Alternative History
Alternative History
President of the United States
Seal of the President of the United States
Presidential seal
Flag of the President of the United States of America
Presidential flag
Cheri Bustos official photo
Incumbent
Cheri Callahan

since 2 January 2025
Executive branch of the U.S. government
Executive Office of the President
Style Mr. President (informal)
The Honourable (formal)
His Excellency (diplomatic)
Status Head of state
Head of government
Commander-in-chief
Abbreviation POTUS
Member of Cabinet
Domestic Matters Council
National Economic Council
National Security Council
Residence White House
Seat Washington City
Appointer Electoral College or via succession from vice presidency
Term length Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument Constitution of the United States
Precursor the President of the Continental Congress
Inaugural holder George Washington
Formation 4 March 1789; 235 years ago
Salary 400,000 United States dollars per year

The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and the head of government of the United States of America. The president presides over the executive branch of the federal government and also acts as commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

The power of the president has changed significantly since 1789, when George Washington became the first person to ascend the office. Being often restricted by the United States Congress in the 19th century, especially following the War for Southern Independence, the president's power increased in the 20th century, especially during the Albert B. Cummins and Hiram Johnson presidencies when the Great War and the Anglo-American War were taking place. In modern times, the United States president is considered one of the most important figures in the world, retaining high influence in the world as the leader of one of the two remaining superpowers.

The second article of the Constitution entrusts the president to preside over the executive branch of the federal government. This authority encompasses the implementation and enforcement of federal laws, as well as the duty to nominate individuals for various federal executive, diplomatic, regulatory, and judicial positions. Rooted in constitutional clauses granting the president the power to appoint and receive ambassadors and negotiate treaties with foreign nations, coupled with subsequent legislative acts passed by Congress, the contemporary presidency plays a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. This role involves overseeing the nation's most costly military, equipped with the second-largest nuclear arsenal globally. The president also plays an important role in policymaking, having the authority to sign or veto bills passed by Congress as per Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution.

The president is indirectly elected by the Electoral College every four years, alongside the vice president. Originally, the presidential inauguration was held on March 4, but on December 1923, the Twentieth Amendment was adopted and the inauguration moved to January 2. This amendment was created because the Congress members feared the "lame duck" period between the 1924 elections and the next inauguration could impair decision making on the ongoing Anglo-American War. Since the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment in 1970, nobody who has successfully run for president twice may be elected for a third, effectively codifying the traditional precedent that George Washington had set. In all, 46 individuals have served as presidents, with Cheri Callahan of the Progressive Party being the 46th and current president, having assumed office at noon EST on 2 January 2025.

List of presidents[]

