President (government title) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A President is a common title for the leader of a country, especially in places called republics. Think of them as the main person in charge! Depending on the country, a president might be the main leader of the government, or they might have a more ceremonial role, like a symbol for the country.

Five American presidents in the White House in 2009
(Left to right: George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter)

Prabowo Subianto, the 8th president of Indonesia, was chosen by many people in a democratic election.

The jobs a president does can be very different depending on how their country is run. In some countries, like parliamentary republics, the president's role is mostly about representing the country and doing ceremonial things, like welcoming other leaders. In other countries, like those with a presidential system, the president has a much bigger role. They are the main leader of the government and make many important decisions.

In some systems, called semi-presidential republics, the president has some special powers, like over foreign affairs or choosing the head of the government, but they are not the main leader of the government every day. Sometimes, even in countries where one political party has all the power, the leader might still be called "president" for official reasons.

The title "Mr. President" is often used to address a person who holds the title of president. It's a respectful way to speak to the country's leader.

History of the Title "President"
What Presidents Do
Presidential Symbols
Other Uses of the Title "President"
Presidents of the United States
See also
- Head of state
- Other head of government

History of the Title "President"

The word president comes from the Latin words prae- meaning "before" and sedere meaning "to sit." So, it originally meant someone who "sits before" a meeting or group to lead it and make sure everything runs smoothly.

Today, it most often refers to the top leader of a country that is a republic.

What Presidents Do

Over the last century, the power of presidents has changed a lot from country to country. Some presidents have been leaders for their whole lives, and some have even passed their power down to their children. Others are mostly symbolic leaders with less direct power.

In countries with a democracy or a representative government, presidents are usually elected for a set amount of time. In many places, they can be re-elected by the people. The powers these presidents have can be very different. Some presidents, like in Ireland, have mostly ceremonial duties. Other presidents have a lot of power, like choosing and removing prime ministers or cabinets, declaring war, and saying "no" to new laws (this is called a veto). In many countries, the president is also the top commander of the country's armed forces.

Presidential Systems

Presidents Barack Obama (left) of the United States and Dilma Rousseff (right) of Brazil

In most countries with a presidential system of government, the president is both the head of state (the symbol of the country) and the head of government (the person who runs the government). This means the president leads the executive branch, which carries out the laws. For example, in the United States, the president has always been both the head of state and the head of government.

Presidents in these systems are usually chosen either directly by the people's votes or indirectly by a group of electors chosen by the voters.

In the United States, the president is chosen by the Electoral College. This college is made up of electors from each state. When people vote, they are actually voting for these electors, who then vote for the president. Sometimes, a candidate can win the most individual votes across the country but still lose the election because of how the Electoral College works. This has happened five times in U.S. history.

Presidents Otunbayeva (left) and Putin (right) of Kyrgyzstan and Russia

In Mexico, the president is directly elected by the people for one six-year term. The person with the most votes wins, even if they don't get more than half of all the votes.

In Brazil, the president is directly elected for a four-year term. A candidate needs more than 50% of the votes to win. If no one gets that many votes, the top two candidates have a second election, called a runoff election. A president in Brazil can serve two terms in a row, but there's no limit on how many terms they can serve in total.

Many countries in South America, Central America, Africa, and some in Asia use this presidential model.

Semi-Presidential Systems

Emmanuel Macron, President of France

Another system is the semi-presidential system, sometimes called the French model. In this system, there is both a president and a prime minister. But unlike in parliamentary systems, the president can have a lot of power in daily government. For example, in France, if the president's political party has the most seats in the parliament, the president and prime minister can work closely together. But if the parliament is controlled by a different party, the president might have less power, and the prime minister might make most of the decisions. This situation, where the president and prime minister are from different parties, is called cohabitation.

This system was developed in France by Charles de Gaulle. Other countries that use similar systems include Portugal, Romania, and Sri Lanka.

Parliamentary Republics

In a parliamentary republic, the president's job is mostly ceremonial. They are the head of state, but the real power to run the government belongs to the prime minister. The prime minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in parliament. The president might officially appoint the prime minister and be the commander of the armed forces, but they don't usually make the day-to-day decisions about how the country is run.

Countries that use this system include Austria, Germany, India, Ireland, and Italy.

