Most citizens know that the President of the United States is the chief leader of our nation, but few understand all the responsibilities that go along with this position. Some of these responsibilities are outlined in the Constitution, while others have developed as our country has evolved and grown. This article provides an overview of the seven main roles that define our president’s incredibly busy and important job.

1. Chief Executive Officer

The President is the nation’s chief executive officer, a role that includes negotiating and signing treaties with foreign leaders as well as leading domestic and international affairs. The President also appoints cabinet members, judges of federal courts, and Supreme Court justices (all subject to Senate approval or rejection).

2. Commander in Chief

The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces, an authority that gives the President broad powers to deploy American troops overseas when he or she believes that national security is threatened. The president also oversees the military budget, shapes legislative priorities through his or her State of the Union address, and has the power to veto bills passed by Congress that he or she does not approve of.

3. Political Party Leader

The President leads the Democratic or Republican Party through coordination with congressional members and shaping the party’s broader messaging to the public. The president also hosts or attends fundraisers for candidates and issues that he or she supports, and is required to make campaign stops across the country.