Most Americans have a general knowledge of 总统s who have led this country, 也许不是46位总统中的每一位, 但是最有名或最有争议的. 我们的第一任总统, 乔治•华盛顿, is recognized as the “Father of our Country”; Abraham Lincoln is remembered as the “Great Unifier” during the Civil War; Franklin Roosevelt led our country through the Great Depression and World War II; John F. Kennedy, 作为新一代的年轻总统, was assassinated in Dallas; and Barack Obama, 我们国家的第一位非洲裔总统, 为其他有色人种领袖打开了大门. 这些总统加入了托马斯·杰斐逊等其他著名的首席执行官的行列, 泰迪·罗斯福, 艾森豪威尔, 林登·约翰逊, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton who were responsible for creating a sense of national purpose and hope, 应对紧迫的社会和经济问题, protecting the country during times of national emergencies and developing public policies that have had a lasting impact on the direction of the country.
But while many Presidents have been recognized for their contributions to the advancement of our country, 有些人因为他们的不幸早已被遗忘或被诋毁, 美国总统的办公室, 总统, is often lacking in terms of an understanding of the powers and responsibilities that these 46 men wielded while they occupied the White House. 作为美国人，如果我们要更好地欣赏我们的总统, 他们的挑战, 他们的成就和失败, it is important to examine how this office and those who occupy this office operate within our constitutional system.
The American governing system is often described as one of separation of powers — legislative, 行政和司法. But while the legislative branch is mentioned first in the Constitution and given numerous powers and responsibilities, 它是行政部门, 总统, that has emerged as the center of our government and the defining leader of our nation. While public policy initiatives and lawmaking are often the result of interaction and compromise between Congress and 总统, 制定政策议程的是总统, and then uses his position as the head of the executive branch to move that agenda forward through the maze of legislative processes, 司法判决和党派间的相互迁就. 对这一过程最好的描述是基于制衡原则. The President is often judged by the American public and indeed by history for his ability to keep his policy promises and move effectively through the legislative maze of checks and balances.
总统的权力是实质性行动和礼仪职责的混合体. The following is a list of constitution-based activities required by 总统 along with ceremonial duties that often accompany these activities:
- 代表我们的国家与外国和领导人会谈.
- 与外国谈判和签署条约，必须得到参议院的同意.
- Perform symbolic actions designed to create a sense of national pride and patriotism.
- Sign legislation passed by Congress and veto bills that 总统 is unwilling to support.
- Act as Chief Executive Officer — implement and enforce the laws that Congress passes.
- 担任武装部队的总司令.
- Make proposals about policies that should become laws — often presented in State of the Union Speech.
- 赦免那些被判有罪的人.
- 提名内阁成员, justices of the federal court system and other high officials and welcome ambassadorial representatives of foreign governments.
- Speak to the nation and the world on matters of domestic and international importance.
Each of these powers and responsibilities of 总统 of the United States are important and critical to the proper functioning of the country, 但就治理过程而言，并非所有国家都具有同等重要性. For example, 总统 as Chief Executive has enormous power to work with the vast bureaucracy to pass rules, regulations, 在许多情况下具有法律约束力的指示和命令. 当立法通过国会并由总统签署时, the implementation phase is marked by specificity and complexity since the laws are often broadly written and lack defined procedures to ensure compliance. 近年来，由于国会分裂, President Joe Biden has resorted to executive orders to implement policies that would not pass Congress. Often in cases where there is a disagreement between 总统 and Congress over an executive order, the federal courts become involved to determine the legality of the executive order.
在外交政策领域, 总统有权与外国谈判条约, 还因为国会必须成为这一过程的合作伙伴, 最终条约必须得到参议院三分之二的投票通过. 在很多情况下, 三分之二的投票是一个难以跨越的障碍，使条约未签署, 重写或没有适当实现. 但是，尽管外国条约面临重大障碍, the role of 总统 as Commander in Chief allows him greater latitude to make military decisions without specific approval of the Congress. 虽然宣战是宪法赋予国会的责任, 总统 can use his role as Commander in Chief to order troops into a specific country or region to achieve a military objective. 美国对越南的干预, 多米尼加共和国, Grenada, Kosovo and Afghanistan for example were the result of 总统 using his power as Commander in Chief to send troops into a war zone. 使用总司令的权力来达到军事目标, however, 与国大党关系紧张, which retains the power of the budget and spending and often criticizes 总统 for lack of proper consultation and forcing through appropriations for troops and weapons. Nevertheless, 总统’s foreign policy and military powers are two areas of responsibility that remain under his control and give him considerable power to develop policies in matters of external relations.
Because our system of government is one of separation of powers and checks and balances, Presidents must be politically adept as they respond to the demands of a two-party framework and the constitutional role of the courts. Moreover, Presidents must have the skills to marshal public opinion in ways that support their legislative agenda. The Founding Fathers purposely made the governing system of our country complicated with tripartite power centers and numerous means of restraining excessive power. 但是纵观我们国家的历史, Presidents who have succeeded in managing these restraints and demands achieved success in responding to domestic crises, 加强我们的经济，保护我们的国家不受外来威胁.