[United States Government Manual]
[September 15, 2009]
[Page 85]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 85]]



EXECUTIVE BRANCH

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THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES	               Barack H. Obama

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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.