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Executive Department and Independent Agencies

Executive Department and Independent Agencies. Learning Objectives Explain the background and history of the executive departments Identify and describe the responsibilities of the 14 executive departments Explain the background and history of the independent agencies

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Executive Department and Independent Agencies

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  1. Executive Department and Independent Agencies Learning Objectives • Explain the background and history of the executive departments • Identify and describe the responsibilities of the 14 executive departments • Explain the background and history of the independent agencies • Identify and describe the responsibilities of some key independent agencies.

  2. Words to Know • Embassy – the office and official home of a country’s ambassador • Consulate – the official home of a consul; a consul is a government official sent to a foreign country to protect the home country’s business interest and its citizens • Customs duty – a government tax on imported goods • Enforce – to make someone at something obey a rule or law

  3. Words to Know (con’t.) • Immigration – the act of entering and settling in a country not of one’s birth • Conservation – the act of keeping the natural environment safe and protected • Patent – the official right given to an inventor to make or sell an invention for a certain time without being copies • Administer – to manage or have charge of

  4. Words to Know (con’t.) • Veteran – a person who has served in the country’s armed forces • Independent agency – a government body or group that is free from control of the three branches of government • Regulate – to control by rule or method • Commerce – any trade or business activity

  5. Words to Know (con’t.) • Civilian – not involving the armed forces • Bureaucracy – a large government organization made up of many offices and bureaus

  6. The Beginnings of the Executive Departments • In 1789, the first Congress set up 3 executive departments a.) State b.) Treasury c.) War • The position of Attorney General was also created then

  7. Federal government work has increased over the years • Congress has added new departments • Today there are 14 executive departments * see handout

  8. Organization and Duties • Each head of the department is called the Secretary • In the Justice Department the head is call the Attorney General • The head of departments are appointed by the President and have to be approved by Senate

  9. They are all members of the President’s Cabinet • They have many jobs a. report on activities b. carry out the President’s policies c. testify before Congress d. seek money from budget committee e. ask for support for new programs

  10. Each department has a top assistant called a. under secretary or b. deputy secretary • They also have assistant secretaries • The deputies and assistants are also appointed by President and approved by Senate

  11. Within each executive department there are many smaller agencies call a. bureaus b. offices c. services or d. divisions • The main office is in DC • Others spread across the country for people to have easier access.

  12. Department of State • Established 1789 • Responsibilities a. Serves as Presidents right arm in foreign relations b. Advises President on foreign policy c. manages embassies and consulates around the world

  13. Major Agencies a. Bureau of European Affairs b. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs c. Bureau of Consular Affairs

  14. Department of Treasury • Established 1789 • Responsibilities a. Collects taxes and custom duties b. Borrows and repays money for federal government c. Prints money and coins d. Manages banks

  15. Major Agencies a. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) b. US Custom Service c. US Secret Service

  16. Department of Interior • Established 1849 • Responsibilities a. Manages 500 million acres of public land b. Manages national parks and American Indian Reservations c. Plans conservation, development and use of natural and wildlife

  17. Major Agencies a. Bureau of Land Management b. National Park Service c. Bureau of Indian Affairs

  18. Department of Justice • Established 1870 • Responsibilities a. Gives legal advice to President b. Represents United States in court c. Enforces federal criminal laws, civil rights, antitrust, and immigration laws d. Manages federal prison system

  19. Major Agencies a. FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) b. Civil Rights Division c. Immigration and Naturalization d. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)

  20. Department of Agriculture • Established 1889 • Responsibilities a. Helps farmers plan and use farming methods b. Inspects and grades meat, poultry, and dairy c. Run school lunch programs for low-income families

  21. Major Agencies a. FHA (Farmers Home Administration) b. Food and Safety Inspection Service c. Agricultural Research Service

  22. Department of Commerce • Established 1913 • Responsibilities a. Promotes trade between US and other countries b. Help grow economy c. Does US census d. Issues patents

  23. Major Agencies a. International Trade Administration b. Bureau of Census c. Patent and Trademark Office d. National Weather Service

  24. Department of Labor • Established 1916 • Responsibilities a. Enforces federal labor laws b. Provides benefits to workers and the unemployed c. Set health and safety standards

