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CD: Texts available on CD version.Texts available in multiple languages.


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The New Administration: WhiteHouse.gov

About the USA:
Presidential Inauguration 2009

Background
· Official U.S. Executive Branch Websites
· University of Virginia: American President - An Online Reference Resource
· Die Exekutive: Die Befugnisse des Präsidenten Deutsch CD
·
First Ladies in the White House
·
magazinUSA: D ie Inauguration Deutsch
· Outline of U.S. Government: The Powers of the Presidency CD
· Outline of U.S. Government: The Presidency CD
· CQ: Presidential and Vice-Presidential Salaries
·
C-SPAN: Presidential Gravesites
· NARA: Presidential Libraries
· Boing: Presidential Transportation - Air Force One
· White House: The Presidents of the United States
· The White House Historical Association
· The White House Homepage

Original Documents
· Transcript of the President Barck Obama's Inaugural Address
· President Barack Obama Antrittsrede 2009 Deutsch
· Barack Obama, Address to Joint Session of the U.S. Congress, February 24, 2009
· The American Presidency Project
· Economic Report of the President 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
· Famous Speeches of U.S. Presidents CD
· Bartleby.com: Inaugural Addresses
· Avalon Project at Yale Law School: The Papers of the Presidents of the United States
· FAS: Presidential Directives and Executive Orders
· GPO: Public Papers of the Presidents
· GPO: U.S. Government Manual 2007/2008
· GPO: Weekly Compilations of Presidential Documents

 

The chief executive of the United States is the president, who together with the vice-president is elected to a four year term.  As a result of a 1951 constitutional amendment, a president may be elected to only two terms.  The president's powers are formidable but not unlimited.  As the chief formulator of national policy, the president proposes legislation to Congress and may veto any bill passed by Congress.  The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. 

The executive branch of the Government is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies assist in this capacity. Unlike the powers of the President, their responsibilities are not defined in the Constitution but each has special powers and functions.

As the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama presides over the executive branch, which includes 15 executive departments, the Executive Office of the President and numerous other independent agencies.  The day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal law is in the hands of the various executive departments, created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs.  The heads of the departments, chosen by the President and approved by the Senate, form a council of advisers known as the President's Cabinet.

See also:
About the USA > History of the United States
About the USA > Holidays > Presidents Day

 

Multimedia
· American Presidents Archive
· Witnessing History - Inauguration 2009 (Video)
· A Day of Celebration - January 20, 2009 (Photo Gallery)
· The White House: The Presidents (Slideshow)
· George W. Bush: State of the Union Address, January 28, 2008 (White House) audio & video
· John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 (JFK Library) audio
· Life in the White House - White House Video Tours

Exhibits
·
Smithsonian: The American Presidency
· National Portrait Gallery: Hall of Presidents
· Library of Congress: "I Do Solemnly Swear ..." - Presidential Inaugurations
· Library of Congress: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies
· NARA: Token & Treasures - Gifts to Twelve Presidents
· Gerald R. Ford Library: The Watergate Files


For High School Students
·
The American Presidency - Quiz
· Congress for Kids: The Executive Branch - Presidency
· How Stuff Works: How Air Force One Works
· NARA: Inaugural Quiz
· Smithsonian Education: Mr. President - Profiles of Our Nation's Leaders
· National Geographic's Inside the White House
· The Internet Public Library: POTUS - Presidents of the United States
·
PBS: The Democracy Project - President for a Day
·
Infoplease.com: Presidents
·
World Almanac for Kids: Presidents of the United States
· Scholastic: U.S. Presidents
· White House kids: U.S. Presidents - United in Service

 

Teacher Resources
·
Lesson Plan: Advising the President: A Simulated Cabinet Meeting
·
American Presidents Teacher Guides and Resources
·
EDSITEment: Before and Beyond the Constitution: What Should a President do?
·
EDSITEment: From the White House of Yesterday to the White House of Today
·
EDSITEment: "I do solemnly swear": Presidential Inaugurations
·
PBS: The President - Politician in Chief
·
EDSITEment: The President's Roles and Responsibilities - Understanding the President's Job
·
Discovery Education: Presidential Speeches
·
PBS Online News Hour: State of the Union Address (Lesson Plan)
·
TeacherVision: U.S. Presidency
·
White House Historical Association: Classroom - The People's President
·
EDSITEment: Women in the White House

· John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Link Lists
· University of Michigan Documents Center: Federal Government Resources - President of the United States
· Library of Congress: Official U.S. Executive Branch Web Sites
·
Presidential Sites - Specific Presidents
· Google: Presidents

eJournal USA
· The 2009 U.S. Presidential Inauguration

     
Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.
 
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Any reference obtained from this server to a specific commercial product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Government of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government.
 
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Updated: March 3, 2009