The Executive Branch:The Chief ExecutiveUnit 6: The Executive Branch and Bureaucracy

The Chief Executive Actions: Enforces Laws, Direct Agencies, Issue

Executive Orders, Appoints Officials, Creates and Directs Commissions.

Running the Government: The Chief Executive

Constitutional Charge “take care that the laws are faithfully executed”

Scope of the JobThe Federal Bureaucracy Spends $2.5 trillion dollars (2,500,000,000,000) a year and employs more than 4

million peopleThe President directly appoints 500 high level officials and

2,500 other positions

Organization of the Executive BranchThe Vice PresidentBasically just “waits” for things to doPower has grown over time, as recent presidents have given their VPs important jobsThe CabinetPresidential advisors, not in ConstitutonMade up of 14 cabinet secretaries and one Attorney General, confirmed

by the SenateCreated to advise the President and operate a specific policy area of

governmental activity

Organization of the Executive Branch

Executive Office of the PresidentClosestMade up of policymaking and advisory bodiesThree principle groups: NSC, CEA, OMB

Organization of the Executive BranchWhite House Office

Personal and political staff members who help with the day-to-day management of the executive branch; includes the chief of staff, counsel to the President, press secretary

National Security CouncilEstablished by the National Security Act of 1947Advises the President on matters of domestic and foreign national security

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)Performs both managerial and budgetary functions, including legislative review and budgetary assessments of proposals

Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood PartnershipsEstablished under Bush, named changed under ObamaEncourages and expands private efforts to del with social problems

Organization of the Executive BranchOffice of National Drug Control Policy

Advisory and planning agency to combat the nation’s drug problemsOffice of Policy Development

Gives the President advise on DOMESTIC policyCouncil of Economic Advisors

Informs the President about economic developments and problemsOffice of US Trade Representative (Foreign Trade and Treaty Negotiation)Office of Administration (Administrative Services to All Executive Office Groups)Council on Environmental Quality (Coordinates Environmental Efforts and

Analyzes policy)Office of Science and Technology (Advises on effects of tech, coordinates

implementation)Office of the Vice President (VP’s staff)

Organization of the Executive Branch

Independent Executive Agencies Similar to Departments but without Cabinet status NASA, Small Business Administration, etcIndependent Regulatory Agencies Independent from Executive (although members appointed) Created to regulate and police Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Reserve BoardGovernment Corporations Created by Congress to carry out business-like activities (Charge for service) AMTRAK, US Postal Service