    [United States Government Manual]
    [May 30, 1997]
    [Page 89]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 89]]

    EXECUTIVE BRANCH

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    THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

    THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES                William J. Clinton

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    Article II, section 1, of the Constitution provides that ``[t]he
    executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of
    America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, . . .
    together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term . . . .'' In
    addition to the powers set forth in the Constitution, the statutes have
    conferred upon the President specific authority and responsibility
    covering a wide range of matters (United States Code Index).

        The President is the administrative head of the executive branch of
    the Government, which includes numerous agencies, both temporary and
    permanent, as well as the 14 executive departments.

    The Cabinet

    The Cabinet, a creation of custom and tradition dating back to George
    Washington's administration, functions at the pleasure of the President.
    Its purpose is to advise the President upon any subject, relating to the
    duties of the respective offices, on which he requests information
    (pursuant to Article II, section 2, of the Constitution).

        The Cabinet is composed of the heads of the 14 executive
    departments--the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense,
    Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
    Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and
    Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Additionally, in the Clinton
    administration, Cabinet-level rank has been accorded to: the Chief of
    Staff to the President; the Director of Central Intelligence; the
    Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; the Counselor to the President;
    the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; the Director,
    Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Director, Office of Management
    and Budget; the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; the
    Administrator, Small Business Administration; the U.S. Representative to
    the United Nations; and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Vice
    President also participates in Cabinet meetings, and from time to time,
    other individuals are invited to participate in discussions of
    particular subjects. A Secretary to the Cabinet is designated to provide
    for the orderly handling and followup of matters brought before the
    Cabinet.