Executive Branch Essential Questions

1. List and describe the executive offices that are within the White House. Give specific examples.

Domestic Policy CounselNational Security AdvisorNational Economic CounselOffice of Cabinet AffairsOffice of the Chief of StaffOffice of CommunicationsOffice of Digital StrategyOffice of the First LadyOffice of Legislative AffairsOffice of Management and AdministrationOval Office OperationsOffice of Presidential PersonalOffice of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental AffairsOffice of Scheduling and AdvanceOffice of Staff SecretaryOffice of the White House Counsel

2. List and describe the President's cabinet and its responsibilities. Give specific examples.

Vice President of the United StatesDepartment of StateDepartment of the TreasuryDepartment of DefenseDepartment of JusticeDepartment of the InteriorDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of CommerceDepartment of LaborDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDepartment of TransportationDepartment of EnergyDepartment of EducationDepartment of Veterans AffairsDepartment of Homeland SecurityWhite House Chief of StaffEnvironmental Protection AgencyOffice of Management and BudgetUnited States trade RepresentativeUnited States Ambassador to the United NationsCouncil of Economic Advisors Small Business Administration

Tara Pawlyk Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:30:47 AM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88

3. What is the federal bureaucracy? National set of agencies

4. What are the differences between executive agencies, regulatory commissions, independent agencies, and government corporations?

Executive Agencies- Agency of the executive branch

Regulatory Commissions- They are formed and accorded power by Congress to regulate a specific industry. Within the authority granted them by Congress, they have the power to form and enforce their own regulations.

Independent Agencies- an agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments

Government Corporations- is either fully or partially owned by a nationʼs government

5. Describe the development of the Civil Service System (merit system). A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations

6. List and describe the following Presidents Cabinet and the executive agencies within the cabinet offices: USDA, Census bureau, Patent and Trademark office, FEMA, ATF, FBI, DEA, BLS, FAA and Immigration and citizenship office.

USDA- US Department of Agriculture, functions in: assisting rural communities, conservation, food and nutrition, marketing and trade, education and research

Census Bureau- Runs statistics of the population

Patent and Trademark Office- Manages patents and trademarks

FEMA- Federal Emergency Management Agency, functions in: Disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, education, and references.

ATF- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; regulate these items

FBI- Federal Bureau of Investigation, a governmental agency belonging to the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency

DEA- Drug Enforcement Administration, combats illegal drugs

BLS- Bureau of Labor Statistics, principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics

Tara Pawlyk Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:30:47 AM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88

FAA- Federal Aviation Administration, operating mode of the U.S. Department of Transportation

Immigration and Citizenship Office- deal with the citizenship process

7. List and describe the responsibilities of the following regulatory commissions: FTC, CPSC, FCC, EEOC, OSHA, NTSB, SEC, NLRB.

FTC- Federal Trade Commission

CPSC- Consumer Product Safety Commission

FCC- Federal Communications Commission

EEOC- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

OSHA- Occupational Safety and Health Administration

NTSB- National Transportation Safety Board

SEC- Securities and Exchange Commission

NLRB- National Labor Relations Board

8. List and describe the responsibilities of the following independent agencies: CIA, FDIC, AMTRAK, USPS, SSA, TVA, NASA.

CIA- Central Intelligence Agency

FDIC- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

AMTRAK- National Railroad Passenger Corporation

USPS- United States Postal Service

SSA- Social Security Administration

TVA- Tennessee Valley Authority

NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration

9. Describe the responsibilities of the following government corporations: USPS, AMTRAK, TVA.

USPS is in charge of the postal service. AMTRAK focuses on transportation. TVA provides navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.

Tara Pawlyk Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:30:47 AM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88