jefferson1801–1809	4.James Madison1809–1817
5.James Monroe1817–1825	6.John Quincy Adams1825–1829	7.Andrew Jackson1829–1837	8.Martin Van Buren1837–1841
9.William Henry Harrison1841	10.John Tyler1841–1845	11.James K. Polk1845–1849	12.Zachary Taylor1849–1850
13.Millard Fillmore1850–1853	14.Franklin Pierce1853–1857	15.James Buchanan1857–1861	16.Abraham Lincoln1861–1865
17.Andrew Johnson1865–1869	18.Ulysses S. Grant1869–1877	19.Rutherford B. Hayes1877–1881	20.James A. Garfield1881
21.Chester A. Arthur1881–1885	22.Grover Cleveland1885–1889	23.Benjamin Harrison1889–1893	24.Grover Cleveland1893–1897
25.William McKinley1897–1901	26.Theodore Roosevelt1901–1909	27.William Howard Taft1909–1913	28.Woodrow Wilson1913–1921
29.Warren G. Harding1921–1923	30.Calvin Coolidge1923–1929	31.Herbert Hoover1929–1933	32.Franklin Delano Roosevelt1933–1945
33.Harry S. Truman1945–1953	34.Dwight D. Eisenhower1953–1961	35.John F. Kennedy1961–1963	36.Lyndon B. Johnson1963–1969
37.Richard Nixon1969–1974	38.Gerald R. Ford1974–1977	39.Jimmy Carter1977–1981	40.Ronald Reagan1981–1989
41.George H. W. Bush1989–1993	42.William J. Clinton1993–2001	43.George W. Bush2001–present

*Note: Cleveland was elected twice nonconsecutively, changing the numbers of all presidents after him, starting with McKinley. Thus, George W. Bush is the 43rd president although he is the 42nd person to hold the office.

Life after the presidency

Former presidents are referred to as "Mr. President." Since 1994 presidents have been entitled to Secret Service protection for 10 years after finishing their terms of office (previously they were protected for life, which continues to be the case for presidents who served before 1997).^[8] Since Harry S. Truman (1953), presidents have received a pension after leaving office, and since the presidency of Herbert Hoover (1933), former presidents have received a repository for preserving and making available their papers, records, and other historical materials (The National Archives does not provide the initial funding for a Presidential Library. The National Archives only runs the completed facility).

Notable examples of significant post-presidential careers include William Howard Taft's tenure as Chief Justice of the United States, Herbert Hoover's work on government reorganization after World War II, Jimmy Carter's career as a global human rights campaigner and best-selling writer, and most recently George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton's combined effort to appeal for donations from Americans after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Other former presidents have served in elected office after leaving the White House; Andrew Johnson was elected to the Senate after his term was over, and John Quincy Adams served in the House of Representatives. Grover Cleveland, whose bid for reelection failed in 1888, was elected president again four years later in 1892. John Tyler served in the provisional Confederate States Congress during the Civil War, and was elected to the official Confederate Congress but died before it convened.

Presidential statistics

See also: Category:United States presidential history and Category:Lists relating to the United States presidency

Births

• Martin Van Buren, born December 5, 1782, was the first president born after the Declaration of Independence and was thus arguably the first natural-born U.S. citizen (rather than a British subject) to become president. A Dutch-American, he was also the first president not of Anglo-Celtic origin.