The executive departments are the units of government that are under the direct supervision of the President. These do not include independent regulatory commissions and other independent agencies, such as the Federal Reserve Board, which are insulated by law from Presidential control. Top Departmental officials are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. They serve at the President's pleasure, and he may remove them at his discretion. The President uses his executive power to issue orders to the heads of the departments, usually called secretaries, and their subordinates. Their legislative and budget requests to Congress and the rules and regulations they intend to issue are cleared by a Presidential agency, the Office of Management and Budget. The heads of the executive departments constitute the President's cabinet.
See also Appointment power; Cabinet; department of Agriculture; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Energy; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Justice; Department of Labor; Department of State; Department of the Interior; Department of Transportation; Department of the Treasury; Department of Veterans Affairs; Executive branch; Executive orders; Executive power; Patronage; Removal power
Sources
- United States Government Organization Manual (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1992)