No. President Took office Left office Party Vice Presidents Election
1 Gilbert Stuart Williamstown Portrait of George Washington George Washington April 30, 1789 March 4, 1797 Independent John Adams 1788-1789
1792
2 Gilbert Stuart, John Adams, c. 1800-1815, NGA 42933 John Adams March 4, 1797 March 4, 1801 Federalist Thomas Jefferson 1796
3 Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, 1800 Thomas Jefferson March 4, 1801 March 4, 1809 Democratic-Republican Aaron Burr 1800
George ClintonD 1804
4 James Madison(cropped)(c) James Madison March 4, 1809 March 4, 1812 1808
Elbridge GerryD 1812
5 James Monroe White House portrait 1819 James Monroe March 4, 1817 March 4, 1825 Daniel D. Tompkins 1816
1820
6 John Quincy Adams cropped John Quincy Adams March 4, 1825 March 4, 1829 John C. CalhounR 1824
7 Andrew jackson head Andrew Jackson March 4, 1829 March 4, 1837 Democratic 1828
Martin Van Buren 1832
8 Martin Van Buren by Mathew Brady c1855-58 Martin Van Buren March 4, 1837 March 4, 1841 Richard Mentor Johnson 1836
9 William Henry Harrison by James Reid Lambdin, 1835 William Henry Harrison March 4, 1841 April 4, 1841D Whig John Tyler 1840
10 John Tyler John Tyler April 4, 1841 March 4, 1845 Vacant
11 James K. Polk James K. Polk March 4, 1845 March 4, 1849 Democratic George M. Dallas 1844
12 Zachary Taylor2 Zachary Taylor March 4, 1849 July 9, 1850D Whig Millard Fillmore 1848
13 Fillmore Millard Fillmore July 9, 1850 March 4, 1853 Vacant
14 Mathew Brady - Franklin Pierce - alternate crop Franklin Pierce March 4, 1853 March 4, 1857 Democratic William R. KingD 1852
15 James Buchanan James Buchanan March 4, 1857 March 4, 1861 John C. Breckinridge 1856
16 Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1861 March 4, 1865 Republican Hannibal Hamlin 1860
17 George B McClellan - retouched George B. McClellan March 4, 1865 March 4, 1873 Democratic George H. Pendleton 1864
1868
18 GeorgeHPendleton George H. Pendleton March 4, 1873 March 4, 1877 James A. Bayard Jr. 1872
19 JamesGBlaine James G. Blaine March 4, 1877 March 4, 1881 Unionist Frederick T. Frelinghuysen 1876
20 Gen. Winfield S. Hancock - NARA - 529369 (cropped) Winfield Scott Hancock March 4, 1881 February 9, 1886D Democratic William Hayden English 1880
1884
21 WilliamHEnglish William Hayden English February 9, 1886 March 4, 1889 Vacant
22 John-Sherman John Sherman March 4, 1889 March 4, 1893 Unionist Benjamin Harrison 1888
23 David B Hill David B. Hill March 4, 1893 March 4, 1897 Democratic Adlai Stevenson I 1892
24 McKinley (cropped) William McKinley March 4, 1897 September 14, 1901A Unionist Garret HobartD 1896
Theodore Roosevelt 1900
25 President Theodore Roosevelt, 1904 Theodore Roosevelt September 14, 1901 March 4, 1909 Vacant
Charles W. Fairbanks 1904
26 William Howard Taft, Bain bw photo portrait, 1908 William Howard Taft March 4, 1909 March 4, 1913 James S. Sherman 1908
27 President Theodore Roosevelt, 1904 Theodore Roosevelt March 4, 1913 January 6, 1919 D Progressive Hiram Johnson 1912
1916
28 Portrait of Hiram Johnson Hiram Johnson January 6, 1919 January 2, 1925 Vacant
Leonard Wood 1920
29 Frank O Lowden portrait Frank Orren Lowden January 2, 1925 January 2, 1933 Unionist Charles G. Dawes 1924
1928
30 General-roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. January 2, 1933 January 2, 1941 Progressive Herbert A. Hoover 1932
1936
31 Henry A. Wallace Henry A. Wallace January 2, 1941 January 2, 1945 Alf Landon 1940
32 ThomasDewey Thomas E. Dewey January 2, 1945 January 2, 1953 Unionist Harry F. Byrd 1944
1948
33 Earl Warren Portrait, half figure, seated, facing front, as Governor Earl Warren January 2, 1953 January 2, 1961 Progressive Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. 1952
1956
34 Alternate portrait of Joseph P Kennedy Jr Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. January 2, 1961 November 22, 1963A Nelson Rockefeller 1960
35 Governor Nelson Rockefeller (cropped) Nelson Rockefeller November 22, 1963 January 2, 1969 Vacant
Hubert H. Humphrey 1964
36 Richard Nixon Portrait Richard Nixon January 2, 1969 April 13, 1972A Unionist Spiro Agnew 1968
37 Spiro Agnew Spiro Agnew April 13, 1972 January 2, 1977 Vacant
John M. Ashbrook 1972
38 Alternate portrait of Robert F. Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy January 2, 1977 January 2, 1985 Progressive Shirley Chisolm 1976
1980
39 Gary Hart 1988 Gary Hart January 2, 1985 January 2, 1989 Jerry Springer 1984
40 Bob Dole potential US presidential photo 1 Bob Dole January 2, 1989 January 2, 1997 Unionist Dick Gephardt 1988
1992
41 Jerry Brown Presidential Portrait 1993 Jerry Brown January 2, 1997 January 2, 2005 Progressive Tom Harkin 1996
2000
42 Howard Dean Howard Dean January 2, 2005 January 2, 2013 Unionist John Kasich 2004
2008
43 Robin Wright as president Robin Wright January 2, 2013 January 2, 2021 Progressive Bill Richardson 2012
2016
44 Mike Pence official Vice Presidential portrait Mike Pence January 2, 2021 January 2, 2025 Unionist Michael Bloomberg 2020
45 Cheri Bustos official photo Cheri Callahan January 2, 2025 Incumbent Progressive Megan Rapinoe 2024


See also[]