This type of president bases his decisions more on the present time and the events of past leaders than on the specifics of what the Constitution and other laws say. This type of president tends to believe that our nation has advanced beyond the spectrum of the Constitution in some aspects, so he will base decisions on precedents set by previous leaders or set precedents himself. The Supreme Court plays an important role in helping to establish such precedents. Their decisions on controversial issues establish how other cases and laws will be created from that point on. Cases like these are often cited if the president makes a controversial or unpopular decision based on the example of a former president or major government leader. An example of this type of president is Barack Obama. Obama, for example, proves himself to be a modern president through his actions regarding gay marriage. The Constitution does not necessarily talk about marriage in any aspect. However, President Obama and other leaders have used parts of the Constitution to bring the issue of gay marriage to the Supreme Court for a ruling. This shows how the Constitution is being used for modern purposes that were not necessarily a problem at the time