The Executive Branch
The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of
the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief
of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and
enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the
heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President
is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency
should the need arise.
The Cabinet and independent federal agencies are responsible for the
day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. These
departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities as widely
divergent as those of the Department of Defense and the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration and the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Including members of the armed forces, the Executive Branch employs more than 4 million Americans.
The President |
The Vice President
Executive Office of the President |
The Cabinet
The President
The President is both the head of state and head of government of the
United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible
for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.
Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the
President's Cabinet — carry out the day-to-day administration of the
federal government. They are joined in this by other executive agencies
such as the CIA and Environmental Protection Agency, the heads of which
are not part of the Cabinet, but who are under the full authority of the
President. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50
independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges,
ambassadors, and other federal offices. The Executive Office of the
President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along
with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office
of the United States Trade Representative.
The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to
veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto
with a two-thirds vote of both houses. The Executive Branch conducts
diplomacy with other nations, and the President has the power to
negotiate and sign treaties, which also must be ratified by two-thirds
of the Senate. The President can issue executive orders, which direct
executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. The President
also has unlimited power to extend pardons and clemencies for federal
crimes, except in cases of impeachment.
With these powers come several responsibilities, among them a
constitutional requirement to "from time to time give to the Congress
Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their
Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
Although the President may fulfill this requirement in any way he or she
chooses, Presidents have traditionally given a State of the Union
address to a joint session of Congress each January (except in inaugural
years) outlining their agenda for the coming year.
The Constitution lists only three qualifications for the Presidency —
the President must be 35 years of age, be a natural born citizen, and
must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. And though
millions of Americans vote in a presidential election every four years,
the President is not, in fact, directly elected by the people. Instead,
on the first Tuesday in November of every fourth year, the people elect
the members of the Electoral College. Apportioned by population to the
50 states — one for each member of their congressional delegation (with
the District of Columbia receiving 3 votes) — these Electors then cast
the votes for President. There are currently 538 electors in the
Electoral College.
President Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He
is, however, only the 43rd person ever to serve as President; President
Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms, and thus is
recognized as both the 22nd and the 24th President. Today, the President
is limited to two four-year terms, but until the 22nd Amendment to the
Constitution, ratified in 1951, a President could serve an unlimited
number of terms. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President four
times, serving from 1932 until his death in 1945; he is the only
President ever to have served more than two terms.
By tradition, the President and the First Family live in the White
House in Washington, D.C., also the location of the President's Oval
Office and the offices of the his senior staff. When the President
travels by plane, his aircraft is designated Air Force One; he may also
use a Marine Corps helicopter, known as Marine One while the President
is on board. For ground travel, the President uses an armored
Presidential limousine.
The Vice President
The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States
is to be ready at a moment's notice to assume the Presidency if the
President is unable to perform his duties. This can be because of the
President's death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the
Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is
no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.
The Vice President is elected along with the President by the
Electoral College — each elector casts one vote for President and
another for Vice President. Before the ratification of the 12th
Amendment in 1804, electors only voted for President, and the person who
received the second greatest number of votes became Vice President.
The Vice President also serves as the President of the United States
Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie.
Except in the case of tiebreaking votes, the Vice President rarely
actually presides over the Senate. Instead, the Senate selects one of
their own members, usually junior members of the majority party, to
preside over the Senate each day.
Joseph R. Biden is the 47th Vice President of the United States. Of
the 45 previous Vice Presidents, nine have succeeded to the Presidency,
and four have been elected to the Presidency in their own right. The
duties of the Vice President, outside of those enumerated in the
Constitution, are at the discretion of the current President. Each Vice
President approaches the role differently — some take on a specific
policy portfolio, others serve simply as a top adviser to the President.
The Vice President has an office in the West Wing of the White House,
as well as in the nearby Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Like the
President, he also maintains an official residence, at the United
States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C. This peaceful
mansion, has been the official home of the Vice President since 1974 —
previously, Vice Presidents had lived in their own private residences.
The Vice President also has his own limousine, operated by the United
States Secret Service, and flies on the same aircraft the President uses
— but when the Vice President is aboard, the craft are referred to as
Air Force Two and Marine Two.
Executive Office of the President
Every day, the President of the United States is faced with scores of
decisions, each with important consequences for America's future. To
provide the President with the support the he or she needs to govern
effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in
1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The EOP has responsibility for
tasks ranging from communicating the President's message to the American
people to promoting our trade interests abroad.
The EOP, overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, has
traditionally been home to many of the President's closest advisers.
