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Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch of the federal government. The Executive Vesting Clause, in Section 1, Clause 1, provides that the federal executive power is vested in the President.
- Kamala Harris. Vice President.
- Antony Blinken. Secretary of State.
- Dr. Janet Yellen. Secretary of the Treasury.
- Lloyd Austin. Secretary of Defense.
- The President
- The Vice President
- Executive Office of The President
- The Cabinet
The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the Presi...
The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his or her duties. This can be because of the President’s death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the Pres...
Every day, the President of the United States is faced with scores of decisions, each with important consequences for America’s future. To provide the President with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The EOP has responsibility f...
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President’s closest confidants. In addition to running major federal agencies, they play an important role in the Presidential line of succession — after the Vice Pres...
United States (1926) or downgrade their Cabinet membership status. Often it is legally possible for a Cabinet member to exercise certain powers over his or her own department against the president's wishes, but in practice this is highly unusual due to the threat of dismissal.
Article Two of the Constitution sets up the executive branch, led by the president. It outlines the president's eligibility, election process, and powers. The framers were cautious about creating a strong executive branch, fearing tyranny. Over time, the president's powers have expanded, sparking debate.
- 18 min
The video explains how Congress oversees the executive branch of the U.S. government. It highlights two main tools: setting the budget (power of the purse) and conducting committee hearings. These methods help Congress monitor the actions of the 2.8 million people in the federal bureaucracy.
- 4 min
Presidents appoint all cabinet heads and most other high-ranking officials of the executive branch of the federal government with the consent of the Senate. The existence of the cabinet and its operations are matters of custom rather than of law, and the cabinet as a collective body has no legal existence or power.
