List of Presidents of the United States
The President of the United States is the head of state and the head of government of the United States. As chief of the executive branch and head of the federal government as a whole, the Presidency is the highest political office in the United States by influence and recognition. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. armed forces. The President is indirectly elected to a four year term by an Electoral College. Since the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1951, no person may be elected to the office of the President more than twice.[1] This list includes only those persons who were sworn into office as President following the ratification of the United States Constitution, which took effect in 1789. For American leaders prior to this ratification, see President of the Continental Congress. The list does not include any Acting Presidents under the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
There have been 42 people sworn into office, and 43 Presidencies, due to the fact that Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is counted chronologically as both the 22nd and the 24th President. Of the individuals elected as President, four died in office of natural causes, one resigned, and four were assassinated. The first President was George Washington, who was inaugurated in 1789 after a unanimous Electoral College vote. William Henry Harrison spent the shortest time in office at 32 days. At over twelve years, Franklin D. Roosevelt spent the longest time in office, and is the only President to serve more than two terms. The current incumbent President is George W. Bush, who is serving his second term. His term is scheduled to end with Inauguration Day on January 20, 2009 when President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in.[2]
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Federalist Democratic-Republican Democratic Whig Republican.
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| President-elect | Elected Term begins | Elected Term ends | Party | Vice President-elect | Term[*] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (44) |  |
Barack Obama | January 20, 2009 | January 20, 2013 | Democratic | Joe Biden | 56 |
- The numerals indicate the consecutive time in office served by a single person. For example, George Washington served two consecutive terms and is counted as the first President (not the first and second). Gerald Ford assumed the Presidency after the resignation of Richard Nixon, serving out the remainder of what would have been Nixon's second term. The fact that Ford was not voted into office does not affect the numbering, which makes him the 38th President. Also, under this numbering Grover Cleveland is counted twice, having served non-consecutive terms.
- D Died in office of natural causes.
- R Resigned.
- A Assassinated.
- N Former Democrat who ran for Vice President on Whig ticket. Clashed with Whig congressional leaders and was expelled from the Whig party in 1841.
- U Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were, respectively, a Republican and a Democrat who ran on the National Union ticket in 1864.
- President of the United States
- Timeline of Presidents of the United States
- United States presidential inauguration
- List of educational institutions named after U.S. presidents
- Presidential $1 Coin Program
- ^ "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". U.S. National Archives & Records Administration. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Inauguration Day is January 20, 2009". Rules Committee. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.
- Frank Freidel and Hugh S. Sidey, "The Presidents of the United States". The White House.
- Robert S. Summers, "POTUS: Presidents of the United States". Internet Public Library.
