Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. The executive power is vested in the President of the United States, who is the head of state and government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. The Vice President is part of the executive branch and supports the President, assuming the role of President if they are unable to serve. The Cabinet is also part of the executive branch and acts as an advisory body to the President. The heads of executive departments are included in the line of succession to the President.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of executive departments | 15 |
| Who heads the executive departments | The President |
| Who appoints the heads of the executive departments | The President |
| Who confirms the appointments | The Senate |
| Who are the members of the Cabinet | Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials |
| Who are the members of the executive branch | Executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees |
| Who is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces | The President |
| Who is the Vice President | The person with the second-highest number of votes of the Electors |
| Who is the head of the executive department | The President |
| Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States | The President |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial
- The President is the head of the executive branch
- The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees
- The heads of executive departments are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
- The heads of executive departments are included in the line of succession to the President
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much power.
The legislative branch is made up of Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress. The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The executive branch is led by the President, who is both the head of state and the head of government. The President is responsible for executing and enforcing the laws created by Congress and has the power to either sign legislation into law or veto bills, although Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. The President also conducts diplomacy with other nations, negotiates and signs treaties (with the ratification of two-thirds of the Senate), and issues executive orders. Additionally, the President has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
The Vice President supports the President and assumes the presidency if the President is unable to serve. The Vice President's duties are at the discretion of the President and can vary depending on the administration. The Cabinet, composed of the Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials, serves as advisors to the President. These heads of departments are appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and can be removed by the President.
While the Constitution establishes the framework of the executive branch, it does not specify all the executive departments. Over time, various departments have been proposed and established to address specific areas, such as education, health, welfare services, housing, and transportation. The dynamic nature of governance and the evolving needs of society influence the formation and functions of these departments.
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The President is the head of the executive branch
The executive branch also includes the Vice President, who supports the President and assumes the role of President if the President is unable to serve. The Vice President's duties are largely at the discretion of the President, and they may take on specific policy portfolios or serve as a top adviser.
The President's Cabinet, composed of heads of executive departments and other high-ranking officials, acts as an advisory body. These department heads are appointed by the President, subject to Senate confirmation, and serve at the pleasure of the President. The Cabinet meets collectively to advise the President, and its members are included in the line of succession to the presidency.
The executive branch also encompasses various independent agencies, boards, commissions, and committees. This branch operates in conjunction with the legislative and judicial branches, with checks and balances in place to ensure no individual or group holds too much power.
The President's powers include signing legislation into law or vetoing bills, negotiating and signing treaties (with Senate ratification), issuing executive orders, and granting pardons for federal crimes (except in cases of impeachment). These powers are balanced by responsibilities, such as providing Congress with information on the state of the union and recommending measures for their consideration.
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The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees
The executive branch of the US government includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group has too much power and acts as a system of checks and balances.
The executive branch is led by the President, who is the head of state, government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President has the power to sign legislation into law or veto bills enacted by Congress, conduct diplomacy with other nations, and issue executive orders. The President also has the power to extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment.
The executive branch includes fifteen executive departments, each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet. These departments have diverse missions and responsibilities, such as the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Social Security Administration. The heads of these departments are referred to as "principal officers" in the Constitution and are included in the line of succession to the President.
In addition to the executive departments, the executive branch also includes independent agencies and other entities. These agencies and entities support the work of the executive branch and carry out specific functions, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. The President nominates the heads of these agencies, and they must be confirmed by the Senate.
The Vice President is also part of the executive branch and supports the President. The Vice President's duties are at the discretion of the President and can vary depending on the administration. The Vice President is second in the line of succession and assumes the presidency if the President is unable to serve.
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The heads of executive departments are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. The President is the head of state and government of the United States, 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. The President has the power to sign legislation into law or veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses. The President also has the power to issue executive orders, direct executive officers, and clarify and further existing laws.
The President appoints the heads of the executive departments, who take office after confirmation by the United States Senate. These department heads are members of the President's Cabinet, an advisory body to the President. The Cabinet includes the Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials. The President nominates the Cabinet members, who must be approved by the Senate.
The heads of executive departments are referred to as "principal officers" in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, also known as the Opinion Clause. They 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.
The federal Constitution's Ineligibility Clause expressly prohibits executive branch employees, including heads of executive departments, from simultaneously serving in Congress, and vice versa. This ensures a strong separation of powers.
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The heads of executive departments are included in the line of succession to the President
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. 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. The line of succession is outlined in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, as amended, which establishes that members of the president's cabinet are included in the line of succession, in the order of the establishment of the various departments, beginning with the secretary of state.
The heads of executive departments are referred to as "principal Officer in each of the executive Departments" in the Opinion Clause (Article II, section 2, clause 1) of the U.S. Constitution. They are appointed by the president, take office after confirmation by the United States Senate, and serve at the pleasure of the president. They are also members of the Cabinet of the United States, an executive organ that acts as an advisory body to the president.
The federal Constitution's Ineligibility Clause expressly prohibits executive branch employees, including the heads of executive departments, from simultaneously serving in Congress, and vice versa. This ensures a strong separation of powers. As such, legislators who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve as heads of executive departments must resign from Congress before assuming their new positions.
The Cabinet has 15 members, of which the secretary of state is the highest and fourth in line. The other Cabinet secretaries follow in the order of when their departments were created. Those heads of department who are not "eligible to the Office of President" are disqualified from assuming the powers and duties of the president through succession and are skipped in the line of succession.
While the U.S. Constitution does not directly call for a designated survivor, it has been common practice since the 1950s. Essentially, when the entire Cabinet is gathered, one Cabinet member in the direct line of succession is not present, in case of a disaster, attack, or another unforeseen event.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution does not name any executive departments. However, the executive branch includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.
The executive departments carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government.
The executive departments are each led by a secretary, with the exception of the Department of Justice, whose head is known as the Attorney General.
The leaders of the executive departments are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
