The president of the United States leads one of the most powerful countries in the world, so it’s no wonder that the job comes with huge responsibilities. Most of the president’s basic tasks are outlined by Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Others were created by acts of Congress or through tradition. All together, they form a position of great authority—and enormous responsibility. Here’s a look at the seven main roles that make up the tough job of our nation’s president.

The president monitors the U.S. economy. He or she may set up government programs that help Americans get jobs and allow businesses to do well.

The president shares responsibility for the economy with Congress. But as the nation’s chief executive, he or she is expected to help it run smoothly—and as fairly for all Americans as possible. Overseeing the economy includes many factors, such as trying to keep the unemployment rate down and aiding businesses. Every year, the president proposes a budget for the country. This determines how much money each part of the government, such as the military, will get to operate. Congress adds its own priorities—and sometimes changes the president’s suggested budget completely. The final budget must be passed by Congress and signed by the president.

The president can suggest laws to Congress. He or she also signs bills into law or vetoes them. Each January, the president gives a big speech to Congress called the State of the Union address. During that speech, the president explains his or her plans for America’s future.

The president can influence legislation in several ways. As a proposed law (called a bill) works its way through Congress, the president will call members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to urge them to vote for or against it. He or she may also invite members of Congress to the White House to discuss a proposed bill.

Presidents have another tool when it comes to new laws passed by Congress: They can veto, or reject, legislation they don’t like. But Congress can override the president’s veto by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate.

Being president of the United States is one of the most important jobs in the world, but there are limits to a president’s power. That’s just how the Framers of the U.S. Constitution planned it. Here are three things a U.S. president cannot do.

A president cannot make laws—only Congress has the power to do that. But he or she can pass executive orders. Those are official directives issued by a president that must be obeyed like laws. Executive orders are far from permanent—a president’s successor can overturn them—but they can be an effective way for a president to quickly change a policy without Congressional approval.

In many instances, U.S. governors—not the president—make the laws for their individual states. That right is protected under the 10th Amendment, which says “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution . . . are reserved to the States.”  For example, when several states went under lockdown earlier this year to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, those stay-at-home orders came from governors, not President Trump. 

According to the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951, a person can be elected to the U.S. presidency only two times, for a total of eight years. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first and only president to serve more than two terms—from 1933 to 1945. But his lengthy time in office created fears of presidential dictatorships and worries about his failing health. Those concerns led lawmakers to push for presidential term limits.

(n) official agreements that are made between two or more countries or groups

(n) high-ranking officials sent to another country to serve as their government’s representative

(n) a country’s system for managing its money and resources (such as workers and land) to make, buy, and sell goods and services

(n) negotiated agreements between two or more governments that are formally signed by their leaders

(v) officially rejects a proposed law