Executive Department Worksheet

A (hopefully) helpful guide!

Some Instructions

• All names are important, but the ones that are in ALL CAPITALS are essential to know.

• All cabinet departments must be memorized.

• Write down all agencies, bureaus, etc… If the agency is underlined, learn it and learn what cabinet department it’s in! If an acronym is provided, write it down (and LEARN IT, if it is underlined).

Remember, the Exec. Branch has 3 main parts: Office of the President, Cabinet Depts. and Independent agencies, etc… (see p. 282)

• This lesson is ONLY on the 15 Cabinet Departments and the major agencies, bureaus, departments, offices, etc… in each.

Department of State• The U. S. State department is

America’s Foreign Affairs department.

• The first Secretary of State (for President George Washington) was Thomas Jefferson.

• Passports and visas, welcoming and sending diplomats, and foreign aid are a few of the State Dept.’s responsibilities.

Secretary of State• The current Secretary of

State is JOHN KERRY.• Secretary Kerry is a

former decorated Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and Democratic nominee for President in 2004.

• The Secretary of State is 5th in line for the Presidency.

Agencies of the State Department

• The most important office in the State Department is the Foreign Affairs Office.

• Another important group is the Office of Protocol - responsible for making sure that worldwide customs are observed (among other duties).

The Treasury Department

• The Treasury Department was (like State) one of the first 3 departments created by George Washington.

• The first Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton.

Secretary of Treasury(NOT “U.S. Treasurer!”)

The current Secretary of Treasury is JACOB (JACK) LEW.Jack Lew has been director of the OMB and Chief of Staff for President Obama.The Secretary of the Treasury is one of two people whose signature appears on all American currency. This may be a concern due to Mr. Lew’s unusual signature:

Agencies of the Treasury Department

• Since the Treasury Dept. is responsible for producing America’s money, two offices are crucial - the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (which produces and distributes paper money) and the U.S. Mint (which produces and distributes coins).

• Treasury, alas, is also responsible for tax collection, so the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) falls under its jurisdiction.

Department of Defense• In Washington’s original cabinet,

this office was the Department of War.

• Created after WWII - it merged the Dept. Of War and the Dept. of the Navy

• All military branches are led by CIVILIANS.

• The office of the DoD is the Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense• The current Secretary

of Defense is CHUCK HAGEL.

• Secretary Hagel, a Republican, is a former Senator from Nebraska.

• He is a decorated Vietnam War veteran.

Agencies of the Defense Department

• This is America’s military, so the agencies are:

• Department of the Army (U.S. Army)

• Department of the Air Force (U.S. Air Force - USAF)

• Department of the Navy (U.S. Navy AND U.S. Marine Corps)

• The Coast Guard is NOT in the Defense Dept. (unless the U.S. is in a DECLARED war).

The Justice Department• The Justice Department is

America’s Law Enforcement (including prosecution) department.

• In recent years, many federal investigation agencies have been moved INTO the Justice Dept.

The Attorney General• The secretary of the

Department of Justice is called the Attorney General of the United States.

• The current Attorney General is ERIC HOLDER.

• He is the chief federal law enforcement officer.

• He has announced his resignation pending appointment of a replacement

Agencies of the Justice Department

• In addition to being the department in charge of federal prosecutions (federal lawyers!), the DoJ is responsible for many federal investigation agencies including:

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE or ATF)

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), (formerly Drug Enforcement Agency)

Department of the Interior• The Department of the Interior is

responsible for management of federal lands and administration of native peoples’ rights (including native Hawaiians and Alaska natives).

• Like the Dept. of Homeland Security, the DoI was created (in 1849) to streamline and reorganize “misplaced” agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs which moved from the Dept. of War.

The Secretary of the Interior

• The current Secretary of the Interior is Sally Jewell.

• Secretary Jewell is the former CEO of REI.

• She has served on the National Park Conservancy Board.

Agencies of the Interior Department• Management of Public Lands is the primary

responsibility of the DoI, so agencies include:• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM),

responsible for millions of publicly owned, but not otherwise used, land.

• The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for America’s national parks and monuments.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service.• Also under DoI administration is tribal affairs

(land, casinos, etc..) under agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Department of Agriculture

• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for things that grow.

• It is also responsible for MUCH (not all) of the nation’s food supply (because crops grow and cattle grow bigger!)

Secretary of Agriculture

• The current Secretary of Agriculture is TOM VILSACK.

• Secretary Vilsack is a former Governor of Iowa.

Agencies of the Department of Agriculture

• The USDA is responsible for things that grow so, as trees grow, the United States Forest Service (USFS), falls under USDA administration.

• To protect our nations food supply, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is also administered here.

• You know this - “USDA” stamps and grades for your meat!

Department of Commerce

• The Commerce Department is responsible for promoting job creation and raising the standard of living.

• It also collects data that can be used for business (from a WIDE variety of sources).

Secretary of Commerce• The current Secretary of

Commerce is Penny Pritzker.

• Secretary Pritzker is a Stanford-educated lawyer from Chicago.

• She is an heir to the Hyatt (hotel) fortune.

Agencies of the Commerce Department

• Since promoting new ideas is essential to business, the U.S. Patent Office falls under Commerce Dept. administration.

• As data collection is important, the Census Bureau is found here.

• Since climate has a profound affect on trade, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is here as is its more well-known agency, the National Weather Service (NWS).

Department of Labor• Originally part of the Commerce

Department, the Department of Labor was created in the early 20th century to promote the safety and prosperity of the American worker.

• The office building that houses the DoL in Washington is named for Frances Perkins - the first female cabinet member (under FDR).

