The Executive Branch

Federal Government (National) United States of America State Government State of California County Government County of Los Angeles Municipal Government City of Los Angeles

Each Level Has Branches

Three Federal Branches *The Legislative and Judicial Branches are small in comparison to the Execuitve in both employment and budget. *The Legislative Branch supports the two house of Congress –the Senate and the House of Representatives. *The Judicial Branch supports the many levels of courts with the Supreme Court at the top. Most judges are appointed by the Executive Branch and approved by the Legislative. So are they really a branch or an agency?

Federal Executive Branch The President is in charge and appoints the leadership. The executive branch runs the Government. It is the largest and most expensive. The President has advisors to help him oversee the many different departments of the government.

The Cabinet The group of advisors is known as the President’s “Cabinet”. Each Cabinet member is called a “Secretary“. Each Secretary is in charge of a Department.

Federal Branches Are Model for other Levels

there are 15 Departments of the Federal Executive Branch Plus the newest –Homeland Security

Bureaucracy This network of branches and departments and the agencies they oversee is referred to as the government bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is usually used as a negative reference to the government (but can apply to organizations in the private sector also). It can be defined then, as, a organization with too many levels or parts that don’t communicate well with each other and become self-important to themselves.

Departments of the Public Sector Each department has a Secretary in charge –Appointed by the Executive Office. Each department works with or oversees many smaller agencies of the government such as bureaus, commissions, offices, or administrations. A civil servant or public servant is a civilian public sector employee working for a government department or agency. Each department employs many, many people nationwide and is funded by billions of tax dollars.

Dept. of Agriculture *Develops and executes policy on farming, agriculture, and food. *Consists of 17 agencies, including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Forest Service.

Dept. of Energy *Promotes national energy security by encouraging the development of reliable, clean, and affordable energy. *Agencies include the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and it works with NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Dept. of the Interior *Protects and conserves the nation’s natural resources including fish, wildlife, land, the national parks, endangered species and water reservoirs while honoring our responsibilities to Native communities. *Agencies within the DOI include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Minerals Management Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Dept. of Transportation * Secures a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system for all 50 states. * Organizations within the DOT include the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Maritime Administration.

Dept. of Housing & Urban Development * Responsible for policies and programs that address housing needs, that improve and develop the nation's communities, and that enforce fair housing laws. * Offices within HUD include the Federal Housing Administration, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, and the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Dept. of Commerce * Supports business and industry by issuing patents and trademarks, ensuring the effective use of scientific and technical resources, formulates telecommunications and technology policy, and promotes U.S. exports with international trade agreements. *Agencies include the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Protection Agency, the National Weather Service, the FCC-Federal Communications Commission, and the Small Business Administration.

Dept. of the Treasury * Operates and maintains systems the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin and currency, the collection of taxes, and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the government. *Agencies within the Treasury Department include the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve and the Government Accounting Office.

Dept. of Labor *Oversees programs for ensuring a strong workforce including safe working conditions, retirement, unemployment, discrimination, wage standards, and collective bargaining. * Offices within the Department of Labor include the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Social Security Administration, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Dept. of Education *Promotes student achievement and preparation for competition in a global economy, ensures educational equity and access, oversees financial aid programs, collects data, and promotes instructional improvement. *Works in coordination with the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Archives.

Dept. of Health & Human Services *Conducts health and social science research, work to prevent disease outbreaks, assure food and drug safety, and administers Medicare and Medicaid. * HHS oversees the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control.

Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs *Administers health, retirement, employment, educational and homeowner benefit programs for war veterans, their families and their survivors –nearly ¼ of Americans are elgible. *Became a cabinet-level department in 1989 under Bush Sr. Formerly known as the VAA- Veterans’ Affairs Administration. Has one of the largest budgets.

Dept. of Defense *Provides the military forces needed to deter war, protect the security of the country, and provide disaster relief. It’s headquarters is at the Pentagon. The largest department of the government and costliest by far. It encompasses all the branches of the military-Army, Navy, and Air Force, the National Security Agency, and the National Guard.

Dept. of State *Develops and implements the President's foreign policy, represents the U.S. abroad, maintains diplomacy, secures foreign assistance and aid, and helps American citizens traveling and living outside the country. The Central Intelligence Agency partners with the department . Oversees the U.S.’s membership in the United Nations, the foreign embassies in Washington, DC and our ambassadors abroad.

Dept. of Homeland Security *Prevents and responds to terrorist attacks, protect the nation’s borders, and oversees immigration. The 3rd largest department was organized after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 consolidating 22 agencies, including the Customs Service, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Dept. of Justice *In charge of law enforcement, ensuring public safety, crime prevention and punishment. Agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Office, and the Bureau of Prisons. Secretary is called the Attorney General and is the chief legal counsel for the nation.

Other Agencies *Agencies not assigned to a department: The EPA –Environmental Protection Agency (has cabinet level status) NEA-National Endowment for the Arts U.S. Postal Service

Other Levels *The State, County and City Levels have similar executive departments and sometimes duplicate the federal offices which is part of the bureaucracy. One big difference is that some of the department leaders are elected, but not all of them. *The California State Treasurer is called the Controller. Other state elected positions along side the Governor and Lt. Governor are the State Attorney General, the Superintendent of Schools, the Insurance Commissioner, and the Secretary of State.

Other Levels *LA County does not have an elected executive officer, just the legislative body called the Board of Supervisors, but we do elect the District Attorney, the County Assessor (the Treasurer) and the Sheriff. The County is the smallest level of government. *The Mayor runs the City of Los Angeles, but like the state and county, two other executive officers are elected, the City Attorney and the City Controller, but the Chief of Police is appointed.