The president and the vice president of the United States are elected every four years by a majority of votes cast in the electoral college. These votes are cast by delegates from each state who vote in accordance, traditionally, with the majority of the state's voters.
States have as many electoral college votes as they have congressional delegates.
The president is the chief executive of the United States, with powers to command the armed forces, control foreign policy, grant reprieves and pardons, make certain appointments, execute all laws passed by Congress and present the administration's budget. The vice president is selected by members of each national political committee and runs on the same ticket for the same term as the president. The vice president assumes the presidency if the president dies or resigns the office, is incapacitated to the extent that he or she cannot exercise presidential duties for an extended period, or is impeached. The vice president presides over the functions of the U.S. Senate and acts as emissary of the president. Although not mentioned in the Constitution, the president's cabinet is the advisory arm of the office.