Eleanor Finch
The Executive Branch of the US federal government is responsible for carrying out and executing the nation's laws. It consists of the President, Vice President, the President's Cabinet, 15 executive departments, and numerous federal agencies, boards, commissions, and committees. The President leads the country and is responsible for the execution and enforcement of laws created by Congress. The President can issue executive orders, negotiate and sign treaties, and appoint key officials. The Vice President supports the President and can take on a specific policy portfolio or serve as a top advisor. The Cabinet is an advisory body that helps run major federal agencies and plays a role in the Presidential line of succession. The Executive Branch also includes independent agencies that operate outside the federal executive departments and conduct health and social science research, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, and ensure food and drug safety.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of employees | More than 4 million Americans |
| Leadership | President, Vice President |
| President's role | Head of state, leader of the federal government, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces |
| President's term | Four years, can be elected no more than two times |
| Vice President's role | Supports the President, succeeds the President in case of death or inability to serve |
| Vice President's term | Can be elected and serve an unlimited number of four-year terms |
| Cabinet's role | Advisory body to the President, made up of the heads of 15 executive departments |
| Executive departments | 15 in total, carry out day-to-day administration of the federal government |
| Agencies | HHS, DHS, CIA, Environmental Protection Agency, etc. |
| Federal commissions | Federal Reserve Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, etc. |
| Conducts | Diplomacy with other nations, including negotiating and signing treaties |
| Powers | Issue executive orders, extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes, appoint key officials |
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What You'll Learn
The President enforces laws and can issue executive orders
The President of the United States is the head of state, the leader of the federal government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. As such, the President is responsible for enforcing the laws created by Congress. The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers and clarify and help implement existing laws.
Executive orders are directives issued by the President that have much of the same power as federal laws. They are signed, written, and published directives that manage the operations of the federal government. They are also consecutively numbered and catalogued by the National Archives as official documents produced by the federal government. Each executive order has a title that indicates what the order concerns and an introduction that legitimates the order. The introduction typically begins with a phrase such as "by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America."
Executive orders have been used by presidents throughout history to make significant decisions and bring about landmark changes in American history. For example, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War using executive orders, and President Dwight Eisenhower used an executive order to enforce desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the Civil Rights movement.
In addition to executive orders, the President also has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, issue proclamations, and extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment.
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The President conducts diplomacy and foreign policy
The President of the United States is the head of state, the federal government's leader, and the Commander-in-Chief of the country's armed forces. They are responsible for executing and enforcing laws created by Congress and conducting diplomacy with other nations.
The President is the principal steward of US foreign policy and is responsible for conducting foreign relations. They rely on their Secretaries of State and their subordinate officials to ensure the country is served and protected at home and abroad. The Secretary of State must maintain a competent workforce to implement the President's foreign policy effectively. All officers or employees charged with implementing foreign policy must do so under the President's direction and authority.
The President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. They can also issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and help implement existing laws. The President's Cabinet, composed of the heads of 15 executive departments, plays an important role in the implementation of foreign policy. The Cabinet members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they often serve as the President's closest confidants.
The President's authority in foreign policy is outlined in Article II of the US Constitution, which states that the President is the "sole organ of the nation in its external relations" and its "sole representative with foreign nations". This means that any demands made by foreign nations can only be directed towards the President, and any acts performed by the nation's force must be done through them.
The President's power in foreign relations has been historically significant, as illustrated by several examples. For instance, President Woodrow Wilson's refusal to recognize the Provisional President Huerta of Mexico in 1913 contributed to Huerta's downfall the following year. Similarly, the non-recognition of the Chinese Communist Government by the Truman Administration, followed by President Nixon's de facto recognition in 1972, was an important part of US foreign policy during the Cold War.
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The Vice President supports the President and can become President
The Executive Branch carries out and enforces laws created by Congress. It is led by the President, who is the head of state, the federal government's leader, and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President can issue executive orders and negotiate and sign treaties, which must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.
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The Cabinet advises the President and runs federal agencies
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of 15 executive departments. The President appoints the members of the Cabinet, who are often the President's closest confidants, and the Senate confirms them. The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
The Cabinet advises the President on any subject the President may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Cabinet members also play an important role in the Presidential line of succession after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President pro tempore.
In addition to advising the President, the Cabinet is responsible for running major federal agencies and carrying out the day-to-day administration of the federal government. These agencies include the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is the world's largest law office and is headed by the Attorney General, and the Department of Homeland Security, which was established in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks, protect critical infrastructure, and respond to incidents.
The Cabinet also includes the heads of other executive agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who are under the full authority of the President but are not part of the Cabinet. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal officials.
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The Executive Office of the President supports the President
The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide the President with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively. The EOP is made up of offices that support the President, each with a different function. Some offices oversee and coordinate the work of others, while some deal with domestic or foreign policy. There are also administrative support offices, as well as offices that act as liaisons with the public, Congress, or members of the Cabinet. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President's message to the American people to promoting trade interests abroad.
The EOP includes 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 White House Office, or WHO, is made up of staff that directly serve and support the President. There are many offices within the WHO that advise on policy, offer administrative support, work with Congress, or communicate the President's goals. The White House Office is overseen by the Chief of Staff, who organizes the other offices and ensures that the White House operates smoothly. The Chief of Staff is one of the President's closest advisors.
The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) was established by Congress in 1946. The CEA advises the President on economic policy and prepares the Economic Report of the President. There are three members, including a Chair that is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The National Security Council (NSC) advises the President on national security and foreign policy. The Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and heads of other executive departments and agencies are also invited to attend when appropriate.
The Office of Administration (OA) provides administrative, information technology, human resources, and other support to the EOP. The Office of Policy Development (OPD) was created by President Richard M. Nixon to oversee economic and domestic policy. Later, President William J. Clinton split the OPD into the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council. The Domestic Policy Council (DPC) advises the President on domestic policy.
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Frequently asked questions
The President is the head of the Executive Branch and is responsible for executing and enforcing the laws created by Congress. The President also has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, issue executive orders, and appoint key officials.
The Vice President supports the President and is part of the Executive Branch. The Vice President also serves as the President of the Senate and casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie.
The Executive Branch also includes the President's Cabinet, 15 executive departments, and numerous federal agencies, boards, commissions, and committees. The Cabinet is an advisory body to the President, and the 15 executive departments are led by appointed members of the Cabinet.
