The 2020 Presidential Election is only months away. Several individuals have declared their intentions to run for president of the United States.
Being the president of the United States is a serious position and shouldn’t be toyed with. However, it appears that the title and the person who holds the title are at odds.
Almost daily, the internet buzzes with rather interesting occurrences through tweets, news programs, radio programs, social media postings, town hall meetings, public arenas, and government buildings. It’s a battle between the left, the right, and everyone else. This is a recipe for a nation of chaos.
Where should the people draw the line? Is leadership the cause for the division of the people? What traits should the next US President exhibit?
Table of Contents
US Constitutional Requirements to Run for President
According to USA.gov, a person only has to satisfy these three things in order to declare candidacy for president:
- be a natural-born United States’ citizen,
- who is at least 35 years old,
- and has lived in the United States for 14 years.
When the candidate spends or receives contributions greater than $5,000, the candidate must register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and file a Statement of Candidacy with the FEC within fifteen days. This statement authorizes a campaign committee to conduct financial transactions on the candidate’s behalf.
What About Experience?
One would think to become president you would have to possess at least some type of political experience. However, this isn’t the case.
Many people are used to presidential candidates who have held some type of government position. Prior government experience gives them more credibility as a contender.
Others think that running the government is like running a business. Yes, there are similarities. However, one has more things to consider.
Presidential Duties
Before discussing the traits that a president should possess, we should note the duties of the President of the United States.
- Head of state and head of the government.
- Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
- Implement and enforce laws written by Congress.
- Appoints members of his Cabinet as well as heads of federal agencies and independent federal commissions.
- Sign legislation or veto bills.
- Negotiate and sign treaties.
- Issue executive orders.
- Extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes.
- Must satisfy the constitutional requirement to give a State of the Union address.
What Traits Should a President Possess?
Self-Awareness
To run for office, the person should be fully aware of their personality, strengths, and weaknesses. People are motivated by different things. A president with the wrong motivation and no self-awareness can inflict harm on a nation of people.
Common Sense
Sometimes, some things don’t require that you have any specialized experience. Most people are equipped with practical judgment. It boils down to determining what’s sensible vs what’s not sensible.
Empathy
You’d think this would be a given trait to possess. How can you be a public official without showing some type of compassion for others? The general public encompasses many people with varied backgrounds. Many of these people vote based on the issues the public official included in their campaign. Being able to hear the people’s concerns and theorizing solutions goes a long way in being there for the people.
Tact
Hopefully, most parents teach their children how to conduct themselves around others. Sometimes, tact involves using common sense. If you don’t have anything nice to say, stay silent. Usually, when you walk into a room or attending an event, you can pick up the ambiance of the room. Being crass might make your buddies chuckle, but it could make others cringe.
Trustworthiness
A leader should be someone you can trust and will make the best decisions for the people they lead. One shouldn’t hear the person in charge tell falsehoods and make decisions to satisfy a few instead of the majority. All people have voices that should be heard. Then, the best decisions are based on the good for the majority of the people.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy includes a degree of tact and skill of negotiating with others. This translates into possessing the ability to play well with others. Everyone isn’t going to agree on everything but it helps to have the maturity level to come to an agreement.
Examples of Traits a President Shouldn’t Possess
Name Calling
You’d think if you have to be at least 35 years old to run for president that you wouldn’t need to resort to elementary name calling to prove your worth as a leader. Children are taught to be nice to others but what do you tell the children when the President of the United States is not acting nicely toward others.
Hypocrisy
According to dictionary.com, hypocrisy means to pretend to be something you’re clearly not. How can a person show disdain for other’s alleged actions when this person has questionable actions? Right is right and wrong is wrong. If you’re guilty of some things, stop throwing stones at others and admit to your transgressions. Otherwise, stay silent.
Selfishness
A person who runs for public office should run for the good of the people and not for the good of their ego and personal interests. In a selfish person’s mind, it’s okay for a president to waste taxpayer dollars going on excessive weekend outings while at the same time desiring to cut government benefits. Let’s not mention wanting to spy on disability recipients on social media while working hard to deny any impropriety.
Dignity
Whether or not, you agree or disagree with the traits a president should or shouldn’t possess, one thing for sure is that the dignity of the office should be preserved. The person who is the President of the United States represents the people of the United States. Most of the citizens of the United States want to be proud of their representation on the national level as well as on the worldwide level.
