The President of the United States serves as both head of state and head of government, heading the executive branch under Article II and commanding the U.S. Armed Forces. The office's power has grown significantly since George Washington took office in 1789, with major expansions during the 20th and 21st centuries—especially under Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush—which earned presidents the Cold War-era title of "leader of the free world." Modern presidents hold tremendous hard and soft power, directing the world's most expensive military (which has the second-largest nuclear arsenal), and taking the primary role in foreign policy while also shaping domestic policy through vetoes, executive orders, and judicial appointments. Elected via the Electoral College to four-year terms, the presidency is limited to two terms by the Twenty-second Amendment (ratified in 1951), with 45 individuals having served 47 presidencies so far. Donald Trump is the current 47th president, in office since January 20, 2025, continuing a lineage that began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776.