Secretary of Labor

• The current Secretary of Labor is Thomas Perez.

• Secretary Perez held a similar position for the State of Maryland.

• He also served in the U.S. Justice Department.

Agencies of the Department of Labor

• Protecting workers from unsafe conditions is a major role of the DoL, so the FEDERAL Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office is in this department.

• Analysis of mounds of data on employment is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

• Working in cooperation with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is found in THIS dept.

Department of Health and Human Services• The HHS Dept. included

offices regarding Education until they split in 1979.

• The Social Security Administration was in this Dept. until it became an independent agency.

• HHS is responsible for the health and wellbeing of ALL Americans (not just “Labor”).

Secretary of Health and Human Services

• The current Secretary of HHS is Sylvia Mathews Burwell.

• Ms. Burwell is the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is the former head of the Walmart Foundation.

Agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services

• Most agencies here have to do with public health and fall under the banner of the Public Health Service (including the office of the Surgeon General of the U.S.)

• Specific tasks found here are in such offices as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which tracks contagions and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which approves items for public sale.

• Also in HHS is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a series of agencies that protect and administer health-related matters.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

• The Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is responsible for federal housing programs.

• This includes mortgage lending agencies.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

• The current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is Julian Castro

• A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, Mr. Castro returned to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas and was elected Mayor.

• His twin brother, Joaquin, is a Congressman from Texas.

Agencies of the Department of Housing and Urban Development• Not surprisingly, the Federal Housing

Administration (FHA) is found here.

• Several lending agencies such as FNMA (“Fanny Mae”) and “Freddy Mac” are regulated here and the Government National Mortgage Administration (GNMA or “Ginny Mae”) office is here.

Department of Transportation

• Simply put, this department is responsible for making sure America MOVES!

• By air, land, or waterway, the DOT most likely has some influence.

• Look for the distinctive seal of the DOT on highway project signs.

Secretary of Transportation• The current Secretary of

Transportation is Anthony Foxx.

• Secretary Foxx is the former mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina.

• He has worked in the Justice Department and for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Agencies of the Department of Transportation

• (Almost) ANYTHING to do with transportation whether it is:

• By land - Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

• By sea - Maritime Administration (MARAD)• By air - Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), which sets policies and ensures aircraft safety.

• And aid to local transportation systems - Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Department of Energy• The Department of Energy (DOE)

is responsible for research and development of the nation’s energy resources.

• Nuclear technology and use (including waste disposal) is administered by the DOE.

Secretary of Energy

• The current Secretary of Energy is Ernest J. Moniz.

• Dr. Moniz was a nuclear physicist at MIT.

• He previously served in the Clinton administration in both the EOP and the Dept. of Energy.

Agencies in the Department of Energy

• Research is major component of the DOE, so the U.S. Office of Science is found here.

• Nuclear technology is administered (mostly) in the DOE - especially in the National Nuclear Security Administration.

• Although most Independent Regulatory Commissions are just that - independent, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) falls (partly) under DOE administration.

Department of Education• The Department of Education (or

ED, not DOE - Dept. of Energy) is the smallest and most controversial of cabinet offices.

• President Reagan called for elimination of the ED, citing federal gov’t. incursion on local control.

• The primary job of the ED is to promote and supervise federal education policies and mandates (such as “No Child Left Behind”).

Secretary of Education

• The current Secretary of education is Arne Duncan, former CEO of the Chicago City Schools.

• A former Harvard basketball player, Duncan has played pro basketball in Australia.

• He is one of President Obama’s closest friends and, of course, plays basketball with the President.

Agencies of the Department of Education

• Policies and guidelines for the nation’s school districts are found here.

• A key office in implementing President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” is the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)

• School Safety is a key component of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Originally an independent agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - formerly Veterans Administration - was raised to cabinet level by President Reagan.

• It is the second largest cabinet department (after the Defense Dept.).

Secretary of Veterans Affairs• The current Secretary of

Veterans Affairs is Robert McDonald

• Secretary McDonald, a West Point graduate, was Chairman of the Board of Proctor and Gamble after his military career.

• He replaces Eric Shinseki after the 2014 VA “scandal.”

Agencies of the Department of Veterans Affairs

• There are three main divisions (or Administrations) in the VA:

• Veterans Health Administration - responsible for operating America’s largest public health service

• Veterans Benefits Administration - providing a large number of programs for veterans (including education programs and grants)

• National Cemetery Administration - remember that national cemeteries are for those who served the country in the military.

Department of Homeland Security• Created in 2002 in response to the

9/11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created to increase inter-agency cooperation and response.

• Dozens of agencies were moved to the new DHS from other departments (and from independent status).

Secretary of Homeland Security

• The current Secretary of Homeland Security is JEH JOHNSON.

• An attorney, he has been General Counsel for the Air Force (in the 1990s) and General Counsel for the Dept. of Defense (under President Obama).

Agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (page 1)

• Many agencies were moved to the DHS after its creation (after 9/11) which concerned our nation’s borders.

• The old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was reorganized - a major component of this is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

• Although primarily concerned with the results of natural disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is administered here due to need for response to man-made crises (such as the 9/11 attacks).

Agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (page 2)

• Securing entry in the country and security by air travel is the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These are the folks that inspect you as you enter an airport.

• Securing our maritime borders is the job of the United States Coast Guard.

• Protection of the President and other high-ranking American officials is the job of the United States Secret Service.

“The D.J. chats live” - H• Treasury

• Health and Human Services

• Energy

• Defense

• Justice

• Commerce

• Housing and Urban Development

• Agriculture

• Transportation

• State

• Labor

• Interior

• Veterans Affairs

• Education

• Homeland Security