  25. Major Agencies a. Employment and Training Administration b. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) c. Bureau of Labor Statistics

  26. Department of Defense • Established 1949 • Responsibilities a. Controls nation’s armed forces b. Advises President on all military and National Security c. Supervises improvement of nation’s rivers and harbors

  27. Major Agencies a. Department of Army b. Department of Navy c. Department of Air Force d. Army Corps of Engineers

  28. Department of Housing and Urban Development • Established 1965 • Responsibilities a. Helps US cities in area of housing b. Gives financial aid to cities to repair buildings c. Helps local governments repair water and sewer systems and fight air pollution

  29. Major Agencies a. HUD – directed by assistant secretaries+ 1. Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development 2. Assistant Secretary for Housing 3. Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing

  30. Department of Transportation • Established 1966 • Responsibilities a. Enforces law on air, sea, rail, and highway safety b. Maintains highways and railways c. Provides financial help to state and local governments to build and develop bus and railway systems

  31. Major Agencies a. Federal Aviation Association b. US Coast Guard c. Federal Highway Administration d. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  32. Department of Energy • Established 1977 • Responsibilities a. To find, protect, and conserve the country’s sources of energy b. Regulates the use of nuclear power

  33. Major Agencies – Programs administered by assistant secretaries a. Conservation and Renewable Energy b. Defense Programs c. Nuclear Energy

  34. Department of Education • Established 1979 • Responsibilities a. Provides financial help for all levels of education b. Administers programs for grades K-12 and colleges c. Provides aid for programs for handicapped, disadvantaged, and gifted students d. Publishes information and statistics about schools

  35. Major Agencies – Programs administered by assistant secretaries a. Elementary and Secondary Education b. Special Education and Rehabilitative Services c. Education Research and Improvement

  36. Department of Health and Human Services • Established 1979 • Responsibilities a. Manages health and welfare programs for all Americans b. Provides social security c. Provides aid to handicapped people d. Conducts medical research

  37. Major Agencies a. Social Security Administration b. Health Care Financing Administration c. Public Health Service

  38. Department of Veterans Affairs • Established 1988 • Responsibilities a. Operate programs to benefit veterans and their families b. Provides financial help for education, medical care, and home loan purchases

  39. Major Agencies a. Veterans Benefits Administration b. Veterans Health Services and Research Administration c. National Cemetery System

  40. The Independent Agencies and Commissions • The federal government has more than 70 independent agencies • The President appoints the head of these agencies • Senate has to approve these appointments and budgets for agencies

  41. Environmental Protection Agency • Established 1970 • Responsibilities a. to protect the country’s environment b. enforces the laws that to keep our air and water clean from pollution

  42. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • Established 1958 • Responsibilities a. in charge of America’s space program b. puts satellites and rockets into orbit c. space shuttle program d. makes contributions to industry and medicine

  43. United States Postal Service • Established 1971 • Responsibilities a. runs the nations mail system b. Postmaster General is head of the service

  44. ACTION • Established 1971 • Responsibilities a. an “umbrella agency” b. Peace Corps 1. set up in 1961 2. help develop relations between US and countries 3. trains volunteers as teachers, farmers, engineers, and other jobs

  45. c. VISTA 1. Volunteers in Service to America 2. helps needy people in the US

  46. Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) • Established 1887 • Responsibilities a. regulates all commerce carried between states b. issues licenses for companies to operate c. set rates they charge d. sets safety rules

  47. Federal Trade Commission • Established 1914 • Responsibilities a. prevents unfair trading practices in business b. enforces laws against price fixing, false labeling, and untrue claims in advertising c. checks products for safety before they are put on market

  48. Federal Communication Commission • Established 1914 • Responsibilities a. regulates all radio and television stations b. makes sure stations have licenses c. decides who can use the communication satellites d. regulates telephone and telegraph rates

  49. Consumer Product Safety Commission • Established 1972 • Responsibilities a. protects consumers from unsafe products that can cause illness, death, or injury

  50. b. sets and enforces safety standards c. regulates standards for appliances, baby clothes, sports equipment, and toys

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