Executive Department
Worksheet
A (hopefully) helpful guide!
Some Instructions
• All names are important, but the ones that are
in ALL CAPITALS are essential to know.
• All cabinet departments must be memorized.
• Write down all agencies, bureaus, etc… If the
agency is underlined, learn it and learn what
cabinet department it’s in! If an acronym is
provided, write it down (and LEARN IT, if it is
underlined).
Remember, the Exec. Branch has 3 main
parts: Office of the President, Cabinet Depts.
and Independent agencies, etc… (see p. 282)
• This lesson is ONLY
on the 15 Cabinet
Departments and the
major agencies,
bureaus, departments,
offices, etc… in each.
Department of State
• The U. S. State department is
America’s Foreign Affairs
department.
• The first Secretary of State (for
President George Washington) was
Thomas Jefferson.
• Passports and visas, welcoming
and sending diplomats, and foreign
aid are a few of the State Dept.’s
responsibilities.
Secretary of State
• The current Secretary of
State is JOHN KERRY.
• Secretary Kerry is a
former decorated Vietnam
War veteran, U.S. Senator
from Massachusetts, and
Democratic nominee for
President in 2004.
• The Secretary of State is
5th in line for the
Presidency.
Agencies of the State Department
• The most important office in the State
Department is the Foreign Affairs Office.
• Another important group is the Office of
Protocol - responsible for making sure that
worldwide customs are observed (among
other duties).
The Treasury Department
• The Treasury Department was
(like State) one of the first 3
departments created by George
Washington.
• The first Secretary of the
Treasury was Alexander
Hamilton.
Secretary of Treasury
(NOT “U.S. Treasurer!”)
The current Secretary of
Treasury is JACOB (JACK)
LEW.
Jack Lew has been director of
the OMB and Chief of Staff for
President Obama.
The Secretary of the Treasury is
one of two people whose
signature appears on all
American currency. This may
be a concern due to Mr. Lew’s
unusual signature:
Agencies of the Treasury Department
• Since the Treasury Dept. is responsible for
producing America’s money, two offices are
crucial - the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
(which produces and distributes paper money)
and the U.S. Mint (which produces and
distributes coins).
• Treasury, alas, is also responsible for tax
collection, so the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
falls under its jurisdiction.
Department of Defense
• In Washington’s original cabinet,
this office was the Department
of War.
• Created after WWII - it merged
the Dept. Of War and the Dept.
of the Navy
• All military branches are led by
CIVILIANS.
• The office of the DoD is the
Pentagon.
Secretary of Defense
• The current Secretary
of Defense is CHUCK
HAGEL.
• Secretary Hagel, a
Republican, is a former
Senator from
Nebraska.
• He is a decorated
Vietnam War veteran.
Agencies of the Defense Department
• This is America’s military, so the agencies are:
• Department of the Army (U.S. Army)
• Department of the Air Force (U.S. Air Force USAF)
• Department of the Navy (U.S. Navy AND U.S.
Marine Corps)
• The Coast Guard is NOT in the Defense Dept.
(unless the U.S. is in a DECLARED war).
The Justice Department
• The Justice Department is
America’s Law Enforcement
(including prosecution)
department.
• In recent years, many federal
investigation agencies have
been moved INTO the
Justice Dept.
The Attorney General
• The secretary of the
Department of Justice is
called the Attorney General
of the United States.
• The current Attorney General
is ERIC HOLDER.
• He is the chief federal law
enforcement officer.
• He has announced his
resignation pending
appointment of a
replacement
Agencies of the Justice Department
• In addition to being the department in charge of
federal prosecutions (federal lawyers!), the DoJ
is responsible for many federal investigation
agencies including:
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (BATFE or ATF)
• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
(formerly Drug Enforcement Agency)
Department of the Interior
• The Department of the Interior is
responsible for management of
federal lands and administration of
native peoples’ rights (including
native Hawaiians and Alaska
natives).
• Like the Dept. of Homeland
Security, the DoI was created (in
1849) to streamline and reorganize
“misplaced” agencies such as the
Bureau of Indian Affairs which
moved from the Dept. of War.
The Secretary of the Interior
• The current Secretary
of the Interior is Sally
Jewell.
• Secretary Jewell is the
former CEO of REI.
