Cabinet Departments and Independent Agencies

Department of State

makes US Foreign Policy

represents the United States to the United Nations (UN) and to more than 180 other countries through its network of ambassadors and civilian Foreign Service employees who work at embassies and consulates around the world

provides aid to other countries

Department of Treasury

manages the monetary resources of the country

U.S. Mint- manufactures coins

Bureau of Engraving and Printing- produces paper money

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)- collects taxes (BIGGEST AGENCY)

makes payments to the public, borrows money for federal gov, protects economy from foreign threats or economic crises.

number of departments and their leaders

15 departments

led by “Secretaries”

EXCEPT for Department of Justice, which has an “Attorney General”

Departments have a second-in-command “deputy secretary/undersecretary”

Department of the Interior

protects natural resources

maintains national parks and dams/reservoirs

issues recreation permits

helps indigenous populations

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

develops and executes policy on farming, agriculture, and food

17 agencies

• support farmers and ranchers,

• protect our national forests,

• promote agricultural trade,

• assure food safety,

• provide nutrition assistance and programs to end hunger in America and abroad.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

enforces laws that

• protect public safety,

• reduce crime

• punish people who break laws

• enforce civil rights

• ensure justice

includes

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• U.S. Marshals

• Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Civil Rights Division

Head is Attorney General

Department of Commerce

supports the economy by developing and executing policies to promote American businesses and industries

promotes exports and enforces international trade agreements

issues patents and trademarks

administers the census

monitors ocean/weather data

Department of Labor

protect and improve the productivity of workers

runs programs to

• address job training,

• minimum hourly wage and overtime pay,

• employment discrimination

• unemployment insurance

protects retirement benefits

helps unions

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Department of Defense (DOD)

protects the security of our country

consists of

• U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Air Force

• Joint Chiefs of Staff

• 17 defense agencies

workers are

• millions of active duty personnel,

• hundreds of thousands of civilian employees,

• over a million people who serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces

involved in efforts to deter war, assist in disasters, and provide humanitarian aid.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

protects public health, provides social services to those least able to support themselves.

administers Medicare and Medicaid

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Public Health Service

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

address America’s housing needs,

improve and develop the nation’s communities

enforce fair housing laws.

helps home ownership thru mortgage and loan insurance programs

houses the homeless

Department of Transportation (DOT)

oversee the nation’s mass transit systems, railroads, bridges, and waterways

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

• improves driver and pedestrian safety, reduces distracted/drunk driving

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates air travel and works to ensure air safety.

Department of Energy (DOE)

funds innovation in science and engineering

promotes clean energy

increases US energy independence

oversees nuclear energy and weapons

Department of Education

provides assistance to public and private schools,

collects data from schools,

distributes research results,

administers federal financial aid programs

ensures STUDENT EQUALITY

Veterans Affairs (VA)

benefit programs for veterans and their families and survivors

include

• pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

protects against terrorism

administers immigration laws and responds to national disasters

includes

U.S. Customs and Border Protection,

U.S. Coast Guard,

U.S. Secret Service,

Transportation Security Administration (TSA),

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Independent Agencies

over 100

independent organizations that are not part of the executive departments

examples

• NASA

• CIA

• General Services Administration (GSA)

  • responsible for constructing and maintaining all government buildings and supplying equipment for federal offices

Government Corporations

60

organized somewhat like private businesses

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

  • builds and maintains DAMS and supplies electric power for an eight-state area.

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

  • insures bank accounts up to a certain amount.

• AMTRAK

  • runs passenger rail service.

• The United States Postal Service (USPS)

Regulatory Commissions

make rules and regulations

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

  • regulates interstate and international communication by television, cable, radio, satellite, and wire.

• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • enforces consumer protection laws. The FTC investigates claims of unfair or deceptive sales practices.

• The Federal Election Commission (FEC)

  • enforces campaign financing laws for all federal elections.