Role & Responsibilities of the American Presidency History Essay

Role & Responsibilities of the American Presidency
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Role & Responsibilities of the American Presidency
The United States uses a presidential system of government whereby the president leads the executive branch. The presidents serve as both the head of state and government. In such a system, the presidents act as a statesperson (Schlesinger, 2004). Over time, the United States President's roles have changed from statesperson to administrative leader-cum-spokesmodel. Those changes have been for the better because it somehow broadens the president's roles to serve the people better and run the government (Arnold, 1995) effectively. As a statesperson, the president is viewed an individual with implied powers who holds the highest position in the country and acts as the chief representative of the sovereign state.
As an administrative leader, the president is responsible for all federal departments, such as cabinets, state departments, and independent bodies. Therefore, they will act as chief administrator or chief executive officer(Arnold, 1995). In this role, all heads of federal departments and independent bodies are accountable to the president and delivers his mandates. The president ensures that his extensive administration performs most functions of the presidency. This role is always tricky for presidents because it involves supervising several government officials with different tasks. Arthur Schlesinger, a historian, acknowledged this as a challenging job regarding former president Kennedy administration.
As a chief administrator, the presidents can delegate more responsibilities to his deputy, unlike where vice presidents are given ceremonial duties such as attending state visits and funerals (Schlesinger, 2004). Delegation of duties ensures that the presidency is not overwhelmed hence efficient and effective service delivery.
Spokesmodel role of the president
President's voice is one of the most powerful tools a president can have in his tenure. Whether the voice is booming or robust, delicate and soft, or written and silent, with it, the presidents can make resolutions that can affect politics, the press, and the general public (Schlesinger, 2004). How the citizens receive the message is what matters the most for the presidency.
As a spokesmodel, every position you take as a president immediately becomes every cabinet and attorneys' position in the country. That is how the information will be presented in the media and how it will be perceived by government officials and the general public(Arnold, 1995). That would mean that the president does not have a personal opinion and any opinion or statements he gives are official and binding. That prevents reckless opinions and statements because when the...