President of the Discord School of Shitpost and Memes

The **president of the Discord School of Shitpost and Memes** (**PODS**) is the head of the server and the head of government of the Discord School of Shitpost and Memes. The president directs the executive branch of the school government and is the commander-in-chief of the server militias.

The power of the presidency has grown over time since its formation, as has the power of the school government as a whole. While presidential power has flowed over time, the presidency has played an increasingly strong role in the server's life since its inception.

The president also plays a leading role in school legislation and domestic policymaking. As part of the system of checks and balances established by President GT, the president has the power to sign or veto school legislation presented by the Congress of Admins. A presidential veto can be overruled however if an admin bill is voted in favor by 5/6 of the congress.

The president is elected to a one-month term, along with the vice president. However, no person who has been elected to two presidential terms may be elected to a third. In addition, the only vice president to have become president by virtue of a president's intra-term resignation is Dominos Piiza. In all, 6 people have served 7 presidencies spanning 7 full one-month terms.

Sven Brender is the 7th and current president of the Discord School, having assumed office on May 1, 2021.

## History and development

### Origins

When DSSM was created by the Founding Council led by later president GT, it was envisioned that a president would lead the server as a de facto owner, with the ability to make decisions for the server, and run it as if it was their own. The Founding Council began the process of drafting a system of checks and balances for what would become the First Iteration of DSSM. However the checks and balances wouldn't be fully completed until GT's second term in April 2021 and the Second Iteration of DSSM.

### Development

After defeating Scott in the November 2020 Presidential Election (the server's first election), the server's first president, GT established many norms that would come to define the office. Throughout his term, news stations and political parties were developed. In the December 2020 Presidential Election, the server would face its first true multi-party election. Incumbent president and Party of Man nominee GT, Imperium of Man founder Some Random Dude, and Anti-Urbanite Action co-founder Coolguy was defeated by Independent candidate Chonky Snek, who ruled the server with supreme unchecked power until YG won the January 2021 Presidential Election.

### Zenithian Democracy

The election of Zenith (also known as Engie) in February of 2021 was a significant milestone, as Zenith was not formerly part or associated with the Founding Council. Despite this, it is important to note that YG was not a founding member, but his vice president, Dead, was. Zenithian democracy sought to strengthen the presidency at the expense of the Admins and the News Channels. This would lead to him getting impeached by Dead via People's Impeachment.

Zenith's vice president and successor, Dominos Piiza, would be the first vice president to become president due to the removal of a president. Though he won the March 2021 Presidential Election, he really had no interest in continuing to be the President. He backed GT in the April 2021 Presidential Election.

### Beginning of the Second Iteration

GT, the founder and first president of DSSM, came back from his absence and won the presidency in April, becoming the first President to win twice. He brought change in a plan that he called "DSSM 2.0", which would later become the Second Iteration of DSSM. During his presidency, he established the system of checks and balances and gave the Congress of Admins power, as well as the Council of Mods. He made the server active for some time, and brought it out of the First Inactivity Period. This made him a lot of friends, but also a lot of enemies. After the establishment of the economy, the incumbent Speaker of the Congress of Admins DerpSAY claimed that GT and some others inflated the economy and forced him to be fined. GT paid the money he was fined. This portrayed him as a corruptible and weak president, and a shadow of his former self.

With the victory of Sven Brender in the May 2021 Presidential Election, Sven was inactive for most of his first term. He promised economical reforms, but never did them because he said that no one helped him and there was no way to do it. However, in the most recent election, he somehow still won by a landslide. He and his running mate former Admin Speaker DerpSAY promise a new order, a third iteration to the server. His second term will start on June 1, 2021 at midnight EST.

## Legislative powers

All lawmaking power is in the Congress of Admin's hands, and the president cannot simultaneously be a member of Congress or the Council. Nevertheless, the presidency exerts power over legislation, due to historical developments over time. The president has two major legislative powers.

### Signing and vetoing bills

The president's first legislative power gives them the power to veto any bill passed by the Congress of Admins. While the Admins can override a presidential veto, it requires a five-sixths vote.

Once a bill has been presented by the Congress of Admins, the president has three options:

1. Sign the bill within 24 hours, and the bill becomes law.
2. Veto the bill within 24 hours and return it to the Congress of Admins, expressing any objections, and the bill does not become law.
3. Take no action on the bill within 24 hours, and the bill becomes law, as if the president had signed it, unless Congress declines it at the last minute, in which case it does not become law (a pocket veto).

### Setting the agenda

For most of the server's history, candidates for president have sought election on the basis of a promised legislative agenda. It is recommended that the president must recommend such measures to the Congress of Admins which the president deems necessary. This is done through State of the Server addresses.

The president can be involved in crafting legislation by suggesting, requesting, or even insisting that Congress enact laws they believe are needed. Additionally, they can attempt to shape legislation during the legislative process by exerting influence on individual members of Congress. Presidents possess this power, but the power is limited because only members of Congress can introduce legislation.

The president or other officials of the executive branch may draft legislation and then ask admins to introduce these drafts into Congress. Additionally, the president may attempt to have Congress alter proposed legislation by threatening to veto that legislation unless requested changes are made.

## Executive powers

The president is head of the executive branch of the school government and is obligated to execute the rules and the bills passed by the Admins. The executive branch includes the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet.

### Administrative powers

The president possesses the power to manage operations of the school government through issuing various types of directives, such as presidential proclamation and executive orders. When the president is lawfully exercising one of their presidential responsibilities, the scope of this power is broad. Even so, these directives are subject to review by the Council of Mods, which can find them to be unlawful. Moreover, Congress can overturn an executive order through legislation.

### Partner affairs

The president and their cabinet are at all times required to establish and maintain partnerships for the server.

## Timeline of presidents

The timeline of presidents since President GT in November of 2020: