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Table of Contents
The president is the head of the executive branch of a republic, democratic or parliamentary government. They are usually the head of state and the representative of their country.
See the fact file below for more information on Presidents, or you can download our 26-page Presidents worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
DEFINITION
- The person in charge of the country’s executive branch is the president. The president is the head of state in full presidential government, yet in different countries, he or she may not actually have that much power.
- In contrast to the United States, Africa, and Latin America, where the top executive officer is the prime minister, or premier, the office of the president is mostly ceremonial in Europe and many other countries.
PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT, IN GENERAL
- Under the presidential system of government, the president serves as the chief executive and is directly elected by the populace.
- In this system, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government are each constitutionally distinct from the others, and no branch has the power to impeach or dissolve another.
- The head of government is elected independently of the legislature but of the people. Separation of powers is a rule that must be followed by presidential systems.
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
- The president has the authority to veto measures passed by Congress or to sign them into law. However, Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses. The president has the authority to negotiate and sign treaties, which are then ratified by the Senate.
- The Executive Branch also engages in diplomacy with other countries. Executive orders are documents that the president can issue to direct executive offices or to explain and advance current laws.
- Additionally, the president has the authority to sign or veto legislation, command the country’s armed forces, request the opinion of their Cabinet, convene or adjourn the Congress, grant amnesties and pardons, and receive ambassadors.
- The only body with authority to declare war on a nation is Congress. However, the Constitution also designates the President as the country’s military commander-in-chief.
- Therefore, the president has significant influence over decisions about the deployment of troops, their leadership, and the use of military force.
VOTING FOR A PRESIDENT
- Becoming a president requires months of election campaigns to woo the masses into voting them into positions.
- Through popular voting, votes are cast for a specific candidate.
- In an indirect popular election, voters choose a panel of people who have agreed to vote for a particular candidate rather than casting their ballots directly.
- In the United States, Democratic and Republican candidates for the two major political parties promote their presidential bets.
- Before election day, televised debates feature candidates from both parties. Each contender will have to defend their position on issues and ideas against other candidates while fielding challenging questions about their views throughout the debates.
PRESIDENTS IN A PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
- Parliamentary systems separate the functions of the head of state and the head of government.
- The head of state’s or the president’s duties include representing the country, performing ceremonial duties as a symbol of the authority of the state, and providing civic leadership as an expression of national identity, cultures, and aspirations.
- In contrast, the prime minister is the political leader of the Government. They have more governmental affairs, and the powers vested to a president in full-presidential government are vested in them.
- But because there are numerous parties in power, the prime minister does not have as much direct influence over the legislative calendar and may even need to reach a consensus on executive decisions.
- Department heads have more autonomous power over their ministries (particularly the finance and foreign ministers) and their respective constituencies in parliament in nations with weak prime ministers.
NOTABLE PRESIDENTS AROUND THE WORLD
VigdΓs FinnbogadΓ³ttir, the First Female president in the world
- VigdΓs FinnbogadΓ³ttir, a politician from Iceland who served as the country’s fourth president from 1980 to 1996. She was the first female to be democratically elected as president in history.
- President VigdΓs FinnbogadΓ³ttir still holds the record for the longest tenure of any elected female head of state in history, with exactly sixteen years in office.
George Washington, the first known president in history
- George Washington, who presided over the country of the United States from April 30, 1789, until March 4, 1797, is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the United States.
- He oversaw the 1787 Constitutional Convention after serving as commander-in-chief throughout the American Revolution. Two years later, with no prior system in place for choosing presidents, it was up to the electors to pick the country’s first leader.
Paul Biya, one of the current longest-serving president
- Paul Biya, a politician from Cameroon, was born Paul BarthΓ©lemy Biya’a bi Mvondo. He has been president of Cameroon since November 6, 1982.
- He is the oldest head of state in the world and the president of Cameroon with the second-longest tenure. One of the former colonial powers in Cameroon, France, supports his government by providing it with arms and military training.
- In addition, France is the top foreign investor in Cameroon, surpassing the US.
Other presidents with very long service in the office:
- Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, seized power in a coup in 1979 (August 3, 1979 β ).
- Malietoa Tanumafili II – The longest-serving male president ever, who served for 45 years and 130 days overall (January 1, 1962 β May 11, 2007).
Notable women presidents around the world:
- Corazon Aquino – The first woman president in Asia and 7th President of the Philippines (February 25, 1986 β June 30, 1992).
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Dubbed “Africa’s Iron Lady” of Liberia, she made history when she became the continent’s first elected woman president in 2005 (January 16, 2006 β January 22, 2018)
- Isabel PerΓ³n – She was the first woman president of Latin America (July 1, 1974 β March 24, 1976).
PRESIDENTIAL TERMS
- Presidential terms differ in different countries:
- Bolivia: Unlimited 5-year terms since 2017
- Costa Rica: Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
- Cameroon: Unlimited 7-year terms since 2008 constitutional reform.
- Ireland: Two 7-year terms
- Liberia: Two 6-year terms since the 1986 constitutional referendum
- Germany: Two 5-year terms
- Israel: One 7-year term
- United States: Two 4-year terms
- Argentina: Two consecutive 4-year terms.
- Paraguay: One 5-year term
- Colombia: One 4-year term
Presidents Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Presidents across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Presidents. The person in charge of the country’s executive branch is the president.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Presidents Facts
- My Government
- Full-Presidential Countries
- Powers of the President
- Duties of a President
- Presidential Liabilities
- Separation of Powers
- Lengths of Service
- Presidential Quotes
- Forms of Government
- Ready to Lead
Frequently asked questions
How many US presidents have there been?
There have been 45 US presidents.
Who was the first US president?
George Washington was the first US president. He served two terms from 1789 to 1797.
How long is a presidential term in the US?
A presidential term in the US is four years.
Did all US presidents have a “First Family”?
No, not all US presidents have had a family. Some presidents have been unmarried throughout their lives, while others have been widowed or divorced. For example, James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, never married, while President Lincoln and President Trump are examples of divorced presidents. President Andrew Johnson and President Cleveland also had no children. However, many presidents have had families with children.
Who holds the record for the longest non-royal head of state?
Fidel Castro, the former President of Cuba, holds the record for the longest non-royal head of state, having served as President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba for a total of 49 years, from 1959 to 2008.
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Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.