The President

"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America," says the Constitution. "Executive," says the dictionary, means "having administrative or managerial responsibility." For most things, Congress decides what the government's policies are and it is the President's job to carry them out. The President has significant autonomy when it comes to foreign policy and the military, though even there he needs Congress to fund his priorities, confirm ambassadors and treaties, and to declare war. One of the President's most important powers is the "veto," a Latin word meaning "I forbid." Using the veto, the President can kill any bill passed by Congress. Congress, however, can override his veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. The President also oversees the vast federal bureaucracy of departments, agencies, and bureaus.