Civics, Executive Branch II (Structure)

Department of State

Deals with foreign affairs. The Secretary of State is supposed to be the chief advisor to the President about issues going on in other countries. Diplomacy, which is the active management of communications with leaders around the world, is considered essential to promoting the interests of Americans, including human rights, security, and prosperity. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (and other U.S. Ambassadors) are part of the State Department.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Group of advisors that helps president carry out day to day responsibilities .the president. White House staff, National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Councl of Economic Advisers, Council on Environmental Quality, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Department of Agriculture

Oversees farming activities. It regulates soil conservation efforts and the quality of the food supply. The department publishes nutrition guidance. It also manages programs that assist families such as the school lunch program.

Government Corporations

These entities have the highest level of political independence; they sometimes receive federal money, but also often have independent sources of revenue. They include the National Park Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Americorp, and Amtrak.

subpoena

legal order that reqires a witness to appear or provide evidence to a court. Nixon was given a subpoena ordering him to release the tapes he had made of conversations in his office.

appropriation

permission through legislation to spend funds on a specific program or agency

authorization bill

permission through legislation to start or continue a government program or agency

regulations

an official rule or order that guides behavior related to laws, or to carrying out a law

red tape

complex rules and procedures set by a bureaucratic agency to carry out a policy. "Red tape" has a negative connotation--that is, the word invokes a negative tone.

Vice President

first in line for the Presidency; the VP has stepped into the presidency nine times in US history. After becoming President, the former VP can appoint a new VP of his choice; that person must be confirmed by a majority vote in each chamber of Congress.

Department of Health and Human Services

Administers many services that Americans use every day. It helps provide for health and other essential needs, especially for those least able to provide for themselves. One in four Americans benefits from Medicare and Medicaid programs. These are health insurance programs provided in close collaboration with state and local governments. The Department helps provide important ifnormation to Americans on various topics such as diseases and safety. Help for children with disabilities and people suffering from substance abuse are examples of its intitiatves.

United States Postal Service (USPS)

An independent regulatory agency that regulates and carries out the delivery of the people's mail. It is one of the few tasks mentioend in the Constitution (in Article I, Section 8, as a power of Congress).

Independent regulatory agencies

Congress has also created several dozen __________________ _________________ __________________. These groups exist because they have duties beyond the scope of normal policymaking. The yare independent in the sense that the President does not have the power to remove officials at his or her will. Examples include the Federal Reserve, the CIA, the Federal Communications Commission, NASA, the Smithsonian Institution, and the US Postal Service.

Congressional oversight

Congressional committes have two purposes--to consider proposed legislature, and to perform _________________. In the latter function, they oversee / hold hearings on the agencies and the regulations that they have developed, to make sure that the agencies are implementing the law according to Congressional wishes.

The Speaker of the House; the President Pro Temp of the Senate; then, Cabinet Members

If the VP is ineligible for taking the Presidency, or the VP office is vacant, the Speaker of the House is next in line for the Presidency. After that, the President Pro Temp of the Senate is next in line for the Presidency; and then, Cabinet members are in line.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Independent regulatory agency that regulates communications by television, radio, cable, wire, and satellite

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Inspects the products we buy for potential safety hazards. When you hear of a recall on a toy, vehicle, or other object, this is usually the work of the CPSC, which has investigated complaints and found the item to be a safety risk.

Department of Labor

Is responsible for promoting the interests of working Americans, such as the availability of jobs, fair wages, health and safety protections on the job, etc. It also helps people unable to find work and enforces federal laws related to working minors, known as child labor laws. It also enforces laws related to retirement benefits.

Department of the Interior

Its mission is to protect the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage. It regulates the creation and maintenance of federal parks, landmarks, and other federal lands. The department also partners with and provides services to almost 600 federally recognized Native American tribes.

Department of Defense

Manages all branches of the military (Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard). It has 3 million civilian and military employees. The Secretary of Defense advises the President on weapons systems, and troop strength, needs, etc.

Department of the Treasury

Manages federal finances, including collecting taxes and managing the public debt. It oversees the creation (minting) of coins and the printing of money, supervises banking activities, and investigates those suspected of tax evasion or counterfeiting (printing fake money).

