Chapter 7 Section 4- Executive Branch (Organized like a pyramid)

PresidentVice President

Executive Office of the PresidentWhite House Office (Chief of Staff)

Office of Management & Budget (Budget Director)National Security Council (National Security Advisor)

Office of AdministrationCouncil of Economic Advisors

Office of U.S. Trade Representative

15 Executive DepartmentsHeads are called Secretaries and are part of

the President’s Cabinet

Chapter 7 Section 4The President’s Cabinet

•The Constitution does not specifically mention a Cabinet

•President George Washington realized the need for advisors to help with the job of the presidency

President Washington’s Cabinet

Washington had 4 department heads in his Cabinet:Secretary of State (head of Dept. of State)Secretary of Treasury (head of Dept. of Treasury)Secretary of War (head of Dept. of War- later changed to Defense)Attorney General (would head the Dept. of Justice that was created later)Over the years, presidents have added departments as needed (now there are 15)

15 Executive Departments

Department of State (1789)- deals with foreign policy

Department of Treasury (1789)- collects, borrows, spends & prints money

Department of Defense (1789 as War Dept.; renamed in 1949)- manages armed forces

Executive Departments (cont’d)

Department of Justice (1870)- responsible for federal law enforcement (only dept. who’s head is not called a secretary- Attorney General)Department of Interior (1849)- manages nation’s public lands & natural resourcesDepartment of Agriculture (1889)- assists farmers & consumers of farm products

Executive Departments (cont’d)

Department of Commerce (1903)- supervises trade, promotes U.S. business and tourismDepartment of Labor (1913)- deals with working conditions and wages of U.S. workersDepartment of Health and Human Services (1953)- works for the well-being and health of all Americans

Executive Departments (cont’d)

Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD (1965)- deals with special needs and problems in cities

Department of Transportation (1966)- manages nation’s highways, railroads, airlines and sea traffic

Department of Energy (1977)- directs overall energy plan for the country

Executive Departments (cont’d)

Department of Education (1979)- provides advice and funding for schoolsDepartment of Veteran’s Affairs (1989)- directs services for people who have served in the armed forcesDepartment of Homeland Security (2002)- oversees America’s defenses against terrorist attacks

The Federal BureaucracyThe executive branch includes a huge network of agencies that help carry out the regulations of the governmentIndependent Agencies- groups that are not part of the president’s cabinet

3 Types:Executive Agencies- deal with specialized areas of the govt. (Ex: NASA (in the past), CIA)Government Corporations- like private businesses, but owned by govt. (Ex: U.S. Postal Service, FDIC)Regulatory Agencies- make and enforce regulations for certain industries or groups (Ex: FCC, Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission)

Government Workers

Some people who work for the government are political appointees (chosen by Pres. & leave when he does)

About 90% of employees are civil service workers who are hired through the civil service system

Civil Service SystemBefore 1883, many workers were hired under the spoils system (jobs went to people as a reward for political support- based on who you know) this led to corruption

The Pendleton Act (aka Civil Service Reform Act of 1883) changed hiring to a merit system (jobs were based on qualifications (what you know)- workers must take civil service exam to get job