Political Science 1, w question paper on the president and congress of the US - Essay Example

This brief, yet concise, essay now turns to an overview of the history of the Presidency of the United States. From George Washington to Barack Obama, the Presidency of the United States of America remains the highest office in the land. As head of state as well as head of government, the President of the United States of America leads the federal government as well as the Executive branch of government. Although the election of the President is indirect in the United States and is accomplished through the Electoral College, the democratic election of the President is a traditional which dates back to the establishment of a free republic on the shores of the Americas.

The Second Continental Congress following the American Revolution established a confederation system of government in which the office of a President as well as the body of Congress were created. Following the Constitutional Convention in the wake of revolution, the executive branch as created and established a series of checks and balances on the authority of the executive. Accordingly, the American system of political governance is predicated on the belief that there is a balance of power between the three major branches of government.

Thus, in an effort to ensure that each branch is counterbalanced by the others, the Executive, Congress and the Judiciary work to ensure the smooth functioning of the legislative process in the United States. The multitude of roles played by the President have evolved and developed in tandem with the history of the United States. As commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the President of the United States plays the important role commanding the most important army in the history of the world.

As commander-in-chief, the President can direct the armed forces but cannot declare war without the authorization of Congress. This is an important