Executive Branch
The executive branch is headed by the President of the United States. The executive branch is in charge of executing and applying laws that are created by Congress and passed by all parties. The Vice President of the United States is also a part of the executive branch in the event that the President can no longer fulfill the duties (The White House, 2015). The Cabinet and other federal agencies are also a part of the executive branch. Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission hold responsibilities of handling the day-to-day operations and functions of the executive branch. |
The President.
Heading the executive branch, the President approves laws and heads the United States military. He has the power to use troops overseas without declaring a war; however, to declare a war he must get permission from Congress (Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, 2009; The White House, 2015). In addition to approving laws and heading the military, the President also serves as the American Head of State. This means that he meets with world leaders to outline and create different treaties. However, the Senate must approve any foreign policies before it becomes official, thus creating a separation of powers (Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, 2009). Both the President and the Vice President are the only members who are chosen by America’s voting population. There are a few regulations on who can be President. According to The White House (2015), in order to become the President of the United States, the candidate must be at least 35 years old, born in America, and have lived in the United States for the past 14 years. Once the candidate is elected, he or she can serve in office for two terms, equaling four years. By allowing the President to serve no more than four years, we the people, are assured that the current President has powers that are limited within the four year time frame and that we get a chance to vote for someone who shares the same beliefs that we do.
Click the button below to learn more about the President of the United States. |
The President’s Cabinet.
The sole responsibility of the Cabinet is to advise the President on the issues in which they are thoroughly educated on (Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, 2009). The Cabinet includes the leader of each of the 15 executive branch departments, the Vice President, and any other government officials that are chosen by the President. The officials heading the 15 executive branch departments must be approved by a majority vote, which is 51, by the Senate. These officials serve as long as the President is in office, therefore, when the President’s term is finished, the officials are no longer in office (Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, 2009). This process allows the President to have individuals who are not only educated in the specific matter, but also share the same agenda as the President. The 15 executive branch departments are the Secretary of State, the Treasury, Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veteran Affairs, Homeland Security; as well as the Attorney General (Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, 2009; The White House, 2015). Each department has their individual responsibilities such as: collaborating with other countries, overseeing taxes and the armed forces, protecting natural resources, enforcing the laws, ensuring food safety, promoting job opportunities, and overseeing housing needs to name a few (The White House, 2015).
Click the button below to learn about each of the executive branch departments. |