A special type of parliamentary republic has an executive president. In this system, the president is both the head of state and the head of government, but they are chosen by and answer to the parliament. Countries like Botswana and South Africa use this system.

Dictatorships

Suharto (left), Konstantin Päts (middle) and Saddam Hussein (right) were leaders who used the title "President" in countries that were not democracies.

In dictatorships, leaders who take power without fair elections often use the title "president." They might be military leaders or people who have taken control of the country. Examples include Idi Amin in Uganda and Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Sometimes, these leaders call themselves "President for Life" to try and stay in power forever.

Collective Presidency

The seven-member Swiss Federal Council serves as the collective head of government and state of Switzerland.

Most republics have one president, but a few countries have a group of people who share the role of head of state.

In Switzerland, seven people make up the Swiss Federal Council, and they collectively act as the head of state. One of them is chosen each year to be the president of the Confederation, but this is a rotating role among the seven.
The Captains Regent of San Marino are two people who share the role of head of state.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a three-member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with one member from each of the country's main ethnic groups. They serve as the collective head of state.

Presidential Symbols

As the country's leader, a president often has special symbols and benefits. They might live in a fancy house or palace, sometimes more than one. Common symbols of their office can include an official seal, a coat of arms, a flag, and military honors like gun salutes. A common presidential symbol, especially in Latin America and Africa, is the presidential sash, which is a colorful band worn across the body.

Other Uses of the Title "President"

President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea giving a press briefing in the capital Asmara, 2002

Sometimes, the word "president" is used for a leader who is not the head of the country. This can be confusing! For example, in some countries with a parliament and a king or queen, the leader of the government (like a prime minister) might be called "President of the Government" or "President of the Council of Ministers." This means they are the head of the cabinet or council, not the head of the country itself.

For example:

The Prime Minister of Spain is officially called the "president of the Government of Spain." Spain also has a king.
The official title of the Italian Prime Minister is "President of the Council of Ministers."
The head of government of Iran is called the "President," but the country's top leader is the Supreme Leader.

Presidents of the United States

The United States has had many presidents who have shaped its history.

Early Presidents

The first president of the United States was George Washington. He was elected in 1789. He was a very important leader in the American Revolution, the war that helped the United States become its own country, free from Great Britain. He served two terms, from 1789 to 1797. He chose not to serve a third term, setting a tradition for many years. He is remembered for his wisdom and leadership.

After Washington, John Adams became president (1797-1801). He believed strongly in education and the importance of laws. He was also a skilled diplomat.

Thomas Jefferson, the third president (1801-1809), is famous for the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803, the United States bought a huge amount of land from France, which doubled the size of the country! Jefferson also wrote the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison, the fourth president (1809-1817), is often called the "Father of the Constitution" because he played a big role in writing the U.S. Constitution. During his time, the War of 1812 happened, which helped strengthen American identity.

James Monroe's presidency (1817-1825) is known as the "Era of Good Feelings" because there was less political fighting and a sense of national unity. His Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy statement that warned European powers not to try to colonize any more parts of the Americas.

The 19th Century

The 19th century was a time of big changes and growth for the United States. The country expanded westward, which led to conflicts and debates about slavery. Presidents during this time faced these difficult issues.

Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) was a very popular president. He expanded voting rights for more white men. However, his policies also led to the forced removal of Native American tribes from their lands, an event known as the Trail of Tears.

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) led the country through the Civil War, a terrible conflict fought over slavery. His Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people in Confederate areas were free. Lincoln was sadly assassinated in 1865.

After the Civil War, the country went through a period called Reconstruction, which was about rebuilding the South and giving civil rights to newly freed African Americans.

The 20th and 21st Centuries

In the 20th century, the United States became a global superpower. Presidents during this time dealt with world wars, the Cold War, and new technologies.

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) was a strong president who worked to protect nature and break up large companies that had too much power. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) led the country through World War I and suggested creating the League of Nations to help countries work together. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) guided the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. He created programs called the New Deal to help people and the economy.

The Cold War, a long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, was a major challenge for presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961), John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), and Richard Nixon (1969-1974). Other important events during this time included the space race, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement.

More recent presidents have faced challenges like the end of the Cold War, globalization (countries becoming more connected), and terrorism.