This monograph examines the roles and responsibilities of and the relationship between the community college president and the board of trustees. First the monograph considers the political context of community college governance, identifying the external forces to which the president and board must jointly respond. The monograph then discusses various other aspects of college governance, including: (1) the state's role; (2) administrative areas determined partially by the state and partially by the board; (3) the nature of policy and its subdivisions--governing, executive, operating, and educational policy; (4) the roles of the board, president, deans, and students in policy-making; and (5) how the subdivisions of policy blend together. The next section discusses the board's role in governance, focusing on the various types of boards and how they receive their power; the "working board" compared to the "policy board"; board membership; common pitfalls; and the duties and powers of the board. The following section outlines the president's primary roles, specific duties, and responsibilities to the board. Finally, suggestions are presented for strengthening the board-president relationship. Board members are urged to respect the president's authority and the board's corporate nature and to develop policies that forestall crisis management. Presidents are warned about indecisiveness and the importance of timing and having the board's confidence. A bibliography is appended. (AYC)