• She has served on the
National Park
Conservancy Board.
Agencies of the Interior Department
• Management of Public Lands is the primary
responsibility of the DoI, so agencies include:
• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
responsible for millions of publicly owned, but
not otherwise used, land.
• The National Park Service (NPS), responsible
for America’s national parks and monuments.
• The Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Also under DoI administration is tribal affairs
(land, casinos, etc..) under agencies such as the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Department of Agriculture
• The United States
Department of Agriculture
(USDA) is responsible for
things that grow.
• It is also responsible for
MUCH (not all) of the
nation’s food supply
(because crops grow and
cattle grow bigger!)
Secretary of Agriculture
• The current Secretary
of Agriculture is TOM
VILSACK.
• Secretary Vilsack is a
former Governor of
Iowa.
Agencies of the Department of Agriculture
• The USDA is responsible for things that
grow so, as trees grow, the United States
Forest Service (USFS), falls under USDA
administration.
• To protect our nations food supply, the Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is also
administered here.
• You know this - “USDA” stamps and grades
for your meat!
Department of Commerce
• The Commerce Department
is responsible for promoting
job creation and raising the
standard of living.
• It also collects data that can
be used for business (from a
WIDE variety of sources).
Secretary of Commerce
• The current Secretary of
Commerce is Penny
Pritzker.
• Secretary Pritzker is a
Stanford-educated lawyer
from Chicago.
• She is an heir to the Hyatt
(hotel) fortune.
Agencies of the Commerce Department
• Since promoting new ideas is essential to
business, the U.S. Patent Office falls under
Commerce Dept. administration.
• As data collection is important, the Census
Bureau is found here.
• Since climate has a profound affect on
trade, the National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
here as is its more well-known agency, the
National Weather Service (NWS).
Department of Labor
• Originally part of the Commerce
Department, the Department of
Labor was created in the early
20th century to promote the
safety and prosperity of the
American worker.
• The office building that houses
the DoL in Washington is named
for Frances Perkins - the first
female cabinet member (under
FDR).
Secretary of Labor
• The current Secretary of
Labor is Thomas Perez.
• Secretary Perez held a
similar position for the State
of Maryland.
• He also served in the U.S.
Justice Department.
Agencies of the Department of Labor
• Protecting workers from unsafe conditions is a
major role of the DoL, so the FEDERAL
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) office is in this department.
• Analysis of mounds of data on employment is
provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
• Working in cooperation with the Department of
Veteran’s Affairs, the Veterans’ Employment and
Training Service (VETS) is found in THIS dept.
Department of Health and Human Services
• The HHS Dept. included
offices regarding Education
until they split in 1979.
• The Social Security
Administration was in this
Dept. until it became an
independent agency.
• HHS is responsible for the
health and wellbeing of ALL
Americans (not just “Labor”).
Secretary of Health and Human Services
• The current Secretary of
HHS is Sylvia Mathews
Burwell.
• Ms. Burwell is the former
Director of the Office of
Management and Budget
(OMB) and is the former
head of the Walmart
Foundation.
Agencies of the Department of
Health and Human Services
• Most agencies here have to do with public health
and fall under the banner of the Public Health
Service (including the office of the Surgeon
General of the U.S.)
• Specific tasks found here are in such offices as the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
which tracks contagions and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) which approves items for
public sale.
• Also in HHS is the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), a series of agencies that protect and
administer health-related matters.
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
• The Dept of Housing
and Urban
Development (HUD)
is responsible for
federal housing
programs.
• This includes
mortgage lending
agencies.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• The current Secretary of
Housing and Urban
Development is Julian
Castro
• A graduate of Stanford
University and Harvard
Law School, Mr. Castro
returned to his hometown of
San Antonio, Texas and was
elected Mayor.
• His twin brother, Joaquin, is
a Congressman from Texas.
Agencies of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development
• Not surprisingly, the Federal Housing
Administration (FHA) is found here.
• Several lending agencies such as FNMA
(“Fanny Mae”) and “Freddy Mac” are
regulated here and the Government National
Mortgage Administration (GNMA or
“Ginny Mae”) office is here.
Department of Transportation
• Simply put, this department is
responsible for making sure
America MOVES!
• By air, land, or waterway, the
DOT most likely has some
influence.
