Explore the presidency and the role of the president by analyzing the Obama Administration

Introduction

The President of the United States of America is elected by an electoral college of the second degree i.e., formed by people elected by popular vote in their turn and elected for a period of four years. During its mandate the president, contrary to what happens in many other countries, continues to play the role of leader of his party (Warshaw, pp. 34). At the same time is a repository of executive power, performing the function of both prime minister as head of state. However, the legislature and the judiciary, solely belongs to the Supreme Court.

As provided by the U.S. Constitution, the President prepares and submits to Congress an annual report on public affairs. The head of the White House also controls the activities of numerous federal agencies which include the Secret Service, Investigative Services and the Council for National Security and the work of the fourteen secretaries heads of individual departments.

The constitution also provides that the President is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Send orders to the various military commands through the office of Secretary of Defense and, flanked by the heads of the army, navy, air force and Marines, makes decisions on military strategies, armaments and funds be allocated to this sector. He is not allowed, however, to declare war, since this is a power that is vested solely in Congress.

The President then has diplomatic powers, which include the negotiation of treaties, the appointment of ambassadors abroad both of these decisions require the approval of two thirds of the Senate, make arrangements with the foreign heads of state joint-stock common and receiving foreign ambassadors.

Obama Administration

The Obama Administration is the government's current federal state of the United States of America, under the presidency of Barrack Obama, from 20 January 2009 (Nelson, pp. 5). This government succeeded to the Bush administration.

The formation of the Obama administration began the day after the November 4th 2008 following the outcome of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, where Democratic Senator Barrack Obama won a majority of electoral votes to face Republican Senator John McCain. It resulted in the establishment of a presidential transition team, during which the president-elect could begin to form his government and proceed with the selection of 8,000 officials.

The transition period is marked by the meeting on 15 December 2008, of electors responsible for formally ...