The executive branches makes sure the laws passed by Congress are executed and enforces the laws. 

The branch is made up of the President, Vice President, Cabinet, executive departments and the federal agencies. 

The President

The President is the head of state in the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the military. 

Under Article II of the Constitution the President is charged with “executing” and enforcing the laws, as passed by Congress. The President signs legislation into law or “vetos” bills, although Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses. 

The President also appoints the heads of federal agencies judges, and ambassadors, as well as justices of the US Supreme Court. 

The Executive branch is also charged with conducting diplomacy with other countries, including negotiating and signing treaties (which are then ratified by Congress). 

The President also has the ability to issue executive orders, which direct officers of the executive branch or clarify existing laws. Executive orders can be repealed by future presidents. 

More details about the powers of the President are provided in Article II of the Constitution.

Books

Here is a sample of the materials related to the Presidency in our catalog. For more, search our library. 

Web Resources

The Vice President

The Vice President becomes President if the elected President is unable to perform his duties following death, resignation or temporary incapacitation. Today the Vice President is elected with the President, but prior to the 12th Amendment the Electoral College voted only for President, and the candidate with the second highest number of votes became Vice President. 

The Vice President also has the ability to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie in the United States Senate. 

Books

Here is a sample of the materials related to the Vice Presidency in our catalog. For more, search our library. 

Web Resources

The Electoral College

While not a part of the Executive Branch, the Electoral College is important in understanding how our Presidential elections work. 

From the National Archives (archives.gov): “The Electoral College is a process, not a place. The founding fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The Electoral College process consists of the selection of the electors, the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress.”

There are 538 electors, a majority (270) of which is required to elect the president. Your state is allocated electors equal to the number of members of Congress your state has (Senators and House of Representative members). The District of Columbia has three electors. When you vote in the election, you’re actually voting for your candidates electors. 

For more about the Electoral  College, see the National Archives.

Books

Here is a sample of the materials related to the Electoral College in our catalog. For more, search our library. 

Web Resources

The Cabinet

The Cabinet is an advisory council made up of the heads of 15 Executive Departments and was established in Article II of the Constitution.

Executive Departments

  • Department of Agriculture (USDA) – from their General Information page: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who serve the American people at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad. We have a vision to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.” 
  • Department of Commerce – from the About Commerce page: “The Department of Commerce’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Through its 13 bureaus, the Department works to drive U.S. economic competitiveness, strengthen domestic industry, and spur the growth of quality jobs in all communities across the country. The Department serves as the voice of business in the Federal Government, and at the same time, the Department touches and serves every American every day.”
  • Department of Defense – from the About page: “The Department of Defense is America’s largest government agency. With our military tracing its roots back to pre-Revolutionary times, the department has grown and evolved with our nation. Our mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.”
  • Department of Education – the agency’s About Us page states: “The mission of the Department of Education (ED) is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages.”
  • Department of Energy – from their History page: “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has one of the richest and most diverse histories in the federal government. Although only in existence since 1977, the Department traces its lineage to the Manhattan Project effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II and to the various energy-related programs that previously had been dispersed throughout various federal agencies.” 
  • Department of Health & Human Services – the About HHS page states: “The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.”
  • Department of Homeland Security – the Agency’s stated Mission is: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its homeland security mission are born from the commitment and resolve of Americans across the United States in the wake of the September 11th attacks. In those darkest hours, we witnessed true heroism, self-sacrifice, and unified resolve against evil. We rallied together for our common defense, and we pledged to stand united against the threats attacking our great Nation, fellow Americans, and way of life. Together, we are committed to relentless resilience, striving to prevent future attacks against the United States and our allies, responding decisively to natural and man-made disasters, and advancing American prosperity and economic security long into the future.”
  • Department of the Interior – from the Agency’s About Interior page: “The U.S. Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities.”
  • Department of Justice – from About DOJ: “The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.”
  • Department of Labor – the About Us page states the overarching Agency mission as: “To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights..”
  • Department of the Treasury – from the Role of the Treasury page: “The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s mission is to maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad, strengthen national security by combating threats and protecting the integrity of the financial system, and manage the U.S. Government’s finances and resources effectively.”
  • Department of Veteran’s Affairs – from About the Department on the Agency’s official site: “Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

Executive Office of the President

Created in 1939 by Franklin Roosevelt, the Executive Office of the President contains important advisors to the President. Senate confirmation is required some staff, but not all. Among others, the EOP houses the White House Communications Office and the Press Secretary, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. 

For more, see the Executive Office of the President’s official page.

Web Resources

Other Major Federal Agencies

There are many other agencies you may be interested in that are involved in the Executive Branch.

Additional Agencies

Additional Resources

Databases

Related Guides

Disclaimer

This guide is intended to give a general overview of the Constitution and our system of government, as well as some historical information. It may not contain the most up to date legal information and should not be considered legal advice. For help with up to date legal research email us at refdesk@clarkson.edu. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.