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The United States Government Manual
The President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20500
| THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
| First Lady of the United States | Jill T. Biden |
ESTABLISHMENT
The U.S. Constitution vests the President with the executive power of the Federal Government. It stipulates that the President will hold his (or her) office for a term of 4 years and will serve the duration of this term together with the Vice President (ART. II, Sec. 1).
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-section-1--2CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY AUTHORITIES
The second article of the Constitution addresses the "executive Power" and "Office" of the President.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-article-ii-In addition to the powers set forth in the U.S. Constitution, the statutes have conferred specific authority and responsibility covering a range of matters upon the President. Subject matter affecting the President is codified in 3 U.S.C. Title 3 contains four chapters that currently remain in effect: "Presidential Elections and Vacancies"; "Office and Compensation of President"; "Delegation of Functions"; and "Extension of Certain Rights and Protections to Presidential Offices."
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title3&edition=prelimACTIVITIES
The President serves as the administrative head of the Government's executive branch, which includes over 55 permanent independent agencies and Government corporations, as well as the 15 executive departments.
The President is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy (and Air Force). The President also has the power, by the advice and with the consent of the Senate, to make treaties and to appoint the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Ambassadors, and other consuls, officers, and public ministers (ART. II, Sec. 2).
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-section-2--2The Cabinet comprises the Vice President and the heads of the 15 executive departments. These department heads include the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, plus the Attorney General.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinetThe Cabinet, which is a creation of custom and tradition and which dates back to the administration of President George Washington, functions at the pleasure of the President. Cabinet members advise the President on topics that relate to the duties of their respective appointments. In the language of the Constitution: The President "may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices" (ibid.).
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-section-2--2Sources of Information
Cabinet
In addition to the Vice President and heads of the 15 executive departments, President Biden's Cabinet includes the White House Chief of Staff, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the Director of National Intelligence, and the U.S. Trade Representative, as well as the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Small Business Administration.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinetCompilation of Presidential Documents (CPD)
This collection of Presidential documents comprises the official publications of materials that the White House Press Secretary has released. The Office of the Federal Register publishes the CPD, and the Government Publishing Office maintains the collection on its govinfo web site.
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/CPDContact the President
An electronic message box is available on the "Contact Us" web page.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contactCOVID–19
The "COVID–19" web page contains a description of the response that the Biden–Harris Administration has adopted for mitigating the Nation's ongoing health and economic crisis.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/priorities/covid-19Español
A short biography of President Biden is available in Spanish.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/administracion/presidente-bidenExecutive Branch
"The Executive Branch" web page includes a section describing the responsibilities and powers of the President.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branchFarewell Addresses
The Our Documents initiative is a cooperative effort in which the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) participates. As part of the initiative, NARA has selected 100 milestone documents from American history. Among those select documents are two Presidential farewell addresses, one of which was given by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961.
https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=90&page=transcriptPresident George Washington's farewell address to the people of the United States—which he did not publicly deliver, but which was published first on September 19, 1796, in the "Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser"—is among the 100 milestone American documents that the National Archives and Records Administration has compiled. Since 1893, the Senate has observed the first President's birthday by having one of its Members read his farewell address aloud.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21/pdf/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21.pdfFirst Families
Profiles of former first families and of the Biden family are available online.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-familiesImmediate Priorities
The immediate priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration center on relief for American families and other related actions. The agenda of priorities includes bringing the pandemic under control, providing economic assistance, addressing the steadily increasing adverse effects of climate change, and further advancing racial equity and civil rights. President Biden also has prioritized reforming the Nation's immigration system and improving America's international standing.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/prioritiesLegislation
The "Legislation" web page is a convenient resource for seeing recent pieces of legislation that the President signed into law.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/legislationLibraries / Museums
The National Archives and Records Administration oversees Presidential libraries and museums, which are repositories for Presidential papers, records, and historical materials.
https://www.archives.gov/presidential-librariesNominations
The website congress.gov has a large searchable database that allows users to apply filters and limit search results. One of the search options is "Nominations" (i.e., Presidential nominations that require Senate approval for confirmation).
https://www.congress.govPardons / Commutations
The Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney maintains a list of Presidential pardons and commutations on its "Clemency Recipients" web page. The list starts with pardons and commutations that President Richard M. Nixon granted and ends with those that were granted by President Donald J. Trump. .
https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-recipientsPolicy and Supporting Positions
Published after each Presidential election, by either the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs or the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the "Plum Book" lists thousands of Federal civil service leadership and support positions that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment, nationwide.
https://www.govinfo.gov/collection/plum-book?path=/GPO/United%20States%20Government%20Policy%20and%20Supporting%20Positions%20%2528Plum%20Book%2529Presidential Actions
President Biden's announcements, Executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations are posted online.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actionsPresidents Present and Past
To learn more about the current President and the men who occupied the Oval Office in the past, visit the "Presidents" web page.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidentsPress Briefings
The White House posts press briefings on its website.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefingsShared Heritage Travel Itinerary
The Heritage Education Services of the National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the NPS Office of Tourism, White House Historical Association, and National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, produced the American Presidents "Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary." The travel itinerary helps visitors explore the lives and contributions of 43 American Presidents. It includes places that American Presidents knew during their lifetimes and that now honor their public service.
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/list_of_sites.htmlSocial Media
The White House has a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouseThe White House tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/whitehouseSpeeches / Remarks
President Biden's speeches and remarks are posted online.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarksStatements / Releases
Announcements, factsheets, readouts of phone conversations, and statements are posted on the White House website.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releasesTravels Abroad
Starting with President Theodore Roosevelt and his visit to Panama, the Department of State's Office of the Historian maintains a "Travels Abroad of the President" web page.
https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/presidentWhite House Grounds
The White House and the grounds that surround it are the home of the President and First Family and serve as a museum of American history.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds