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President, list of presidents in order they served

The president of the United States is the chief executive of the United States government. He is undoubtedly the most powerful person in the country. The president is chief of state, commander of the army and the head of his political party. His responsibilities include enforcing federal laws, appointing executive officers, such as the ministers in his cabinet, and deciding foreign policy.

Although the president cannot make laws himself, he often tells congress what laws he wants made. If his party has a majority in congress, his laws are usually passed. The president has the power to veto laws. He cannot officially declare war on another country, but can send troops where he thinks they are needed. No nuclear weapons may be used by the army without the president's permission.

The president is elected by the Electoral College. This consists of elected representatives from all the states and the District of Columbia. The president is chosen from presidential candidates nominated at party conventions. The candidates usually have long campaigns before the election, to try to win popular support.

The requirements of a president and the extent of his powers are laid down in the Constitution and its amendments. The president must be a natural-born American, aged 35 or over, who has lived in the United States for at least 14 years. His term of office is for four years. George Washington, the first president, served for two terms and refused to serve for a third. Following that tradition, no president served for more than two terms, until Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Roosevelt was elected for a fourth time, a law was passed limiting a president to two terms in office. If a president dies in office, he is succeeded by the vice-president.

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