POL 100: United States Government

The executive branch of the Government is responsible for enforcing the law. The President, Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies assist in this capacity.  Each has special powers and functions.

• President: Leader of the country and Commander in Chief of the military.
• Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President is unable to serve.
• Departments: Department heads advise the President on policy issues and help execute those policies.
• Independent Agencies: Help execute policy or provide special services.

Read more about the Executive Branch at Ben's Guide to US Government.

The American Presidency Project
Full-text online database of public messages, statements, speeches, and news conference remarks by presidents from Herbert Hoover to the present, by University of California, Santa Barbara.

Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders 
Listing of presidential proclamations and executive orders from 1945 to 1989.

Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents
The official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary.

Executive Orders Disposition Tables Index 
List of executive orders from Franklin D. Roosevelt to the present.

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is published every Monday and is the official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary.

The White House and executive branch of the federal government publish many useful documents and resources for student research.  Presidential papers, speeches, and news conference remarks along with independent agency reports may all be useful to you in your search for information.

Federal Executive Branch (usa.gov)
Official information and services from the U.S. government

• The White House Home Page
  Official site of the White House. 
• The President's Cabinet
  Information on Cabinet members and duties. 

• Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Department of Commerce (DOC)
• Department of Defense (DOD)
• Department of Education (ED)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Department of Labor (DOL)
• Department of State (DOS)
• Department of the Interior (DOI)
• Department of the Treasury
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

• Independent Agencies and Government Corporations
  A listing of all independent establishments created by Congress to address concerns that go beyond the scope of ordinary legislation.

• Boards, Commissions, and Committees
  A listing, with links, to the various boards, commissions, and committees under the executive branch of the U.S. government.
• Federal Advisory Committees (FACA database)
  The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) database is used by Federal agencies to continuously manage an average of 1,000 advisory committees government-wide  This database is also used by Congress to perform oversight of related Executive Branch programs and by the public, the media, and others, to stay abreast of important developments resulting from advisory committee activities.

• Quasi-Official Agencies
  Quasi-official agencies are not officially executive agencies but are required by statute to publish certain information on their programs and activities in the Federal Register.