    [United States Government Manual]
    [June 15, 2003]
    [Page 87]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 87]]

    THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

    THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES                George W. Bush

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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 15 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 Vice President and the heads of the
    15 executive departments--the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce,
    Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland
    Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State,
    Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney
    General. Additionally, in the Bush administration, Cabinet-level rank
    has been accorded to: the Chief of Staff to the President; the
    Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; the Director, Office of
    Management and Budget; the Director, Office of National Drug Control
    Policy; and the U.S. Trade Representative.