Re: So they call them Presidents
US presidents are not at all dictators in the classical sense (i.e. dictators on the model of the Roman Republic before Sulla). Dictators were appointed by consuls to pursue a specific goal (and outranked the consuls in pursuit of that goal), and resigned when that goal was achieved; presidents are elected by the Electoral College, and have a fixed term to execute any or all of the powers of the office.
Presidents are closer to consuls than to dictators, and even that comparison exaggerates the similarity of the two offices. Two consuls were in office simultaneously for one-year terms, and could not serve as consul again until ten years had passed after their most recent term; presidents have four-year terms, and are eligible to serve a second term immediately after the first one. Consuls were only head of government when they were within the city of Rome; when they were outside of it, though, they could (and often did) serve in the field as military leaders. Presidents remain head of government no matter where they’re located, and only Washington served in the field as a military leader while in office. Consuls had legislative, judicial, and religious duties along with their executive duties; presidents don’t.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
