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CHAPTER SIX: The Executive Branch

Study

Summary

Chapter 6 outlines the organization of the executive branch and explains that it is primarily a product of political motivations that recognize important interests or solve problems. The executive branch is made up of the cabinet departments, which account for 80 percent of all federal money; independent agencies, which house the Social Security Administration; bureaus, which are the main operating organizations of the government; and field offices, which include 85 percent of federal civilian employees outside Washington, D.C.

The executive branch is a term of considerable power in the federal government. However, many factors affect the ability of the executive branch to govern. The president is expected to assure effective management of the executive branch but often fails owing to weaknesses among cabinet members or tensions among departments. The White House staff is now so large and specialized that it is itself hard to coordinate. The executive branch now has more connections to citizens with computers, however, it still has the problem of coordination. The major Executive Office of the President (EOP) agencies include the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Office of Policy Development.