1. Presidential Advisors and Executive Agencies
Chapter 7, Section 4

2. Organization of the Federal Branch
Executive Office/White House Office
People who work directly for the President (about 500)
10-12 of the President’s closest advisors
Chief of Staff is most powerful advisor
Office of Management and Budget
Prepares the federal budget
Oversees spending of hundreds of government agencies
Director of OMB works closely with the President

3. Organization of the Federal Branch cont
National Security Council
Helps the President direct US military and foreign policy
Head is National Security Advisor
Council of Economic Advisors
Helps the President carry out the role of the economic leader
Gives the President advice about complex economic matters (unemployment, inflation, taxes, etc.)

4. The Cabinet
Cabinet
Group of 15 presidential advisors that include the heads (Secretaries) of top level executive departments
Secretaries advise the President on issues related to their department
They meet whenever the President calls them together
Dept of Homeland Security is the newest cabinet position (added in Nov 2002)

5. The Cabinet Dept of State
Plans and carries out the nation’s foreign policy
Hillary Clinton
Dept of Treasury
Collects, borrows, spends, and prints money
Timothy Giethner
Dept of Defense
Manages the military
Robert Gates
Dept of Justice
Responsible for all aspects of law enforcement
Eric Holder
Dept of Interior
Manages and protects the nations public lands and natural resources
Ken Salazar

6. The Cabinet Dept of Agriculture
Assists farmers and consumers of products
Tom Vilsack
Dept of Commerce
Supervises trade and promotes US business
Gary Locke
Dept of Labor
Deals with working conditions and wages
Hilda Solis
Dept of Health & Human Services
Works for the well being & health of Americans
Kathleen Sebelius
Dept of Housing & Urban Development
Deals with special needs and problems of cities
Shaun Donovan

7. The Cabinet Dept of Transportation
Manages nations highways, railroads, airlines, & sea traffic
Ray LaHood
Dept of Energy
Directs overall energy plan
Steven Chu
Dept of Education
Provides advice and funding for schools
Arne Duncan
Dept of Veteran’s Affairs
Directs services for armed force veterans
Eric Shenseki
Dept of Homeland Security
Oversees America’s defenses against terrorist attacks
Janet Napolitano

8. Federal Bureaucracy
Federal Bureaucracy- agencies and employees of the executive branch
Carry out programs created by Congress
Administer day to day functions of the Executive Branch
Regulate various activities (police, banks, airlines, etc.)

9. Federal Bureaucracy cont
Independent Agencies- agencies of the Executive Branch that are NOT part of the cabinet
Executive Agencies
Independent and deal with certain specialized areas within government
Ex. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

10. Federal Bureaucracy cont
Government Corporations
Private businesses owned and operated by the government and not private people
Ex. Postal Service (USPS)
Regulatory Boards and Commissions
Do no report to President, but instead to Congress
Protect the public by making and enforce rules for industries or groups
Ex. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

11. Government Workers
Political Appointees- top leadership positions whom the President has chosen because they have proven executive ability (usually ends when the President leaves office)
Civil Service Workers- permanent employment, based on competitive tests and merit
They work within the Civil Service System

12. Spoils System Became very popular under Andrew Jackson
Government jobs went to people as a reward for their political support
New President’s fired most workers and replaced them with their own
Ex. Jackson put Martin Van Buren as Sec. of State and then VP because he was Jackson’s campaign manager and helped Jackson win the election
Ex. Jackson made Roger Taney Supreme Court Chief Justice because he helped Jackson remove all of the money from the national bank because Jackson opposed it

13. Merit System Came about during Progressive Era with the Pendleton Act
Known as Civil Service Reform Act of 1883
Now jobs within the Civil Service System are awarded based on merit and examinations
Sets standards for federal jobs