Cabinet Departments + Midpoint Review (Unit 6)

Department of State

Chief executive-branch department responsible for formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.

Department of Treasury

Collects taxes, prints money, deals with the nation's finances

Department of Defense

Cabinet-level agency in charge of the armed forces and military policy. HQ = The Pentagon.

Department of Labor

Deals with working conditions, wages of U.S. workers

Department of Justice

Federal department responsible for enforcing federal laws (includes FBI, Civil Rights Division, Antitrust Division, Drug Enforcement Administration...)

Department of the Interior

Manages and protects the nations public lands and natural resources

Department of Agriculture

the federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)

Department of Commerce

Supervises trade and promotes U.S. businesses

Department of Health and Human Services

Gives services for Americans' health and basic needs

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

This department works on national housing needs. It helps poorer families to buy homes.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

U.S. federal government body with primary responsibility for transportation safety regulation

Department of Energy (DOE)

A U.S. government agency created in 1977 with the goal of advancing the energy and economic security of the United States.

Department of Education (DOE)

Government agency created to help states establish effective school systems.

Department of Veterans Affairs

This department administers benefit programs for our veterans.

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts

Formal Powers of the President

- Things said in the constitution; direct
- head of state
- chief diplomat
- veto
- pardon

Informal Powers of the President

The power to go public, power of persuasion, make executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, create & use bureaucracy, personality and leadership, and make legislative proposals.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A mini-bureaucracy created in 1939 to help the president oversee the executive branch bureaucracy.

Requirements to be President

35 years old, natural-born citizen, US resident for 14 years

Requirements to be NC Governor

30 Years old, 5 years a citizen, live in state for at least 2 years before election

Executive Agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Signing Statement

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.

State of the Union

A yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation's condition and recommending programs and policies

Article II

Establishes the Executive Branch

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials (day to day operations of the government)

20th Amendment

"Lame-duck" Amendment

12th Amendment

separation of votes for President and Vice President

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

25th Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve