Executive Branch Facts: Departments, Duties, Powers, And Much More

Devangana Rathore
Oct 05, 2022 By Devangana Rathore
Originally Published on Mar 09, 2022
Edited by Aubree Mosby
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
Executive Branch Facts: Departments, Duties, Powers, And Much More
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 8.5 Min

The President's, or head of the state's, post is mainly ceremonial in a parliamentary setup.

However, the president of the United States of America wields enormous influence and is perhaps the most influential elected politician on the planet.

In practice, presidential powers have extended to encompass authoring legislation, devising a foreign policy, performing personal diplomacy, and managing the president's political party in terms of formal constitutional obligations conferred in the presidency.

The president has to be a USA citizen by birth, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

The president is chosen for a four-year tenure by the people indirectly through the Electoral College system and is restricted to two elected mandates of office.

The president, vice president, and cabinet make up the executive branch of the United States federal government. The executive branch's primary function is to apply and enforce the laws approved by Congress, the U.S. government's legislative branch.

The president is in charge of the executive branch, which includes acting as commander in chief of the army, negotiating treaties, selecting federal judges (particularly Supreme Court judges), diplomats, and cabinet officials, and serving as head of state.

The president appoints the officials of the president's cabinet with the Senate's consent. The twenty-fifth amendment refers to them as 'the key members of the executive departments,' although non-cabinet presidential advisers have a lot of influence.

In addition to this, independent government regulators, governmental bodies, and independent federal branches are part of the executive branch.

Departments Under The Executive Branch

The executive branch is among the three departments of the U.S. government, and it is in charge of enforcing and implementing the country's laws. The executive branch, consisting of the vice president, government agencies, cabinet members, commissions, bureaus, and committees, is led by the president.

The vice president and the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Defense, Health and Human Services, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, Labor, Interior, Transportation, State, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General, make up the executive branch's cabinet. The president appoints cabinet members to lead these departments.

They are in charge of providing advice to the president on subjects that fall within their department's purview.

Executive agencies, independent government commissions, as well as the president's executive office are all part of this branch. These posts assist the president in carrying out the government's obligations.

Apart from White House employees, the president appoints the heads of departments, organizations, and administrative officials, whom the Senate must confirm. Many EOP (Executive Office of the President) jobs, such as the Treasury Department, require Senate approval, while the president employs others.

Duties Of The Executive Branch

The executive branch is in charge of carrying out and enforcing legislation. In addition, citizens of the United States of America have the right to vote for their president and vice president on free and private ballots.

The United States federal government is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Each part of government has its responsibilities and powers, including cooperating with the other components, to ensure that the government is efficient and individuals' rights are maintained.

The president is in charge of the nation. He or she is the president of the United States, the head of the federal government, and the commander in charge of the military of the United States. The president is elected for four years and can only be re-elected once.

He/She can also decide how legislation approved by Congress is handled. They have the option of signing the legislation into law or vetoing it.

A majority of two-thirds or more of the House of Senators and Representatives can overturn a presidential veto. Presidents cannot enact legislation, but they can make executive actions. These serve as guidelines for how Congress's laws are to be implemented.

The vice president is the president's, right-hand man. If the president is unable to function, the vice president takes over.

Even if the president changes, the vice president could be chosen and serve many four-year periods. The vice president's primary duty is to take over as president if the president is incapable of working. They are the Senate president, and if a tie occurs during voting, they have the power to break it.

Cabinet members act as counselors to the president. Vice presidents, chiefs of executive branches, as well as other high-ranking public officials, are among them. The president appoints cabinet members, who must be confirmed by a clear vote of the Senate, 51 votes when all 100 Senators participate.

The executive branch is one of the more active sectors of the United States government, with a lot of daily decision-making involved in the process.

Powers Held By The Executive Branch

A president can ratify the contract with the Senate's approval, reject and sign bills, portray the United States in international negotiations, enforce the laws passed by Congress, serve as Commander-in-Chief during a military conflict, call out forces to defend the United States against a strike, propose new rules, entertainforeign visitors, guidehis political party, grant pardons, recognize various nations, and appoint Cabinet members, as well as Supreme Court justicesand other top officials, choose ambassadors, speak directly to the people regarding concerns, and promote all of the people's best interests.

