Executive Departments of the executive branch

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Executive Departments of the executive branch

Department of State : Passport and Visa Office, Foreign Service, Bureau of African Affairs

Oldest, most prestigious, advises President on Foreign Policy, represents the U.S. abroad

Department of the Treasury : Customs Service, IRS, Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Produces coins and bills, enforces alcohol, tobacco, and firearms laws, collects taxes, borrows money

Defense Department : Department of the Navy, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Provide military forces, largest department, approximately 14 million in uniform and 670,000 civilians

Justice Department : Antitrust Division, Civil Rights Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI

Prosecute the accused, enforce federal law

Department of the Interior : Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service

Manage public lands, wildlife refugee, national parts, operate hydro-electric power plants

Department of Agriculture : Forest Service, Food Safety & Inspection Service, Soil Conservation

Service

Inspect food, assist farmers

Commerce Department : National Bureau of Standards, Bureau of Census, Patent & Trademarks

Office

Conduct census, patents and trademarks

Department of Labor : Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Enforce minimum wage, maximum hours, and safe working conditions

Department of Health and Human Services : Social Security, Public Health Services

Funds healthcare, enforces food laws, largest budget – ¼ of all federal spending

Department of Housing and Urban Development : Agency for Community Planning and

Development

Department of Transportation : Federal Aviation Admin., National Highway Traffic Safety Admin.

Programs to promote highways, mass transit, railroads, air travel, and gas pipelines

Department of Energy : Environment Protection Agency, Fossil Energy

Promotes production of renewable energy

Department of Education : Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education

Administers federal aid to schools

Department of Homeland Security : Secret Service, Coast Guard, Parts of FBI and FEMA

Newest department (created in 2002), border and transportation security, emergency preparedness

Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Administers benefits, pensions, and medical programs

DEPARTMENT

Year

Created

Agriculture 1889

Commerce 1903

Major Functions/Responsibilities

Oversees national forests & conservation efforts, responsible for safety of meat, poultry, and egg products, and attempts to provide open foreign markets for American agricultural products.

“…To foster, serve, and promote the Nation’s economic development and technological development.”

Defense 1947 Manages the nation’s military and headquartered at the Pentagon.

Education

Energy

Health &

Human

Services

Homeland

Security

Housing &

Urban

Development

1979

1977

1953

2002

1965

Manages federal student aid programs, monitors academic performance nationwide, and administers federal education legislation like No Child Left Behind Act.

Manages the nation’s nuclear weapons and energy, develops energy policies, and conducts energy research.

Conducts health research, manages efforts to prevent disease, manages Medicare and Medicaid, and pursues efforts to remedy societal ills like drug abuse and child abuse.

Oversees a wide range of federal agencies to help them coordinate plans to confront national emergencies and threats to national security.

Strives to increase domestic homeownership and improve access to affordable housing free of discrimination.

Interior

Justice

Labor

State

1849

Manages conservation efforts, national parks, and environmental protection.

1870

1913

1789

Enforces federal laws by taking offenders to court, investigates and detains offenders through the FBI.

Looks out for “job seekers, wage earners, and retirees” by administering federal labor laws and providing services like connecting potential employers to unemployed workers.

Chief engine of American diplomacy in executive branch, also manages American travel overseas.

Transportation 1966

Manages national transportation infrastructure like highways, air traffic, and railways.

Treasury 1789

Manages federal finances, collects taxes, produces stamps, and provides government advice on matters of economic policy.

Veterans

Affairs

1988

Provides for the healthcare, benefits, and memorial service needs of veterans.

Directions:

For each statement, identify the name of the executive department that has responsibility for the individual’s concern.

1.

Mr. Oswald formed a coalition of coal mine operators to protest discontinuation of coal experiments as a basis for obtaining cheap fuel.

2.

Mora and Tony organized a group of young people to pressure this department to support their demands for a higher minimum wage. f

3.

Mr. Owens recently received a tax refund from this department. f

4.

Adam and Karen organized the students at their respective universities to protest recent reductions in financial aid to institutions of higher learning. f

5.

Mr. Adams, after rescuing a railroad from bankruptcy and making it profitable, new seeks to sell it in the private sector. f

6.

A coalition of Native American spokespersons appealed to this department for assistance in improving public health services on Indian reservations. f

7.

Joyce appealed to this department for a visa to Poland. f

8.

Mrs. Smith asked this dept. to check a local food processor for improperly graded meats. f

9.

Mr. Brennan asked a bureau of this department to check on a neighbor for housing a criminal. f

10.

Sarah Jones applied to this department for a patent on a new type of hair curler. f

11.

Dr. Johanni asked this department to investigate an epidemic of skin rashes in the area. f

12.

The Ohio Shipbuilding Corporation asked this department to investigate the possibilities of enlarging the St. Lawrence Seaway. f

13.

Secretary Hall sought the release of American hostages being held by Iraqi terrorists. f

14.

President Reagan used this department to protect American interests in Grenada. f

15.

During the 1960s, blacks asked a division of this department for help with voter registration problems.

16.

The mayor of Houston announced the city’s receipt of a block grant to rehabilitate declining neighborhoods. f

17.

Mr. Black received advice from this department on the best methods of maintaining ground moisture in the semi-arid region of Alliance, Nebraska. f

18.

Mr. Moxley wrote to this department for information about camping in the national park system. f

19.

Mr. and Mrs. Dare were distraught by this department’s announced intention to reduce their retirement income. f f

20.

Every ten years a representative from this department has visited Mr. Scofield for the purpose of counting him and his family in the census.

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