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The final results of the debates and discussions outlined the terms, seen in Article II of the U.S. Constitution, that govern the presidency—terms that have, with only a few additional amendments, dictated the scope of the office for more than 200 years. The Constitution notes that the president shall hold office for four years. It states how the president shall be elected and removed from office. The Constitution specifies that the president must be a natural-born citizen of the United States (a citizen who was born in this country). The president must be at least 35 years old and have lived within the United States for at least 14 years. The Constitution notes that the president should be paid for the service per- formed and that the salary should neither increase nor decrease during the president’s term in office. It notes the oath of office that must be spoken for each new president. The Constitution also states that the president has the power to grant reprieves and pardons , to make treaties, and to appoint ambassadors and judges of the Supreme Court. Finally, the Constitution states that the president should periodically give Congress information on the state of the Union, and be responsible for executing the laws of the United States faithfully. These broad but simple guidelines provided an outline of the office of the pres- ident for the first man to hold that title. It was up to future presidents to fill in the details that would make the office of president one of the most powerful in the world. The First President Just as the drafters of the Constitution had George Washington in mind when con- sidering the position of president, Washington himself, as the first holder of the office, placed an imprint on the presidency that would last more than two centuries. Washington understood that he was setting precedents that future presidents would follow, and it is to his credit that so many of the standards he set would prove to be valuable guidelines for the nation’s leadership. Washington created a strong cabinet of four men, including Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state and Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the treasury. All loans and debts that the country undertook were subject to Washington’s approval. Washington also required his approval for any use of the seal of the United States. He successfully used his popularity to build a strong relationship with Congress, and he was careful to treat members of the Senate and the House of Representatives with respect. He felt strongly that the presidency must be dignified, using symbols and ceremony when necessary. He set the precedent of serving only two terms as

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Inauguration