"POTUS" redirects here. For the political talk radio channel, see P.O.T.U.S. (Sirius XM). For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). For a list, see List of Presidents of the United States. President of the United States of America Seal of the President of the United States.svg Presidential Seal Flag of the President of the United States of America.svg Presidential Standard President Barack Obama.jpg Incumbent Barack Obama since January 20, 2009 Executive Branch of the U.S. Government Executive Office of the President Style Mr. President (informal)[1][2] The Honorable (formal)[3] His Excellency[4][5][6] (diplomatic, outside the U.S.) Member of Cabinet Domestic Policy Council National Economic Council National Security Council Residence The White House Seat Washington, D.C. Appointer Electoral College Term length Four years renewable once Constituting instrument United States Constitution Formation March 4, 1789 First holder George Washington April 30, 1789 Salary $400,000 annually Website The White House The President of the United States of America (POTUS)[7] is the elected head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. The President of the United States is often listed among the world's most powerful people.[8][9][10][11] He is the Commander-in-chief of the world's most expensive military, leads the nation having the largest economy by real and nominal GDP, commands the largest nuclear arsenal and the world's only contemporary superpower. The office of the president holds significant hard and soft power both in the United States and abroad. Article II of the U.S. Constitution vests the executive power of the United States in the president and charges him with the execution of federal law, alongside the responsibility of appointing federal executive, diplomatic, regulatory and judicial officers, and concluding treaties with foreign powers with the advice and consent of the Senate. The president is further empowered to grant federal pardons and reprieves, and to convene and adjourn either or both houses of Congress under extraordinary circumstances.[12] The President is largely responsible for dictating the legislative agenda of his party and the foreign and domestic policy of the United States.[13] Since the founding of the United States, the power of the president and the federal government has grown substantially.[14] The president is indirectly elected by the people through the Electoral College to a four-year term, and is one of only two nationally elected federal officers, the other being the Vice President of the United States.[15] The Twenty-second Amendment, adopted in 1951, prohibits anyone from ever being elected to the presidency for a third full term. It also prohibits a person from being elected to the presidency more than once if that person previously had served as president, or acting president, for more than two years of another person's term as president. In all, 43 individuals have served 44 presidencies (Cleveland's two non-consecutive terms each counted) spanning 56 full four-year terms.[16] On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the 44th and current president. On November 6, 2012, he was re-elected and is currently serving the 57th term, which ends on January 20, 2017.

• published: 25 Jul 2015
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