President

Elected indirectly by the citizens through the electoral college, the President serves a four-year term. As chief executive, the President presides over the cabinet and has responsibility for the management of the executive branch. The President has the power to make treaties and to appoint ambassadors, U.S. officers, and judges of federal courts, with the advice and consent of the Senate.  He is also the commander in chief of the armed forces. The President signs laws and can veto bills that have passed Congress.

Essays on the Historical Relationship Between the Senate and the President

Read essays written by the Senate Historical Office on the relationship between the Senate and the President.

The Senate Prepares for a President, April 27, 1789

The Senate Irritates President George Washington, August 1789

Senate Censures President, March 28, 1834

Senate Reverses a Presidential Censure, January 16, 1837

President's Death Eases Senate Deadlock, September 20, 1881

Woodrow Wilson Addresses the Senate, July 10, 1919

Harry Truman Visits the Senate, May 8, 1964

Senators in the Executive Office

To date, fifteen Senators have gone on to serve in the nation's highest elected office, the presidency. Two Senators, Warren G. Harding and John F. Kennedy , moved directly from the U.S. Senate to the White House.

List of Senators Who Became President

A Senator Becomes President, November 2, 1920

William R. King First Senator to Gain Vice-Presidential Offer, June 5, 1852

Role in Legislative Process

The President makes an annual speech to a joint session of Congress on the state of the union.

Essay on the State of the Union Address

State of the Union Address Transcripts

Most Recent (GPO)

Transcripts from 1945-present (text and selected video)

Transcripts from 1992-present (text and PDF formats)

Cabinet Members Who Did Not Attend the State of the Union Address (since 1984) (pdf)

The President signs bills into law and can veto bills passed by Congress that he does not agree with, although Congress usually has the opportunity to override the veto.

Summary of Bills Vetoed, 1789-present

Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: An Overview (pdf)

Presidential Documents

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Executive Orders

Presidential Directives

Presidential Libraries

History

Learn more about the history of the presidency with information from the White House and essays by the Senate Historical Office.

White House History

Presidential Succession Act of 1792

President for a Day, March 4, 1849

Death of Andrew Johnson, July 31, 1875

List of Senate Sessions While Presidents Lay in State (pdf)

Impeachment

Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the power to impeach a government official, in effect serving as prosecutor. The Senate then holds the impeachment trial, essentially serving as judge and jury, except in the impeachment of a President when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides. The first presidential impeachment in American history occurred in 1868 with the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson .

The Senate's Impeachment Role

The Senate Votes on a Presidential Impeachment, May 16, 1868

Senate Publications Related to the Impeachment of President Bill Clinton

Related Items

Interested in related materials? Take a look at these subjects for more information.

Budget

Elections

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies

Nominations

Treaties

Vetoes

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