Name: ___________________________________________ Mod: ________

Date: _______ / ________ / 2011 U4.LP5: Structure and Organization of the Executive Branch

Objective: Students will create a graphic organizer in order to describe the structure of the executive
branch, including the membership of the fifteen cabinet departments

Warm-Up
____ 1. A.
____ 2. B.
____ 3. C.
____ 4. D.
____ 5. E.
____ 6. F.
____ 7. G.
____ 8. H.
____ 9. I.
____ 10. J.

Introduction to New Material

Main Points Supporting Details
What is the  The executive branch is one of three branches of government in the U.S.
Executive Branch?  The executive branch serves to enforce laws and execute government policy.

Who are the  There are multiple leaders in the executive branch:
leaders of the o The President: The leader of our country
Executive Branch? o The Vice President: The President of the Senate

What is the  The President works in the White House Office, where he is assisted by
structure of the numerous individuals, including:
Executive Branch? o Chief of Staff: Works with the Congress to see that all legislative goals
are accomplished
o Press Secretary: Responsible for …
o Key Advisors and Longtime Associates

 The White House Office works within a larger organization called the Executive
Office of the President with other groups, including:
o National Security Council: deals with domestic, foreign, and military
policies.
o Council of Economic Advisors: works to inform President of
economic trends.
o Office of Management and Budget: prepares the national budget for
Congress to approve/fail.
Who belongs to
the President’s  Beyond the EOP, the President meets with and is advised by his Cabinet.
Cabinet?  The Cabinet consists of fifteen Secretaries, each of whom oversees their own
department.
  The President is responsible for appointing the Secretary for each of these
Departments.
 Each of these Presidential appointments must be approved by the Senate with a
simple majority vote.
What are the 15
departments?  The fifteen Secretaries of the President’s Cabinet are responsible for the
administration of their own Executive Department, including:
o Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of
Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy,
Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland
Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of
Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation,
Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What are the
regulatory  The Executive Branch also includes about 60 Independent Agencies and
agencies? Organizations.
 Some examples are:
o Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Communications Commission,
Federal Trade Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Company,
Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Aviation
Administration, Election Assistance Commission, Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, United States Postal Service

GP / IP #1: Organizing the Executive Branch

Based on your notes, you will graphically organize the Executive Branch.

Use the handout titled “Executive Branch Family Tree.”

We will get you started with the first couple of blank spaces, and then you should finish in less than seven
(7) minutes.

GP / IP #2
Secretary Speed-Dating
You have a meeting with the Secretary of each Executive Branch Department.

You will need to use your two minutes to discover the name of the department, name of the secretary,
and summarize the purpose of the department.

You will have an open-note Exit Slip, so make sure that you don’t slack off!!!
(That means you should take good notes.)

HOMEWORK
Preview the Executive Organization Project and decide which Department or Organization you
would like to complete your project on.