The President is a leader who presides over an entire country or state. The term President is also used for leaders at a sub-national level, such as parish presidents in the US State of Louisiana and borough presidents in New York City. President is also the name of a position in some parliamentary republics, such as Botswana and Nauru, where the head of government is elected by and accountable to parliament, rather than a chief executive. This type of President is sometimes referred to as the “chairman” of government and he/she may have ceremonial duties.

In the United States, the President is the leader of the executive branch, which oversees federal agencies. In addition, the President negotiates treaties and agreements with foreign governments, signs or vetoes legislation passed by Congress and appoints high-ranking members of the executive branch and all judges of the federal judiciary. The President serves as commander in chief of the armed forces.

A presidential term lasts four years and a president must have a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to fulfill the job’s many duties. A good President must be able to inspire others, communicate effectively, make tough decisions and be empathetic. A successful President must also have the ability to understand and respect the views of all parties in the governmental system. For this reason, the best Presidents tend to be viewed as unifying figures that honor democracy’s values. Historians often rate John F Kennedy, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt highly for their leadership, public speaking and vision. Other historians have ranked Reagan as the best President for his ability to bring people together and negotiating skills.