Executive Branch

Branch of the U.S. federal government responsible for enforcing laws

Executive Branch of the United States refers to one of the three branches of the United States Government, alongside the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch. The Executive Branch is responsible for **enforcing federal laws**, **administering government agencies**, **conducting foreign policy**, and **managing the day-to-day operations** of the federal government.

The Executive Branch is headed by the President, who serves as both **head of state** and **head of government**.

Structure

The Executive Branch consists of the following major components:

President of the United States

The President is the chief executive and holds powers including:

enforcing federal laws
directing national policy
serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
negotiating treaties (with Senate approval)
issuing executive orders
appointing federal officials, ambassadors, and judges

For more, see: Presidency of the United States.

Vice President of the United States

The Vice President:

supports the President
serves as first in the line of succession
presides over the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes

The Cabinet

The President’s Cabinet consists of department heads who advise on national policy. These include:

Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of the Treasury
Attorney General
and others who lead the 15 executive departments

Executive Departments

There are 15 main departments in the Executive Branch, such as:

These departments administer laws, run programs, and manage federal operations.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

The Executive Office of the President is a group of agencies and offices that support the President’s administrative and policy goals. Key units include:

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
National Security Council (NSC)
Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

Independent Agencies

Some agencies operate outside executive departments but still fall under presidential oversight. Examples include:

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Powers and responsibilities

The Executive Branch carries out a wide range of national responsibilities:

Law enforcement

Through the Department of Justice, FBI, and DHS agencies, the Executive Branch enforces federal laws and protects national security.

Foreign policy

The President and the State Department lead diplomacy, negotiate treaties, and represent the United States internationally.

Military command

The President serves as Commander-in-Chief and oversees military operations, aided by the Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Regulatory authority

Executive agencies create regulations and enforce federal standards in areas such as:

environment
transportation
public health
finance
aviation

Budgeting

The President proposes the federal budget annually through the OMB, guiding national priorities and spending.

Checks and balances

The Executive Branch is limited by constitutional checks from the other branches:

Congress can override vetoes, control funding, and impeach the President.
The Supreme Court can strike down executive actions as unconstitutional.
Senate approval is required for many presidential appointments and treaties.

References

This article provides a simplified overview of the Executive Branch based on commonly accepted constitutional and governmental sources.