• Look for the distinctive seal of
the DOT on highway project
signs.
Secretary of Transportation
• The current Secretary of
Transportation is Anthony
Foxx.
• Secretary Foxx is the
former mayor of Charlotte,
North Carolina.
• He has worked in the
Justice Department and for
the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Agencies of the Department of Transportation
• (Almost) ANYTHING to do with
transportation whether it is:
• By land - Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA)
• By sea - Maritime Administration (MARAD)
• By air - Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), which sets policies and ensures aircraft
safety.
• And aid to local transportation systems Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Department of Energy
• The Department of Energy (DOE)
is responsible for research and
development of the nation’s
energy resources.
• Nuclear technology and use
(including waste disposal) is
administered by the DOE.
Secretary of Energy
• The current Secretary of
Energy is Ernest J.
Moniz.
• Dr. Moniz was a nuclear
physicist at MIT.
• He previously served in
the Clinton
administration in both the
EOP and the Dept. of
Energy.
Agencies in the Department of Energy
• Research is major component of the DOE, so the
U.S. Office of Science is found here.
• Nuclear technology is administered (mostly) in the
DOE - especially in the National Nuclear Security
Administration.
• Although most Independent Regulatory
Commissions are just that - independent, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
falls (partly) under DOE administration.
Department of Education
• The Department of Education (or
ED, not DOE - Dept. of Energy) is
the smallest and most controversial
of cabinet offices.
• President Reagan called for
elimination of the ED, citing
federal gov’t. incursion on local
control.
• The primary job of the ED is to
promote and supervise federal
education policies and mandates
(such as “No Child Left Behind”).
Secretary of Education
• The current Secretary of
education is Arne Duncan,
former CEO of the Chicago
City Schools.
• A former Harvard basketball
player, Duncan has played pro
basketball in Australia.
• He is one of President Obama’s
closest friends and, of course,
plays basketball with the
President.
Agencies of the Department of Education
• Policies and guidelines for the nation’s
school districts are found here.
• A key office in implementing President
Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” is the Office
of Elementary and Secondary Education
(OESE)
• School Safety is a key component of the
Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Department of Veterans Affairs
• Originally an independent agency,
the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) - formerly Veterans
Administration - was raised to
cabinet level by President Reagan.
• It is the second largest cabinet
department (after the Defense
Dept.).
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• The current Secretary of
Veterans Affairs is Robert
McDonald
• Secretary McDonald, a
West Point graduate, was
Chairman of the Board of
Proctor and Gamble after
his military career.
• He replaces Eric Shinseki
after the 2014 VA
“scandal.”
Agencies of the Department of
Veterans Affairs
• There are three main divisions (or
Administrations) in the VA:
• Veterans Health Administration - responsible for
operating America’s largest public health service
• Veterans Benefits Administration - providing a
large number of programs for veterans (including
education programs and grants)
• National Cemetery Administration - remember
that national cemeteries are for those who served
the country in the military.
Department of Homeland Security
• Created in 2002 in response to the
9/11 attacks, the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) was
created to increase inter-agency
cooperation and response.
• Dozens of agencies were moved
to the new DHS from other
departments (and from
independent status).
Secretary of Homeland Security
• The current Secretary of
Homeland Security is
JEH JOHNSON.
• An attorney, he has been
General Counsel for the Air
Force (in the 1990s) and
General Counsel for the
Dept. of Defense (under
President Obama).
Agencies of the Department of
Homeland Security (page 1)
• Many agencies were moved to the DHS after its creation
(after 9/11) which concerned our nation’s borders.
• The old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
was reorganized - a major component of this is the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection.
• Although primarily concerned with the results of natural
disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is administered here due to need for response to
man-made crises (such as the 9/11 attacks).
Agencies of the Department of
Homeland Security (page 2)
• Securing entry in the country and security by air
travel is the responsibility of the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA). These are the folks
that inspect you as you enter an airport.
• Securing our maritime borders is the job of the
United States Coast Guard.
• Protection of the President and other high-ranking
American officials is the job of the United States
Secret Service.
“The D.J. chats live” - H
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Treasury
Health and Human Services
Energy
Defense
Justice
Commerce
Housing and Urban Development
Agriculture
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Transportation
State
Labor
Interior
Veterans Affairs
Education
Homeland Security