1. Why would you want to be president?
Why would you not want to be president?
2. Who does the president represent?
 Today I will analyze
the executive branch
of the US government
by understanding the
roles of the president
and how the executive
branch is organized.
 Fifteen cabinet departments
 Secretaries appointed by president.
 Almost always approved by Senate but may
withdraw before vote
 What should the president look for when he
appoints a department secretary?
 Vice President of the US
Joseph R. Biden
 Department of State
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Department of the Treasury
Secretary Timothy F. Geithner
Department of Defense
Secretary Leon E. Panetta
Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Department of the Interior
Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar
Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Department of Commerce
Acting Secretary Rebecca Blank
Department of Labor
Secretary Hilda L. Solis
Department of Health and
Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
Department of Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood
Department of Energy
Secretary Steven Chu
Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
Department of Homeland
Security
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
The oldest and newest
departments?
 Experience
 Geography
 Race
 Gender
 Interest groups
 Political Party
 Which do you feel is the most important?
 Where in the US would these department
secretaries most likely come from?
 Secretary of the Interior
 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
 Secretary of Agriculture
 With whom would
these department
secretaries most likely
have close ties?
 Secretary of Commerce
 Secretary of Labor
 Secretary of Treasury
 Secretary of Veterans’
Affairs
 Secretary of Defense
 Needs no congressional approval
 Cannot violate other laws
 Cannot violate Constitution
E
x
O
e
r
c
d
u
e
t
r
i
s
v Why are executive orders considered
e controversial?
 Which are the most important departments?
 State, Defense, Treasury and Justice- Why?
 CIA
 EPA
 NASA
 FCC
 Consumer Product
Safety
Commission
 Postal Service
 Amtrak
 Great benefits and security
 GS-1 to GS-15
 Sometimes inefficient and incompetent
 Complete Study Guide Packet pgs. 211-243