Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

425

Presidency

The presidency of The UniTed sTaTes may be the most powerful

office in the world. its duties and responsibilities are immense—the

president is head of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed

forces, chief of state, leader of his or her political party, foreign policy

director, legislative leader, and the voice of the american people. The

president is elected every four years after a long, intense, and expensive

campaign. once elected, the new president swears an oath to faithfully

execute the duties of the office and

to preserve, protect, and defend

the constitution.

The people’s choice

The president is elected by the people, but the

popular vote does not directly decide the winner.

instead it determines how the delegates who

represent each state will vote. These delegates,

known as the electoral college, vote in december

of an election year for the person that their state

voted for in november. each state has as many

electoral votes as the total of its senators and

representatives in congress.

1600 pennsylvania avenUe

The president lives and works in

the White house in Washington,

d.c. This 132-room mansion was

first occupied by president John

adams in 1800. The president’s

headquarters are the oval office,

where the chief executive meets

with government officials.

first families

The president’s family attracts a great deal of

media attention. The president’s wife is known

as the first lady. in recent years, first ladies such

as Michelle obama (right, with Barack obama)

have played an increasingly important role,

both in public service and in shaping national

and international policy. although only one

child has ever been born in the White house

(to Grover cleveland), many have made it

their home—John Tyler’s 15 children lived

there during his term of office.

road To The WhiTe hoUse

presidential elections take place every four years. primary

elections allow voters to choose between candidates. The

major political parties then meet at conventions, to

officially select their presidential and vice-presidential

candidates. The chosen candidates campaign across the

nation, giving speeches and trying to win the support of

voters. people vote on the first Tuesday in november.

President John F. Kennedy’s

inauguration speech, 1961

Republican

delegates cheer

at the Republican

convention in 1988.

The presidenT’s caBineT

The president leads a cabinet made

up of the vice president and the

heads of 15 main departments: state,

treasury, defense, justice, interior,

agriculture, commerce, labor, health

and human services, housing and

urban development, transportation,

energy, education, veterans’ affairs,

and homeland security.

George Washington (left),

the first President of the

United States, sitting with

the first US cabinet

Find out more

constitution

Government and politics

political parties

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