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Overview
All executive power in the federal government is vested in the President of the United
States, although power is often delegated to other officials.
The President & Vice President are elected as 'running mates' for four-year terms by the
Electoral College, for which each state, as well as the District of Columbia, is allocated
a number of seats based on its representation (or ostensible representation, in the
case of D.C.) in both houses of Congress. Further Info on the Electoral College - [Link]
The President also serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and is both
the head of state and government. The President appoints the Cabinet and oversees
the various agencies and departments of the federal government.
In order for a person to become President, he or she must be a natural-born citizen of
the United States, be at least 35 years of age, and have resided in the United States
for at least 14 years. Once elected, the President serves a term of four years and may
be re-elected only once.
The Cabinet
The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. One
of the principal purposes of the Cabinet (from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution)
is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of their
respective offices.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments -
the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and
Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior,
Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General.
Under President Barack H. Obama, Cabinet-level rank also has been accorded to the
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Director, Office of Management and
Budget; the Chair, Council of Economic Advisers ; Ambassador to the United Nations
and the U.S. Trade Representative.
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