While Senate confirmation is required for some advisers, such as the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, most are appointed with
full Presidential discretion. The individual offices that these
advisors oversee have grown in size and number since the EOP was
created. Some were formed by Congress, others as the President has
needed them — they are constantly shifting as each President identifies
his needs and priorities, with the current EOP employing over 1,800
people.
Perhaps the most visible parts of the EOP are the White House
Communications Office and Press Secretary's Office. The Press Secretary
provides daily briefings for the media on the President's activities and
agenda. Less visible to most Americans is the National Security
Council, which advises the President on foreign policy, intelligence,
and national security.
There are also a number of offices responsible for the practicalities
of maintaining the White House and providing logistical support for the
President. These include the White House Military Office, which is
responsible for services ranging from Air Force One to the dining
facilities, and the Office of Presidential Advance, which prepares sites
remote from the White House for the President's arrival.
Many senior advisors in the EOP work near the President in the West
Wing of the White House. However, the majority of the staff is housed in
the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just a few steps away and
part of the White House compound.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15
executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest
confidants. In addition to running major federal agencies, they play an
important role in the Presidential line of succession — after the Vice
President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President pro tempore, the
line of succession continues with the Cabinet offices in the order in
which the departments were created. All the members of the Cabinet take
the title Secretary, excepting the head of the Justice Department, who
is styled Attorney General.
Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops and executes
policy on farming, agriculture, and food. Its aims include meeting the
needs of farmers and ranchers, promoting agricultural trade and
production, assuring food safety, protecting natural resources,
fostering rural communities, and ending hunger in America and abroad.
The USDA employs more than 100,000 employees and has an annual budget
of approximately $95 billion. It consists of 17 agencies, including the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food and Nutrition
Service, and the Forest Service. The bulk of the department's budget
goes towards mandatory programs that provide services required by law,
such as programs designed to provide nutrition assistance, promote
agricultural exports, and conserve our environment. The USDA also plays
an important role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to
developing countries.
The United States Secretary of Agriculture administers the USDA.
Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce is the government agency tasked with
improving living standards for all Americans by promoting economic
development and technological innovation.
The department supports U.S. business and industry through a number
of services, including gathering economic and demographic data, issuing
patents and trademarks, improving understanding of the environment and
oceanic life, and ensuring the effective use of scientific and technical
resources. The agency also formulates telecommunications and technology
policy, and promotes U.S. exports by assisting and enforcing
international trade agreements.
The Secretary of Commerce oversees a $6.5 billion budget and approximately 38,000 employees.
Department of Defense
The mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) is to provide the
military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our
country. The department's headquarters is at the Pentagon.
The DOD consists of the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force,
as well as many agencies, offices, and commands, including the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the National
Security Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The DOD occupies
the vast majority of the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA.
The Department of Defense is the largest government agency, with more
than 1.3 million men and women on active duty, nearly 700,000 civilian
personnel, and 1.1 million citizens who serve in the National Guard and
Reserve forces. Together, the military and civilian arms of DOD protect
national interests through war-fighting, providing humanitarian aid, and
performing peacekeeping and disaster relief services.
Department of Education
The mission of the Department of Education is to promote student
achievement and preparation for competition in a global economy by
fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access to
educational opportunity.
The Department administers federal financial aid for education,
collects data on America's schools to guide improvements in education
quality, and works to complement the efforts of state and local
governments, parents, and students.
The U.S. Secretary of Education oversees the Department's 4,200 employees and $68.6 billion budget.
Department of Energy
The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.
The DOE promotes America's energy security by encouraging the
development of reliable, clean, and affordable energy. It administers
federal funding for scientific research to further the goal of discovery
and innovation — ensuring American economic competitiveness and
improving the quality of life for Americans.
The DOE is also tasked with ensuring America's nuclear security, and
with protecting the environment by providing a responsible resolution to
the legacy of nuclear weapons production.
The United States Secretary of Energy oversees a budget of
approximately $23 billion and more than 100,000 federal and contract
employees.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United
States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all
Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those
who are least able to help themselves. Agencies of HHS conduct health
and social science research, work to prevent disease outbreaks, assure
food and drug safety, and provide health insurance.
In addition to administering Medicare and Medicaid, which together
provide health insurance to one in four Americans, HHS also oversees the
National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and
the Centers for Disease Control.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees a budget of
approximately $700 billion and approximately 65,000 employees. The
Department's programs are administered by 11 operating divisions,
including 8 agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and 3 human
services agencies.
