USG.3.6

=**Explain the functions of departments or agencies of the executive branch in the governments of the United States and the state of Massachusett**s. =

** Topics on the Page **

 * The Executive Branch **
 * The President **
 * Women in the Executive Branch **
 * Presidential Vetoes **
 * The President's Cabinet **
 * Federal Agencies **
 * ===The FBI in American Politics===
 * ===Surveillance and the National Security Agency===


 * Executive Departments of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts **
 * Massachusetts Executive Officeholders **


 * [[image:rotating gif.gif width="66" height="66" link="The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power"]]See AP Government: Major Formal and Informal Arrangements of Power**

**The Executive Branch**
"The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
 * The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet.
 * The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.
 * The Cabinet and independent federal agencies are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws.
 * These departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities as widely divergent as those of the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 * Including members of the armed forces, the Executive Branch employs more than 4 million Americans."


 * **3 Branches of the Government**
 * **The Executive Branch **

===[|The President] === -The President is the head of state and the head of government of The United States of America. He or she is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Left: 45th President of the US, Donald Trump

Right: Vice President, Mike Pence

Click here for [|lesson plan ideas around Poet Richard Blanco's poem] read at President Obama second inauguration in January 2013 as well as a brief history of inauguration poetry.



Women in the Executive Branch
Click here for background on [|Victoria Woodhull], the first woman to run for President in 1872.

A New Constitution for the United States of the World, Victoria Woodhull Speech, 1870



[|Click for a link of Frances Perkins, the first ever female cabinet member] as Secretary of Labor during Franklin Roosevelt's Presidency.

Click here for a look into the political life of[| Shirley Chisholm], who in 1968 became the first black woman to win a seat in the House of Representatives, and in 1972 became the first black person(and first black woman) to run as a major party candidate when she did so for the Democratic party.
 * Her influence was particularly apparent in the 2008 presidential election, as both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both would have represented firsts if elected for the office of President that Chisholm herself tried to break.
 * [|The importance of her bid for the nomination in 1972] is also felt in both Bernie Sander's and Hillary Clinton's campaigns for the Democratic nomination in 2016.
 * [|An interview] with Shirley Chisholm as she reflects on her bid.

Go here for a** List of Female U.S. Cabinet Secretaries **from Wikipedia

**Presidential Vetos**
Image to the right shows President Ulysses S. Grant on a platform is congratulated boisterously by an audience below of Carl Schurz, Whitelaw Reid and a spectrum of other men for vetoing the "inflation bill". Harper's Weekly, May 23, 1874


 * [|Overriding Presidential Vetoes]from The Civics Connection, University of Central Florida
 * A [|video] defining the role of the commander in chief using quotes from the Constitution and former presidents.

[|Presidential Vetoes from Washington to Obama]from the American Presidency Project.
 * [|Washington Exercises First Presidential Veto, April 5, 1792]
 * [|Congress Overrides Presidential Veto for First Time, May 3, 1845]
 * [|Jackson Vetos Bank Bill, July 10. 1832]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">[|Grover Cleveland: The Veto President]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">[|Truman Defends Taft-Hartley Act Veto, June 20, 1947]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">[|I Forbid: Presidential Vetoes and American Indian Affairs, 1789-2000] from the University of Nebraska.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[|The President's Cabinet]
Currently, the President's cabinet includes 15 departments:


 * State
 * Treasury
 * Defense
 * Interior
 * Agriculture
 * Commerce
 * Labor
 * Health and Human Services
 * Housing and Urban Development
 * Transportation
 * Energy
 * Education
 * Veteran Affairs
 * Homeland Security

Click [|here] for a brief look at how the Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest confidants.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">In addition to running <span class="wiki_link_ext" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">major federal agencies <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">, they play an important role in the Presidential line of succession — after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President pro tempore, the line of succession continues with the Cabinet offices in the order in which the departments were created.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">All the members of the Cabinet take the title Secretary, excepting the head of the Justice Department, who is the Attorney General.