Department of Education

Manages federal financial aid programs. It also collects and distributes research on the nation's education programs. The department is tasked with enforcing equal access to public education. Mission is to romote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Promotes access to affordable housing for all Americans. its programs include government mortgages for home ownership, grants to businesses that build and develop communities, enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in housing, and assistance to those facing the loss of their homes.

Department of Justice

Prosecutes those accused of violating federal law.. The head of the department (the Attorney General) is responsible for advising the President on preventing crime, punishing crime, and ensuring a fair system of justice for all Americans. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (the FBI) is part of the Department of Justice, and is responsible for investigating federal crimes and crimes involving more than one state.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Provides many benefits and opportunities to the veterans of the nation's armed forces. Examples include health care, education, and home ownership.

Department of Commerce

Regulates (implements laws about) trade, business, commerce, and industry; its mission is "to help make American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad." Also conducts the census, and includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (which includes the National Weather Service).

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Regulates fair business practices. Its goal is to maintain choice for consumers and prevent deception. Individuals can report complaints about businesses to the FTC, such as misleading advertising. The FTC will investigate the complaints and enforce federal law regarding business operations.

Department of Homeland Security

Regulates immigration policies and efforts to prevent terrorism. It also manages emergency response systems related to natural disasters. This is the most recently established cabinet department, created after 9-11. At its creation, it absorbed the responsibilities of 22 smaller agencies that existed throughout other departments. The Department of Homeland Security is part of the cooperative U.S. Inteligency Community, a group of 16 separate federal agencies responsible for intelligence monitoring, gathering, and reporting to the president and cabinet.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Regulates the distribution of social security benefits. Retired or disabled Americans, as well as family members of a deceased wage earner, are eligible for the program. Working Americans pay into the SSA through income taxes.

Department of Energy

Regulates the nation's sources of energy, advising the President on many related issues such as developing clean energy. It addresses fuel needs such as oil and nuclear energy.

Department of Transportation

Regulates the safety of, access to, and efficiency of transportation systems such as interstate highways and airplane travel. It monitors and enforces federal laws relating to topics sucha s the manufacture of vehicles and licensing requirements of operators working for interstate trucking companies.

U.S. v. Nixon

The U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled that executive privilege did not grant Nixon the power to refuse to respond to a subpoena.

executive privilege

The claim that the president's communications were confidential. THe Supreme Court rejected Nixon's claim that he did not have to answer to the subpoena. He resigned shortly after that decision.

The Central Intelligency Agency (CIA)

This agency reports to the Director of the U.S. Intelligence Community, but is more independent than the other agencies that are part of the cooperative. Its main duty is to gather ifnormation on foreign governments, businesses, and people. The information helps guide the president and Cabinet members on matters that involve natioinal security.

The Federal Reserve (Fed)

This is the central bank of the U.S. It operates as an independent regulatory agency that is a partner with the U.S. Treasury to supervise banking services and influence the nation's economy. It has a great deal of influence over interest rates (that is, the cost of borrowing money)

According to Article II of the Constitution, the president can be impeached for ....

Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors

trust fund

government funds for programs (such as Social Security) that are collected and spent separate from the regular budget Current workers pay into the social security trust funds, and retired workers receive benefits. This will become a problem in the future, as there are more retirees, and fewer current workers.

Cabinet

a group of advisers to the president, composed of the heads of the executive departments and other officials as determined by the president.

bureaucracy

staff, poliices, and actions of administrative groups led by non-elected officials to carry out specific laws and responsibilities. There are two levels of the bureaucracy: the top positions of agencies and departments are filled by "political appointees" (nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate). The vast majority of positions in the bureaucracy, however, are held by career civil service workers that are there over time, regardless of who is President.

impeach

the act of a political body (in this case, the U.S. House of Representatives) finding enough of evidence to make a formal accusation of misconduct against a public official. That official would then be tried in the Senate; if 2/3 vote to convict, he would be removed from office.

accountability

the condition of being accountable or responsible. The bureaucracy--the agencies, departments, etc.--need these (complicated) procedures so that things can be standardized, and the government can be held accountable.