An important part of becoming an effective social worker includes understanding social policies. In order to better understand these policies it is necessary to become familiar with elected officials on all levels. An understanding of the policies and the elected officials will also put social workers in a better position to advocate for their clients. The information presented here will help provide a better understanding of our government and how it works.
Our current and 44th President of the United States is Barack H. Obama. He is affiliated with the Democratic Party and is serving his second term in office. President Obama is the first African American elected President. He is from a middle-class upbringing, values family, and believes that hard work and education are essential for getting ahead (Administration, n.d. President). .
The job of the President is to act as the head of state and government of the United States. He is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. The President has the power to execute federal law, appoint federal executives, diplomatic, regulatory, judicial officers, and adopting foreign treaties after receiving advice and consent from the Senate. Although the President does not have formal legislative power beyond signing or vetoing bills already passed by Congress, it is for the most part his duty to dictate the legislative agenda for his party as well as domestic and foreign policy of the United States (Executive, n.d. Government). The Cabinet of the President has been a part of tradition since the beginning of the Presidency. Established as Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution. The role of the Cabinet is to advise the President on anything that may pertain to their specific duties as members of his Cabinet. The Cabinet includes the Vice President as well as the heads of 15 executive departments. They are the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General (Administration, n.