The United States has been an independent nation for just 245 years. We can trace the history of the world back thousands of years, and just two-and-a-half centuries is barely a ripple in the sea of time, yet with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the country embarked on one of the greatest experiments of democratic government of all time.
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The United States has been an independent nation for just 245 years. We can trace the history of the world back thousands of years, and just two-and-a-half centuries is barely a ripple in the sea of time, yet with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the country embarked on one of the greatest experiments of democratic government of all time.
Running any country is a huge responsibility, and successfully leading a country like the United States can be especially challenging. A country of this size and that is home to such diverse peoples, cultures, and beliefs, ideally requires a strong, intelligent Commander in Chief. In its relatively short existence as a country, the U.S. has had different men preside over it as president. Some have been good, some have not been so great. Some have been excellent leaders, while others have left much to be desired. As such, choosing the next president is always an important decision, and there is a lot that needs to be taken into consideration. For some, this might include the potential candidate's IQ.
The White House is one of the most recognizable structures in the world and is home to United States' elected president. Its construction started in 1792, and its location was chosen by the country's first president, President George Washington, the previous year. A series of designs for the structure were submitted, and Washington selected the one created by Irish-American architect James Hoban. During his presidency, per Scholastic, Washington resided in two houses in New York and the President's House in Philadelphia.
While many people are familiar with the powerful responsibilities of a United States president, far fewer people are aware of the vice president's responsibilities as second-in-command. According to US News and World Report, per the U.S. Constitution, the VP isn't brought up all that much. Article I, Section 3 mentions how the vice president is needed to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate; Article II, Section 1 states the VP can take over as president due to "Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office"; and Article II, Section 4 states that vice presidents can also be "removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." If that doesn't sound like much to you, you're not alone. John Adams, the first U.S. vice president, once described the vice presidency as "the most insignificant Office that ever the Invention of Man contrived or his Imagination conceived."
From the lettering on the invitations to the placement of the flags and the order of the anthems, formal visits with United States presidents are dominated by protocol. Meetings are recorded, translated, photographed, and archived for posterity. Meals and entertainment are scrutinized for cultural and religious correctness. Security is beyond tight, and time is counted in seconds. Little is left to chance, because with the power of the office of the presidency, even the smallest missteps can lead to disaster.
