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The United States federal executive departments are the principal units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States.They are analogous to ministries common in parliamentary or semi-presidential systems but (the United States being a presidential system) they are led by a head of government who is also the head of state.
In presidential systems, the directly elected head of government appoints the ministers. The ministers can be directly elected by the voters. [2] In this context, the executive consists of a leader or leader of an office or multiple offices. Specifically, the top leadership roles of the executive branch may include:
The executive branch of the federal government includes the Executive Office of the President and the United States federal executive departments (whose secretaries belong to the Cabinet). Employees of the majority of these agencies are considered civil servants.
The executive branch is established in Article Two of the United States Constitution, which vests executive power in the president of the United States. [14] [15] The president is both the head of state (performing ceremonial functions) and the head of government (the chief executive). [16]
The governor heads the government's executive branch in each state or territory and, depending on the individual jurisdiction, may have considerable control over government budgeting, the power of appointment of many officials (including many judges), and a considerable role in legislation.
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building at night. In 1937, the Brownlow Committee, which was a presidentially commissioned panel of political science and public administration experts, recommended sweeping changes to the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, including the creation of the Executive Office of the President.
This reliance on executive orders has become default—and at a cost. What was once a last resort after negotiations with Congress failed is now the first arrow pulled out of a president’s quiver.
The presidential system is defined by the separation of the executive branch from other aspects of government. The head of government is elected to work alongside, but not as a part of, the legislature. [18] There are several types of powers that are traditionally delegated to the president.