executive branch
White House apparatus
The executive branch is the part of government responsible for enforcing laws and administering public policy.
In the United States, it comprises the president, vice president, cabinet departments, and federal agencies.
The term distinguishes this arm from the legislative branch (which makes laws) and the judicial branch (which interprets them): The executive branch issued new regulations on emissions.
President's formal workspace
- POTUSAmerican head of state, abbreviated
- White HouseOfficial presidential residence
- West WingPresidential office area
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
inauguration · State of the Union · Air Force One · Camp David · veto · term · reelection · impeachment
Power to act
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- secretaryAdministrative office aide
- undersecretaryDeputy to department head
commissioner · director · civil service · federal workforce · administration · regulatory agency · State Department · Pentagon
Official refusal to approve
- appointmentScheduled time for something
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- treaty negotiationFormal interstate agreement process
- emergency powersExpanded governmental authority during crises
proclamation · commutation · diplomatic recognition · recess appointment · impoundment
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- CongressU.S. lawmaking body
oversight · impeachment · confirmation · advice and consent · enumerated powers · veto override · judicial review
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- DEAFederal narcotics agency
- ATFFirearms oversight agency
- Secret ServiceFederal protective law enforcement
Coast Guard · TSA · Homeland Security · ICE · SEC · Justice Department · federal agents · investigation
Oval Office
President's formal workspace
- POTUSAmerican head of state, abbreviated
- White HouseOfficial presidential residence
- West WingPresidential office area
cabinet · inauguration · State of the Union · Air Force One · Camp David · veto · term · reelection · impeachment · succession
agency
Power to act
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- secretaryAdministrative office aide
undersecretary · commissioner · director · civil service · federal workforce · administration · regulatory agency · State Department · Pentagon · Interior
veto
Official refusal to approve
- appointmentScheduled time for something
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- treaty negotiationFormal interstate agreement process
emergency powers · proclamation · commutation · diplomatic recognition · recess appointment · impoundment
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
Congress · oversight · impeachment · confirmation · advice and consent · enumerated powers · veto override · judicial review
FBI
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
Secret Service · Coast Guard · TSA · Homeland Security · ICE · SEC · Justice Department · federal agents · investigation · compliance
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- governmentgovernment, ministries, legislature, judiciary, ministry
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- U.S. PoliticsCongress, senator, representative, president, vice president
- US GovernmentCongress, House, Senate, presidency, checks and balances
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
executive branchlegislative branch
Government's lawmaking arm
legislature · judicial branch · judiciary · Congress · Supreme Court
executive branchlegislature
Lawmaking governmental branch
committee · assembly · parliamentary system · direct democracy
branch, executive, execution, execute, executed, executives, executing, executor, executes