8. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

I. StructureII. Coordination

III. Staff

I. The structure of the executive branch-State Department (Sec. of State)-Dpt of the Treasury-Dpt of the Interior-Dpt of Agriculture (incl. food stamps)-Dpt of Justice (Attorney General)-Dpt of Commerce -Dpt of Labor -Dpt of Defense

-H.U.D. (Housing and Urban Devpt)-Dpt of Transportation-Dpt of Energy (DOE)-Dpt of Education-HHS (Health and Human Services)-Veterans Affairs-Dpt of Homeland Security

“executive unity” (A. Jackson)

Independent regulatory agencies/commissions:

-Interstate Commerce Agency -Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-Fed. Communications Commission (electronic comm.) -Env. Protection Agency (EPA)-Fed. Reserve-etc.First instance court

II. The coordination of the executive branch

-“imperial presidency”-Executive Office of the Pdt (EOP) (Executive Reorganization Act)-1940: $2.8M; 2004: $387M

-White House Office; headed by the White House Chief of Staff

-NSC (National Security Council); includes the NSA (National Security Advisor)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Bush: “administrative strategy”

Main agencies of the EOP: White House Office ; Office of Management and Budget ; Council of Economic Advisers ; National Security Council ; Office of Policy Development ; Office of the United States Trade Representative ; Council on Environmental Quality ; Office of Science and Technology Policy ; Office of Administration

Under Nixon: “Berlin Wall” of top staffers Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Kissinger

1970s measures aimed at more transparency: FACA, Government in the Sunshine, Ethics in Government, more oversight of CIA, etc.

III. The staff of the executive branch: the civil servants

-1883 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act-spoils system