Module 4: The Presidency

According to the U.S. Constitution, as long as a person is a natural born American citizen, is at least 35 years old, and has resided within the U.S. for 14 years or more, he or she is eligible to become the President of the United States. Although these are the only formal requirements, there are certain informal requirements that are equally important when running for President.

It is easy to think of the President as all-powerful, but the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances are firmly established to prevent any branch of the government from gaining too much power. The President serves many roles that make him or her responsible for leading the military, executing the laws of the land, and serving as the face of this nation, among other things. These roles would be impossible for one person to assume, but the Chief Administrator is assisted by a large group of people known as the federal bureaucracy.

To ensure that there is never a question of who is in power, the Constitution provides a clear line of presidential succession. This allows the government to run smoothly during potentially chaotic times.