Cabinet Departments of the Executive Branch

This is a Big Branch!!!

The Bureacracy

• The Office of the President (OMB, NSA, Office of Economic Advisors, etc...)

• The Federal Departments (The Cabinet)

• Independent Agencies (CIA, GSA, Federal Reserve, etc…)

• Over 3 million civil service employees who are all under strict regulation (Hatch Act)

Interesting Facts• Executive Branch employees over 4 million

people (approx. 1.5 million in military)

• Executive branch carries out / enforces laws of the legislative branch

• Busy Agency – Ordinary people doing work: – FBI agent conducts investigation– Soldier participates in training– Worker monitors a nuclear power plant

State

• Carries out Foreign Policy

• Supervises ambassadors and other US diplomats

• Represents the US at the United Nations

Treasury

• Collects taxes through the IRS

• Prints money, postage stamps, and make coins

• Protects the President through the Secret Service

Defense

• Maintain armed forces

• Does research on weapons

• Builds and maintains bases

Interior

• Manages national parks and public lands

• Protects fish, wildlife, and other natural resources

Justice

• Investigates and prosecutes violations of federal law

• Operates federal prisons

• Runs the FBI

• Represents the government in lawsuits

Agriculture

• Provides assistance to farmers

• Inspects food processing plants

• Runs the food stamp and school lunch programs

• Works to control animal and plant diseases

Commerce

• Provides assistance to American business

• Conducts the census

• Issues patents and trademarks

Labor

• Enforces labor laws (minimum wage, discrimination)

• Helps with job training and unemployment programs

• Provides economic statistics

Health and Human Services

• Directs Medicare Program / Obamacare

• Runs the FDA

• Runs the Public Health System

• Runs welfare

Housing and Urban Development

• Help provide affordable housing

• Assists community development

• Gentrification

Transportation

• Helps state and local governments maintain highways

• Enforces highway safety standards

• Operates the Coast Guard

Energy

• Conducts research on sources of energy

• Promotes conservation and deals with shortages

Education

• Provides “assistance” to education programs

• Conducts research and provide statistics on education

• Promotes equal access to education

Veteran’s Affairs

• Provides assistance to individuals that served the military

Homeland Security

• Created in response to 9/11

• Designed to prevent terrorist attacks

• Minimize damage from attacks and natural disasters