Lauryn Feilmeier
Patrick Coaty
Political Science
19 May 2015
The Presidency – Extra Credit There are very basic requirements listed in the Constitution for becoming President. The person who is planning on becoming President of the United States, he or she must be a natural-born citizen of the US, at least 35 years of age, and been a resident for 14 years. The rules of being President have changed over the years. Different rules have been put in place due to changing times and different situations. The functions of the President have also changed throughout history. There are five major categories of Presidential functions, which are Chief of State, Chief Executive, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, and the Chief Legislator. The President of the United States symbolizes the sovereignty of the country. The Chief of State has the privilege to use the Presidential Seal, the White House, Air Force One, limousines, and Camp David. Before Harry Truman became President, the American Flag and Presidential Seal were different. In 1945, President Truman redesigned them both; he changed the direction of the eagle’s head and said, “This new flag faces the eagle toward the staff, which is looking to the front all the time when you are on the march, and also has him looking at the olive branch for peace instead of the arrows for war.” President Truman really understood the importance of symbolism and historic message of both the flag and the Presidential Seal. The Secret Service is ordered to inspect the towns and cities where the Presidents go in order to make sure it is a safe environment for them to be in. Unlike other countries, there is no difference between the roles of Chief of State and Chief Executive in the United States. The President is the Chief Executive of a trillion dollar enterprise and the largest employer in the United States. The Chief Executive, as the President, is responsible to administer and enforce all the laws, treaties, and court orders produced by