[|Read About the First African American Cabinet Member]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Agencies within the Executive Office of the President include:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Council of Economic Advisors
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Council on Environmental Quality
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Domestic Policy Council
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">National Economic Council
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">National Security Council
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of Administration
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of Management and Budget
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of National AIDS Policy
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of National Drug Control Policy
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of Science and Technology Policy
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of the First Lady
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of the Vice President
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of the Second Lady
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">President's Intelligence Oversight Board
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">President's Intelligence Advisory Board
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">United States Trade Representative
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">White House Office
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">White House Military Office

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Legislative Powers of the President]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations, and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which also must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. The President also has unlimited power to extend pardons for federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">With these powers come several responsibilities, among them a constitutional requirement to "from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Although the President may fulfill this requirement in any way he or she chooses, Presidents have traditionally given a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress each January (except in inaugural years) outlining their agenda for the coming year.

[|Click here for a YouTube clip that briefly describes the powers of the Executive Branch and the founders intentions]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Office of the Budget


<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">See the [|National Priorities Project] for information about how the spending of the federal budget affects ordinary taxpayers.

=[|Executive Departments of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts]=

The Departments within the Executive Branch of Massachusetts include:
 * Executive office for Administration and Finance
 * Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
 * Executive Office of Education
 * Executive Office of Health and Human Services
 * Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
 * Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
 * Executive Office of Safety and Security
 * Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works

=[|MA Executive Officeholders]=

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Governor- Charlie Baker

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Is the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Prepares and presents state budget to legislature
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Can veto or reduce a budget item and can veto bills
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Appoints judges
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Grants pardons
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Appoints department heads and members of boards and commissions
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Serves as commander-in-chief of Massachusetts National Guard
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Presides over the Governor’s Council with no vote
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Governor’s Site]



<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Lieutenant Governor- Karyn Polito

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Presides in the event of absence, death or disability of governor
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Becomes acting governor if the governor’s office becomes vacant
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Assists in administration of executive agencies
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Votes as a member of the Governor’s Council; acts as non-voting president when the governor is absent
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Lieutenant Governor’s site]



<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Secretary of the Commonwealth/ Secretary of State- William F. Galvin

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Oversees Elections and Voting
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Maintains public records
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Oversees corporations
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Monitors securities industry
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Provides citizen information
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s site]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Attorney General- Maura Healy

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Is the state’s chief law enforcement officer
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Advises and represents the Commonwealth, giving legal opinions and serving as its lawyer in court
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Enforces laws in consumer protection, environmental protection, civil rights, healthcare, insurance and financial services, and antitrust areas
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Investigates public corruption, financial fraud, organized crime, narcotics violations and other crimes
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Enforces business and labor laws
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Attorney General’s site]


 * [[image:Screen Shot 2017-04-04 at 2.17.29 PM.png]]Maura Healy is First Openly Gay Attorney-General in Massachusetts **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Treasurer and Receiver General- Deborah B. Goldberg

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Collects, takes care of, and distributes state funds
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Issues state bonds and decides the investment policy of the state
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Runs the state lottery
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Treasurer’s site]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Auditor- Suzanne Bump

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Conducts audits of state funds to make sure they have been given out legally and accounted for properly
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Investigates reports of fraud and waste
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Determines whether laws impose unfunded mandates on cities and towns
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Auditor’s site]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">**All of the above officers are elected to four-year terms**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Governor’s Cabinet

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">These executive administrators oversee the operations of the departments of Massachusetts and advise the governor
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The cabinet secretaries head the departments of: Administration and Finance, Education, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Health and Human Services, Housing and Economic Development, Labor and Workforce Development, Public Safety and Security, and Transportation
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They are appointed by the governor and accountable to him or her
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Governor’s Cabinet site]

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Governor’s Council

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In colonial times this council, also called the Executive Council, was established to act as a check on the governor, who was appointed by the English Crown
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The council has eight members elected from districts in addition to the lieutenant governor
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Members are elected for two-year terms
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons and commutations, and recording advice and consent to gubernatorial appointments as judges and to boards and administrative positions.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0033; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|Visit the Governor’s Council site]