LibGuides: US Government Documents Fundamentals: Executive

The Executive Branch

Seal of the President of the United States

The executive branch of our federal government enforces the law of the land. It consists of the

President
Vice President
15 Departments (together make the "Presidential Cabinet")

and a number of:

Independent and quasi-official agencies.

Executive Office of the President
Office of the Vice President
Budget of the United States
Regulatory Information - govinfo
The Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, and indexes.
Regulations.gov
"Rulemaking is the policy-making process for Executive and Independent agencies of the Federal government. Regulations.gov is your source for regulations and other related documents issued by the U.S. government."
See also: Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations.
US Regulations and Administrative Codes (Federal and states) via Justia
State: "State regulations, or administrative laws, are rules adopted by the executive branch and agencies of each state. These regulations provide guidance on how to follow the laws (statutes) passed by the legislative bodies of each state."
Federal: "The Federal Register is a daily publication of proposed and final rules (administrative laws) adopted by federal executive departments and agencies. These rules are put forth to guide these departments and agencies on how to follow the statutes (laws) passed by the United States Congress." [Note: the Code of Federal Regulations is the body of regulations in force]

The executive branch of state governments consists of the governor (or other elected officials), and state agencies. For state government documents, visit USA.gov (link below).

State, Local, and Tribal Governments (USA.gov)

The Cabinet

Below are links to the web sites of the 15 federal executive departments:

Dept. of Agriculture
"The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The Department helps to curb and to cure poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources. "
Dept. of Commerce
"The Department of Commerce encourages, serves, and promotes the Nation's international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement. The Department provides a wide variety of programs through the competitive free enterprise system. It offers assistance and information to increase America's competitiveness in the world economy; administers programs to prevent unfair foreign trade competition; provides social and economic statistics and analyses for business and government planners..."
Dept. of Defense
"The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, consisting of about 1.4 million men and women on active duty."
Dept. of Education
"The Department of Education establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most Federal assistance to education. Its mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation."
Dept. of Energy
"The Department of Energy...provid(es) the technical information and the scientific and educational foundation for the technology, policy, and institutional leadership necessary to achieve efficiency in energy use, diversity in energy sources, a more productive and competitive economy, improved environmental quality, and a secure national defense."
Dept. of Health and Human Services
"The Department of Health and Human Services is most involved with the Nation's human concerns. In one way or another, it touches the lives of more Americans than any other Federal agency. It is literally a department of people serving people, from newborn infants to persons requiring health services to our most elderly citizens."
Dept. of Homeland Security
"Works to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters."
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
"The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the principal Federal agency responsible for programs concerned with the Nation's housing needs, fair housing opportunities, and improvement and development of the Nation's communities."
Dept. of the Interior
"The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to tribes. The Department manages the Nation's public lands and minerals, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and western water resources and upholds Federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes."
Dept. of Justice
"As the largest law firm in the Nation, the Department of Justice serves as counsel for its citizens. It represents them in enforcing the law in the public interest. (The) Department plays the key role in protection against criminals and subversion, in ensuring healthy competition of business in our free enterprise system, in safeguarding the consumer, and in enforcing drug, immigration, and naturalization laws.
Dept. of Labor
"The purpose of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment."
Dept. of State
"The Department of State is responsible for the international relations of the United States."
Dept. of Transportation
"The U.S. Department of Transportation establishes the Nation's overall transportation policy. Under its umbrella there are 10 administrations whose jurisdictions include highway planning, development, and construction; urban mass transit; railroads; aviation; and the safety of waterways, ports, highways, and oil and gas pipelines."
Dept. of the Treasury
"The Department of the Treasury performs four basic functions: formulating and recommending economic, financial, tax, and fiscal policies; serving as financial agent for the U.S. Government; enforcing the law; and manufacturing coins and currency."
Dept. of Veteran's Affairs
"The Department of Veterans Affairs operates programs to benefit veterans and members of their families. Benefits include compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service; pensions; education and rehabilitation; home loan guaranty; burial; and a medical care program incorporating nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers."

Independent Agencies

Facts about independent agencies of the U.S. federal government:

most are part of the executive branch
established by Congressional statutes, which also define their authority, goals, and rulemaking powers
always ruled by a commission, board, or other body of five to seven members (rather than having a single director, director, or secretary appointed by the President)

- from Wikipedia Independent Agencies of the United States Government

There are over 50 independent agencies. Here are some examples with links to their web pages:

Executive Branch Information

White House
Press briefings, text of proclamations and executive orders, policies, and appointments for the Executive Office of the President.
Presidential Papers
Current and historical guide to official presidential papers
The Cabinet
History, role, and make-up of the Cabinet.
Executive Departments
A list of departments with links to websites.
A-Z index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
Alphabetical listing of federal executive agencies with link to their web sites
govinfo
Free public access to digital documents of the federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This is (usually but not always) the best place to start your US government publications research.
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
"Finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online...search by authoring agency, title, subject, and general key word..." Find a nearby Federal Depository Library that has a particular publication.
Federal Websites For and About American Indians
A guide to federal agency websites that feature information for or about Native Americans such as office of Native American Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Libraries

US Government Documents Fundamentals

The Executive Branch

The Cabinet

Independent Agencies

Executive Branch Information