The Presidency of the United States was established on the 4th of March, 1789, when the US Constitution came into effect. There have been forty-seven presidencies, although only 45 people—all men—have held the office. Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump were both elected to non-consecutive terms, and as such are counted twice. Being president of the United States is one of the most important jobs in the world, but the role and powers of the president are often misunderstood.
With President Trump having taken office one month ago, this is a good time to explore the US presidency. Presidents are elected every four years and can only serve two terms. They lead the executive branch of the US government, meaning they oversee the implementation of laws that are passed by Congress. Under the terms of the Constitution, a president’s domestic powers are rather limited. While they can pass executive orders, these can only relate to a limited number of issues and generally only tinker with existing policy. For broader reforms, Congress must act. This is why presidents often struggle to make sweeping changes. Even when the president’s party has majorities in both chambers of Congress, constructing a coalition can be difficult, especially in the Senate, where sixty votes are often necessary to push through legislation. In his first term, President Trump famously struggled to pass infrastructure funding, while President Biden failed to enact broad student loan forgiveness. While presidents often promise a lot of policy changes when running for election, they do not possess a magic wand to change the law. Much of President Trump’s proposed agenda will require congressional action, and it is still unclear if he has the necessary support for his most controversial policies. Presidents are not powerless, however. They have the power to veto legislation passed by Congress (although Congress can override a veto if supermajorities in both chambers vote to do so), and can pardon people who have committed crimes, except in cases of impeachment. Presidents are most powerful on matters of international relations. Presidents represent the US abroad and have the power to sign international agreements. President Obama, for example, signed the Iran nuclear deal, which President Trump subsequently left during his first term. Presidents are also empowered to sign treaties, although they must be ratified by the Senate to take effect. One area where presidents have almost unchecked power is on tariffs, which are essentially a tax on imports. Trump promised to use these liberally in negotiations with foreign powers, and recently coerced Mexico and Canada into increasing their security on the US borders by announcing direct tariffs against them.
These concessions have delayed the tariffs, now scheduled to be instituted on the 12th of March. Perhaps the most significant power the US president has is their role as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States. In this role, the US president commands the largest military in the world. The Constitution limits this power. Only Congress has the power to declare war and authorise the use of force. However, after 9/11 Congress granted the president longstanding authority to use the military to combat terrorist forces across the world. This authorisation is still in effect. A common theme when looking at the powers the president possesses is the checks and balances built into the US system. Executive actions are inherently limited and can be struck down by the courts, and Congress can override vetoes. President Trump has promised huge changes on issues like immigration, education, and the environment. However, the presidency of the United States is not a dictatorship; Trump will need a good relationship with Congress to achieve much of his agenda.