The Fifteen Executive Departments
The Fifteen Executive Departments
Executive Branch
Department of State (1789)
Principal Functions:Advises the President on foreign policyNegotiates agreements with foreign countriesRepresents the US abroad and in international organizations
Important Agencies:Foreign ServiceBureau of Diplomatic SecurityBureau of International Organization Affairs
Department of Treasury (1789)
Principal Functions:Produces coins and billsCollects taxesBorrows money and manages public debt
Important Agencies:Internal Revenue Service (IRS)Bureau of the Public DebtUnited States Mint
Department of Defense (1789)
Principal Functions:Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security
Important Agencies:Joint Chiefs of StaffDepartments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force
Department of Justice (1870)
Principal Functions:Prosecute those accused of violating federal lawEnforces federal lawsOperates federal prisonsProvides legal advice to the PresidentRepresents the US in court
Important Agencies:Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
US Marshals Service
Department of Interior (1849)
Principal Functions:Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parksOperates hydroelectric power plantsHelps Native Americans manage their affairs
Important Agencies:US Fish and Wildlife ServicesNational Park ServiceBureau of Indian Affairs
Department of Agriculture (1889)
Principal Functions:Manages national forestsInspects foodAssists farmers and ranchersAdministers food stamp and school lunch programs
Important Agencies:Agricultural Research ServiceFood and Nutrition ServiceForest Service
Department of Commerce (1903)
Principal Functions:Conducts censusGrants patents and registers trademarks
Promotes internal trade, economic growth, and technological development
Important Agencies:Bureau of the CensusPatent and Trademark Office International Trade Administration
Department of Labor (1913)
Principal Functions:Enforces federal laws on minimum wages, maximum hours and safe working conditionsOperates job training programsAdministers unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation programs
Important Agencies:Employment Standards Administration
Bureau of Labor StatisticsWomen’s Bureau
Department of Health and Human Services (1953)
Principal Functions:Funds healthcare research programsConducts programs to prevent and control diseaseEnforces pure food and drug lawsAdministers Medicare and Medicaid
Important Agencies:Food and Drug Administration (FDA)National Institutes of HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965)
Principal Functions:Operates home-financing and public housing programsEnforces fair housing laws
Important Agencies:Office of HousingOffice of Fair Housing and Equal OpportunityGovernment National Mortgage Association
Department of Transportation (1967)
Principal Functions:Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads, waterways, air travel, and oil and gas pipelines
Important Agencies:Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationFederal Railroad AdministrationMaritime Administration
Department of Energy (1977)
Principal Functions:Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energyTransmits and sells hydroelectric powerConducts nuclear weapons research and production
Important Agencies:Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology
Regional Power Administration
Department of Education (1979)
Principal Functions:Administers federal aid to schoolsConducts educational research
Important Agencies:Office of Elementary and
Secondary EducationOffice of Postsecondary
Education
Department of Veterans Affairs (1988)
Principal Functions:Administers benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans of the armed forcesOversees military cemeteries
Important AgenciesVeterans Benefits AdministrationVeterans Health AdministrationNational Cemetery Administration
Department of Homeland Security (2002)
Principal Functions:Border and transportation securityEmergency preparedness and responseChemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defenseInformation analysis and infrastructure protection
Important Agencies:Coast GuardSecret ServiceUS Citizenship and Immigration ServicesUS Immigration and Customs Enforcement