Malcolm Rivera
The Executive Branch is one of the three branches of the US government, with the power vested in the President, who acts as the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for enforcing the laws written by Congress and appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch and can assume the Presidency if the need arises. The Cabinet, which is made up of the heads of 15 executive departments, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Federal Government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of executive departments | 15 |
| Who leads the executive branch? | President of the United States |
| Who enforces laws created by Congress? | President of the United States |
| Who are the members of the Cabinet? | Vice President, heads of the 15 executive departments, and the Attorney General |
| Who appoints the members of the Cabinet? | President |
| Who confirms the members of the Cabinet? | Senate |
| Who are the closest confidants of the President? | Members of the Cabinet |
| Who are the members of the Executive Office of the President (EOP)? | Immediate staff to the President, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the United States Trade Representative |
| Who is the principal military advisor to the President? | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Who are the law military advisors? | All JCS members |
| Who is the head of the Department of Homeland Security? | President |
| What are the missions of the Department of Homeland Security? | Prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks, protect the American people, protect critical infrastructure, and respond to and recover from any incidents |
| How many executive branch agencies did the Department of Homeland Security consolidate? | 22 |
| What are some examples of the executive branch agencies that were consolidated? | U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| How many people does the Department of Homeland Security employ? | 216,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The President's role in the Executive Branch
The President of the United States is the head of the Executive Branch and acts as the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress, and appoints the heads of federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The President also has the power to sign legislation into law or veto bills passed by Congress.
The Executive Branch employs over 4 million Americans, including members of the armed forces. It is made up of 15 executive departments, each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet. The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of these 15 departments, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They are the President's closest confidants and play an important role in the Presidential line of succession. The Cabinet is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the federal government, alongside other executive agencies such as the CIA and Environmental Protection Agency, whose leaders are under the President's full authority.
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. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the President's immediate staff and entities such as the Office of Management and Budget. The President has the power to issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and help implement existing laws. They can also grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
The President must provide Congress with information on the State of the Union and may convene both Houses on extraordinary occasions. They receive ambassadors and public ministers and direct executive officers. The President also has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, although these must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.
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The 15 executive departments
The Executive Branch is led by the President of the United States, who acts as the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for enforcing the laws written by Congress and appoints the heads of the 15 executive departments, who are included in the line of succession to the president. These 15 executive departments are each led by a member of the President's Cabinet, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Cabinet is an advisory body to the President and its members are often the President's closest confidants.
Other executive departments include the Department of Justice, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division, and the Department of the Interior, which includes the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Land Management. The Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of resources on public lands.
There have also been proposals for additional executive departments, such as the Department of Culture, the Department of Government Efficiency, the Department of Industry and Commerce, and the Department of Natural Resources. These proposed departments aim to address specific areas of governance and consolidate related agencies.
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The Department of Homeland Security
The Executive Branch is made up of 15 executive departments, each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet. The President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of laws created by Congress and appoints the heads of the Federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch and assumes the Presidency if the need arises.
One of the 15 executive departments is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, largely in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The department was created to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks and to coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. The DHS also works on customs, border, and immigration enforcement, emergency response to natural and man-made disasters, and cybersecurity. The department has a broad range of responsibilities, including patrolling borders, protecting travelers and transportation infrastructure, enforcing immigration laws, and promoting preparedness and emergency prevention.
The founding of the DHS marked a shift in American thought towards threats, with a focus on protecting the population from emergencies and diffuse threats from individuals who are non-native to the United States. The DHS was the largest U.S. government reorganization in 50 years, consolidating 22 agencies into a single Cabinet agency. The department has a significant role in combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse and raising public awareness of the signs of terrorism and terrorism-related crimes.
In fiscal year 2018, the DHS was allocated a net discretionary budget of $47.716 billion. The department has also been subject to controversy, with investigations into white supremacy and extremism within its ranks. The DHS has taken steps to address issues such as halting large-scale immigration raids and planning a new enforcement strategy to target employers engaging in exploitative labor practices. Overall, the DHS plays a crucial role in securing and protecting the United States from various threats.
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The role of the Vice President
The executive branch of the US government is made up of 15 executive departments, each led by a member of the President's Cabinet. The President is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for enforcing the laws written by Congress.
The Vice President is also part of the executive branch and is first in line to the presidency. The Vice President's role is to support the President and assume the role of President if the President is unable to serve. The Vice President is also the President of the Senate and is responsible for breaking ties in Senate votes. They are also involved in presiding over and certifying the tally of electoral college votes after a Presidential election.
The Vice President is often an important liaison between the administration and Congress, especially when the President has not served in Congress for long or at all. Vice Presidents are often selected as running mates due to their legislative relationships and their ability to help with policy decisions. For example, Dick Cheney (2001-2009) made several policy decisions without the President's knowledge.
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The Cabinet
The heads of executive departments are included in the line of succession to the President, after the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the President pro tempore of the Senate. This ensures continuity of government in the event of a vacancy in the Presidency. The federal Constitution's Ineligibility Clause prohibits executive branch employees, including Cabinet members, from simultaneously serving in Congress, thus enforcing a strong separation of powers.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 15 executive departments in the executive branch.
The President of the United States is in charge of the executive departments. The President appoints the heads of the Federal agencies, including the Cabinet, which is made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments.
Some examples of executive departments include the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation.
The executive departments are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Federal Government. They work alongside other executive agencies, such as the CIA and the Environmental Protection Agency, to enforce and administer Federal laws.
