The president’s main job is to oversee the federal government. Think of the president as the boss of one of the world’s biggest companies. To help keep this organization running smoothly, each president chooses a group of advisers called a Cabinet. Its members supervise government departments such as Defense (which oversees the armed forces). George Washington’s first Cabinet included just four people. Modern Cabinets are larger, consisting of the vice president and the heads of 15 executive departments, including the secretary of state.
As the head of the executive branch, the president is responsible for enforcing the nation’s laws. Although federal laws are passed by Congress, the president decides which ones are most important to enforce. The president also appoints federal judges and nominates people to fill open seats on the U.S. Supreme Court. The president’s choices for judges and Cabinet members must be approved by the U.S. Senate.
