federal departments
Cabinet-level agencies collectively
Federal departments are the major administrative divisions of the executive branch of a national government, each responsible for a broad area of policy: the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services.
In the United States, department heads—called secretaries—serve in the president's cabinet.
The term distinguishes these large agencies from smaller bureaus, offices, and independent agencies.
- executive branchGovernment's implementing arm
- civil serviceGovernment's administrative workforce
- big governmentExpansive, powerful state apparatus
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
- red tapeBureaucratic obstacles to action
paper pushers · cabinet · legislative oversight · congressional hearing · executive orders · housing authority · regulatory agencies · alphabet soup · government accountability · arts council · fiscal policy · aviation authority · intelligence agency · unemployment office · monetary policy · budget office · diplomatic corps · veterans affairs
- Cabinetcabinet ministers, cabinet member, cabinet secretary, cabinet position, cabinet meetings
- Swiss politicsdirect democracy, cantons, referendums, initiatives, popular vote
- ministriesfinance ministry, health ministry, foreign ministry, education ministry, defense ministry
federal departmentsstate agencies
Official public service organizations
county offices · city departments · regional authorities · state governments · state government
federal departmentsprivate corporations
Businesses not publicly traded
private sector · private companies · private enterprise · multinational corporations · small businesses
federal departmentsad hoc committees
Purpose-specific temporary bodies
grassroots movements · grassroots organizations · volunteer organizations · volunteer groups · community groups
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