Every vice president takes a distinct approach to the job; some focus on a specific policy plan, while others merely serve as senior counsel. Nine vice presidents have ascended to the presidency, while five have been selected to the presidency on their own.

The vice president has offices in the West Wing office of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Tower.

Cases involving litigants from various states, cases concerning the application of federal law, and matters concerning the interpretation of the constitution are the three sorts of cases that frequently reach the Supreme Court. As few as six justices participate in deliberation, the court takes formal action.

A democratic majority of the entire court is essential; a tie vote upholds a lower-court ruling.

Except for the Attorney General, who controls the Justice Department, everyone in the Cabinet is referred to as a 'secretary.' The Cabinet not only runs these departments, but also advises the president. The Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Dept. of State Lesson are just a few departments.

The USDA, or United States Department of Agriculture, is in charge of agricultural, food security, and farmland protection. The Commerce Department is responsible for overseeing and promoting the United States' economy, including issuing copyrights and trademarks, helping trade contracts with other countries, and promoting business and technology.

The military is overseen by the Department of Defense (DOD), which comprises the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It is the most important department. Finally, the Education Department is in charge of education and ensures that it is accessible.

FAQs

What are three facts about the executive branch?

The authority to reject or put into law legislation passed by Congress, the power to appoint federal posts like federal judges, the negotiating power of international treaties, as well as the ability to issue pardons for offenses are three facts of the executive branch.

What are some important things about the executive branch?

The executive branch is in charge of diplomacy with other countries, and the president has the authority to negotiate and make agreements that the Senate must ratify. In addition, the president can issue executive orders to direct chief executives or clarify existing legislation.

Other key powers include the capacity to sign or veto legislation passed by Congress, the authority to select judges, the negotiating power for international agreements, and the power to issue clemency for crimes.

What are the three main examples of the executive branch?

The power of the president, vice president, as well as the president's cabinet, are all instances of executive branch authority.

How does the executive branch affect our daily lives?

The president leads the executive branch of government, which is in charge of enforcing the country's laws. He/she also impacts people's lives through judicial appointments to positions ranging from the lower courts to the Supreme Court.

He/she also has the authority to make executive orders. The executive branch is in charge of making laws and appointing the leaders of federal agencies and the Cabinet. The federal agencies and Cabinet are in charge of enforcing laws daily.

How has the executive branch grown?

Since the passage of the constitution, the executive branch has undergone significant changes. Constitutional modifications have resulted in numerous changes.

The president's power has grown considerably, not because of alterations in the constitution, but because of America's development as a country, its emergence as a significant player in global politics, the growth of the federal government, and specific acts of regulations that have given the president new powers.

Why is the executive branch more powerful than the legislative branch?

The legislature has the authority to approve all government expenditures. The executive branch is not bound by the decisions of the Standing Committee, Parliamentary Committee, or Public Accounts Committee.

It is up to the executive to accept or decline it. The president has more leeway in making judgments.

It makes it simpler for the president to use his authority, implying that the executive branch is more powerful than the legislative body. The presidency comes with a slew of new tools for circumventing the legislative branch's control over the executive branch.

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

The president of the United States of America, who simultaneously serves as Chief of State and the armed forces, wields executive power. He/she is capable of carrying out and enforcing the laws passed by Congress, according to the Constitution's Article II.

Why was the executive branch created?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Executive Office of the President (EOP) in 1939 to give the president the assistance he or she needed to rule successfully. The executive department of the government is in charge of ensuring that the rules and regulations of the United States of America are followed.

Independent agencies also assist the government in carrying out decisions and providing specialized services. The legislative branch creates rules, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch analyzes laws; therefore, each unit is substantial.

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Written by Devangana Rathore

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana Rathore picture

Devangana RathoreBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana is a highly accomplished content writer and a deep thinker with a Master's degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. With a wealth of experience in copywriting, she has worked with The Career Coach in Dublin and is constantly looking to enhance her skills through online courses from some of the world's leading universities. Devangana has a strong background in computer science and is also an accomplished editor and social media manager. Her leadership skills were honed during her time as the literacy society president and student president at the University of Delhi.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

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Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

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