The Fifteen Executive Departments

Executive Branch

Department of State (1789)

Principal Functions:Advises the President on foreign policyNegotiates agreements with foreign countriesRepresents the US abroad and in international organizations

Important Agencies:Foreign ServiceBureau of Diplomatic SecurityBureau of International Organization Affairs

Department of Treasury (1789)

Principal Functions:Produces coins and billsCollects taxesBorrows money and manages public debt

Important Agencies:Internal Revenue Service (IRS)Bureau of the Public DebtUnited States Mint

Department of Defense (1789)

Principal Functions:Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security

Important Agencies:Joint Chiefs of StaffDepartments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force

Department of Justice (1870)

Principal Functions:Prosecute those accused of violating federal lawEnforces federal lawsOperates federal prisonsProvides legal advice to the PresidentRepresents the US in court

Important Agencies:Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

US Marshals Service

Department of Interior (1849)

Principal Functions:Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parksOperates hydroelectric power plantsHelps Native Americans manage their affairs

Important Agencies:US Fish and Wildlife ServicesNational Park ServiceBureau of Indian Affairs

Department of Agriculture (1889)

Principal Functions:Manages national forestsInspects foodAssists farmers and ranchersAdministers food stamp and school lunch programs

Important Agencies:Agricultural Research ServiceFood and Nutrition ServiceForest Service

Department of Commerce (1903)

Principal Functions:Conducts censusGrants patents and registers trademarks

Promotes internal trade, economic growth, and technological development

Important Agencies:Bureau of the CensusPatent and Trademark Office International Trade Administration

Department of Labor (1913)

Principal Functions:Enforces federal laws on minimum wages, maximum hours and safe working conditionsOperates job training programsAdministers unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation programs

Important Agencies:Employment Standards Administration

Bureau of Labor StatisticsWomen’s Bureau

Department of Health and Human Services (1953)

Principal Functions:Funds healthcare research programsConducts programs to prevent and control diseaseEnforces pure food and drug lawsAdministers Medicare and Medicaid

Important Agencies:Food and Drug Administration (FDA)National Institutes of HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965)

Principal Functions:Operates home-financing and public housing programsEnforces fair housing laws

Important Agencies:Office of HousingOffice of Fair Housing and Equal OpportunityGovernment National Mortgage Association

Department of Transportation (1967)

Principal Functions:Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads, waterways, air travel, and oil and gas pipelines

Important Agencies:Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationFederal Railroad AdministrationMaritime Administration

Department of Energy (1977)

Principal Functions:Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energyTransmits and sells hydroelectric powerConducts nuclear weapons research and production

Important Agencies:Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology

Regional Power Administration

Department of Education (1979)

Principal Functions:Administers federal aid to schoolsConducts educational research

Important Agencies:Office of Elementary and

Secondary EducationOffice of Postsecondary

Education

Department of Veterans Affairs (1988)

Principal Functions:Administers benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans of the armed forcesOversees military cemeteries

Important AgenciesVeterans Benefits AdministrationVeterans Health AdministrationNational Cemetery Administration

Department of Homeland Security (2002)

Principal Functions:Border and transportation securityEmergency preparedness and responseChemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defenseInformation analysis and infrastructure protection

Important Agencies:Coast GuardSecret ServiceUS Citizenship and Immigration ServicesUS Immigration and Customs Enforcement