Department of Homeland Security
The missions of the Department of Homeland Security are to prevent
and disrupt terrorist attacks; protect the American people, our critical
infrastructure, and key resources; and respond to and recover from
incidents that do occur. The third largest Cabinet department, DHS was
established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, largely in response to
the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The new department
consolidated 22 executive branch agencies, including the U.S. Customs
Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the
Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
DHS employs 216,000 people in its mission to patrol borders, protect
travelers and our transportation infrastructure, enforce immigration
laws, and respond to disasters and emergencies. The agency also promotes
preparedness and emergency prevention among citizens. Policy is
coordinated by the Homeland Security Council at the White House, in
cooperation with other defense and intelligence agencies, and led by the
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal
agency responsible for national policies and programs that address
America's housing needs, that improve and develop the nation's
communities, and that enforce fair housing laws. The Department plays a
major role in supporting homeownership for lower- and moderate-income
families through its mortgage insurance and rent subsidy programs.
Offices within HUD include the Federal Housing Administration, which
provides mortgage and loan insurance; the Office of Fair Housing and
Equal Opportunity, which ensures all Americans equal access to the
housing of their choice; and the Community Development Block Grant
Program, which helps communities with economic development, job
opportunities, and housing rehabilitation. HUD also administers public
housing and homeless assistance.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development oversees approximately 9,000 employees on a budget of approximately $40 billion.
Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation's principal
conservation agency. Its mission is to protect America's natural
resources, offer recreation opportunities, conduct scientific research,
conserve and protect fish and wildlife, and honor our trust
responsibilities to American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and our
responsibilities to island communities.
DOI manages 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of
the land in the United States, and manages hundreds of dams and
reservoirs. Agencies within the DOI include the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the Minerals Management Service, and the U.S. Geological
Survey. The DOI manages the national parks and is tasked with protecting
endangered species.
The Secretary of the Interior oversees about 70,000 employees and
200,000 volunteers on a budget of approximately $16 billion. Every year
it raises billions in revenue from energy, mineral, grazing, and timber
leases, as well as recreational permits and land sales.
Department of Justice
The mission of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is to enforce the law
and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to
ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide
federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just
punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and
impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
The DOJ is comprised of 40 component organizations, including the
Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the U.S. Marshals, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Attorney
General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the
federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in
legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive
departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before
the Supreme Court.
With a budget of approximately $25 billion, the DOJ is the world's
largest law office and the central agency for the enforcement of federal
laws.
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor oversees federal programs for ensuring a
strong American workforce. These programs address job training, safe
working conditions, minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, employment
discrimination, and unemployment insurance.
The Department of Labor's mission is to foster and promote the
welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United
States by improving their working conditions, advancing their
opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and
health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening
free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices,
and other national economic measurements.
Offices within the Department of Labor include the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the federal government's principal statistics agency for
labor economics, and the Occupational Safety & Health
Administration, which promotes the safety and health of America's
working men and women.
The Secretary of Labor oversees 15,000 employees on a budget of approximately $50 billion.
Department of State
The Department of State plays the lead role in developing and
implementing the President's foreign policy. Major responsibilities
include United States representation abroad, foreign assistance, foreign
military training programs, countering international crime, and a wide
assortment of services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seeking
entrance to the U.S.
The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 180
countries — each posted by civilian U.S. Foreign Service employees — as
well as with international organizations. At home, more than 5,000 civil
employees carry out the mission of the Department.
The Secretary of State serves as the President's top foreign policy
adviser, and oversees 30,000 employees and a budget of approximately $35
billion.
Department of Transportation
The mission of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure a
fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system
that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life
of the American people.
Organizations within the DOT include the Federal Highway
Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Transit
Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Maritime
Administration.
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation oversees approximately 55,000 employees and a budget of approximately $70 billion.
Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is responsible for promoting economic
prosperity and ensuring the soundness and security of the U.S. and
international financial systems.
The Department operates and maintains systems that are critical to
the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin
and currency, the disbursement of payments to the American public, the
collection of taxes, and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the
federal government. The Department works with other federal agencies,
foreign governments, and international financial institutions to
encourage global economic growth, raise standards of living, and, to the
extent possible, predict and prevent economic and financial crises. The
Treasury Department also performs a critical and far-reaching role in
enhancing national security by improving the safeguards of our financial
systems, implementing economic sanctions against foreign threats to the
U.S., and identifying and targeting the financial support networks of
national security threats.
The Secretary of the Treasury oversees a budget of approximately $13 billion and a staff of more than 100,000 employees.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for administering
benefit programs for veterans, their families, and their survivors.
These benefits include pension, education, disability compensation, home
loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support,
medical care, and burial benefits. Veterans Affairs became a
cabinet-level department in 1989.
Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every
four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a
quarter of the nation's population — approximately 70 million people —
are potentially eligible for V.A. benefits and services because they are
veterans, family members, or survivors of veterans.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees a budget of approximately $90 billion and a staff of approximately 235,000 employees.
