Chief Executive
The president is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for
running the federal bureaucracy and enforcing the laws passed by
Congress. To do this, the president is allowed to appoint people to key offices,
a power called appointment power. The president nominates members
of the cabinet, which consists of appointees who are in charge of
the major executive departments and advise the president on policy matters. The
president also chooses heads of agencies, federal judges, and about 2,000 lesser
jobs. The Senate must approve these nominations. The president also has the
power to fire these officials.
The President’s Staff
To do the job effectively, the president needs a large staff. The
president sits atop a vast bureaucracy, including the White House staff, the
president’s closest advisers. Not surprisingly, as the president relies more
heavily on his staff, he often loses the ability to control it.
The president works with the White House staff every day. They help
organize the president’s schedule, set priorities, and work with Congress.
The president frequently chooses close friends and trusted advisers to the
White House staff, and the staff plays a crucial role in shaping the
presidency. The head of the White House staff is the White House Chief of
Staff. Each president runs the staff differently: Some create rigid
hierarchies, whereas others encourage competition among the staffers. The
president’s closest advisers are sometimes informally called the
kitchen cabinet.
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