Illustration of president being presented with various gifts on birthday

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.9, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.7, W.6-8.9, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Time, Continuity, and Change • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Civic Ideals and Practices

CIVICS

Wait . . . Can the President Do That?

The U.S. presidency is one of the most powerful positions in the world, but the job comes with some surprising limits. Can you guess what they are?

You’re the new president of the United States, and you just survived your first week on the job. It’s time to celebrate! You invite your family and friends to the White House for dinner. Your mom will bring chili. Your best friend is baking cookies. Just thinking about the homemade spread makes your mouth water. 

But then your aide reminds you that no outside food is allowed into the White House—especially not anything that you might eat. In fact, every bite of food you consume must be prepared under the watchful eye of the Secret Service, a group of federal law enforcement officers whose job is to protect you 24/7.

That may sound extreme, but you are the country’s VIP now—in charge of running the nation. Your power, though, has limits. Some presidential restrictions are outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Others, like no outside food in the White House, have been added over time—out of tradition or to keep America’s top leader safe.

Can you sort the presidential do’s from the don’ts? Keep reading to take our quiz.

Illustration of person pressing red button labeled, 'War'

Q: If the U.S. is under attack, can you declare war?

NO. Surprised? Only Congress can declare war. To do so, a majority of both the House of Representatives and the Senate must agree. Congress can also approve the use of military force without officially declaring war.

So what’s the president’s role? As commander in chief, you head the U.S. military. That means you create military policies and authorize where troops are sent and when. You can also launch military operations, such as sending troops to rescue Americans overseas from danger. 

Q: A seat is open on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you get to pick the new justice?

YES. Start thinking about candidates. It is the president’s job to nominate justices to fill any vacancies on the Supreme Court. That’s a big deal because the justices can overturn laws that they decide don’t follow the rules set by the Constitution. Justices also serve for life, so choosing one can influence laws for decades.

There is a limit, though. You don’t get the final say on whether your nominee is approved. That’s decided by the Senate. If the Senate rejects your nominee, you must pick a new candidate.

Illustration of president exiting one car and going into another

Q: You bought a brand-new car right before you moved into the White House. Are you allowed to take it for a drive?

NO. U.S. presidents are forbidden to drive on public roads. Strict rules about the president and cars have been in place since the 1960s, after President John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963. He was shot by a gunman while riding in an open-top vehicle.

Today Secret Service agents drive the president around in a bulletproof, explosion-resistant vehicle nicknamed “the Beast.” It’s even stocked with bottles of the president’s blood type!

Not allowing the president to drive makes everyone safer, says Jim Ronan, a political science professor at Villanova University. If a president is at the wheel, he explains, “drivers will be distracted.” 

Illustration of president in bathroom stall while two body guards wait outside

Q: You’ve had a little too much lemonade today, and now nature is calling. Can you leave your Secret Service agents behind when you go to the restroom?

NO. The president is never truly alone, according to several retired Secret Service agents. A security team accompanies the commander in chief not only to the restroom but also on workouts and even to doctors’ appointments. Under federal law, a sitting president cannot decline Secret Service protection.

“All the security is an entirely new way of life,” Ronan says. “But presidents realize they need to get used to it.”

Illustration of football helmet decorated with image of the American flag

Q: Your favorite football team won the Super Bowl. Can you invite the players over to celebrate?

YES. Roll out the welcome mat! One of your duties is to serve as head of state—basically, to be the social director for the U.S., engaging with Americans and world leaders alike. That includes hosting international dinners and, you guessed it, welcoming champion athletes to the White House.

Q: You’re excited to lead the nation, but you also loved the job you had before being elected president—owning and operating a peanut farm. Are you allowed to do both?

YES (sort of). Technically, you can still own a private business while serving in office. However, many experts believe it’s best for the president to pause outside work so he or she can focus on running the country. 

For that reason, presidents will often put their business into a blind trust. In that type of arrangement, a business is overseen by someone else so the owner doesn’t know how it’s being managed. (President Jimmy Carter put his family’s peanut farm into a blind trust after he was elected in 1976.) 

Why is this a good idea? A side gig could put the president in an awkward position. There’s a clause in the Constitution that says the president cannot accept gifts or payments from a foreign power. The rule is meant to prevent the president from being influenced, persuaded, or paid to take certain actions. If a leader from another country were to buy peanuts directly from the president, for example, that transaction could be considered a violation of the clause. 

But if you do decide to put your other work on hold, you won’t be hurting for cash. The president’s government salary is $400,000 a year!

YOUR TURN

Help Wanted: President of the United States

Write a job description for the U.S. presidency. Using details from the article and your own research, include requirements for the position, duties that must be performed, and personality traits you think could be helpful.

Words to Know

Congress: the lawmaking body of the U.S. government

Constitution: the official document that spells out the structure, powers, and duties of the U.S. government

federal: relating to the national government

House of Representatives: one of the two chambers of Congress; its 435 members serve two-year terms

political science: the study of governments and how they work

Senate: one of the two chambers of Congress; its 100 members serve six-year terms

Supreme Court: the highest court of law in the United States

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