Role of the President - Commander in chief - Foreign policy and military leader - Controls largest military in the world - Can send troops anywhere in the world for 60 days - Top diplomat - Leader in foreign affairs - Can establish informal alliances - Establishes relationships around the world - First legislator - Proposes new policies - Sponsors bills - State of the Union – outlines legislative program for the year - Chief Bureaucrat - Head of the entire executive branch - Makes sure the laws are being carried out in an effective manner by supporting Agencies - Appoints leaders of bureaucratic agencies - Economist in chief - Head manager of the domestic economy - Deals with national budget and fiscal problems - The strength of the economy can make break a president seeking re-election - Head of state - Symbol of U.S authority - Ceremonial duties - Pardoning the turkey - Throwing out the first pitch - Party leader - It is the president’s job to maintain party unity and prevent discord - The president can be instrumental in ensuring that members vote by party line - The president will often call congress members before big votes Right to Declare War - The right to declare war is a power granted specifically to congress in the constitution - When was the last time the United States declared war? United States “conflicts” - Korean War – 36,574 U.S deaths - Vietnam War – 58, 220 U.S deaths - 1st Persian Gulf War – 482 U.S deaths - War in Afghanistan – 2,271 U.S deaths - War in Iraq – 4,487 U.S deaths Declaring War - War Powers Act (1973) – requires congressional approval after troops have been deployed For 60 days - Congress overrode a presidential veto by Nixon (2/3 of congress) - Some presidents have pushed the limits of the Wars Powers Act Presidential Demographics - Most United States presidents have been very similar, demographically - Mostly white, Christian, males