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In this lesson we will continue our discussion of the Cabinet Departments of the executive branch of the federal government.

State, 1789

Treasury, 1789,

Defense, (originally called the War Department) 1789,

Justice, (originally called the Attorney General), 1789,

Interior, 1849,

Agriculture, 1889,

Commerce, 1903,

Labor, 1913,

Health and Human Services, 1953,

Housing and Urban Development, 1965,

Transportation, 1967,

Energy, 1977,

Education, 1979,

Veterans Affairs, 1988.

Before we continue our study of the cabinet departments we need to consider the goals of government that are outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution.

Please read closely the services that these Cabinet Departments provide for the American people. How do these services relate to the 6 goals of government listed in the Preamble?

PICTURE: wtp

The Department of the Interior was created by an act of Congress on March 3, 1849. This act transferred to this newly created Cabinet Department the General Land Office, the Office of Indian Affairs, the Pension Office and the Patent Office.

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 Native-American tribes. This mission includes the sound use of our land and water resources; assessment and protection of our fish and wildlife, and biological diversity.

The Secretary of the Interior reports directly to the President and is responsible for the direction and supervision of all operations and activities of the Department. The Department of the Interior is also responsible for preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places.

The Department of Commerce was created by an act of Congress on March 4, 1913, which reorganized the Department of Commerce and Labor. All of the labor activities were transferred to the new and separate Department of Labor.

The Department of Commerce conducts the census, or counting, of all citizens every ten years as authorized by the Constitution.

The Department of Commerce mission is to improve America's economic and business conditions both at home and in foreign nations. The Department conducts research in science, engineering, and other technology. This research provides business and government planners with statistics on social and economic topics that affect all Americans.

The Department of Commerce encourages and promotes America's international trade, economic growth, and the advancement of technology.

The Department of Commerce, another Cabinet level position, houses the International Trade Administration. The International Trade Administration was established on January 2, 1980 to promote trade and to strengthen the international trade and investment position of the United States.

The International Trade Administration coordinates all issues that concern import administration, international economic policy and programs, and the trade development.

It is responsible for nonagricultural trade operations of the U.S. government and supports the trade policy negotiation of the U.S. Trade Representative.

PICTURE: fortrad

The Department of Agriculture was created in May, 1862 and was administered by a Commissioner of Agriculture until 1889.

On February 9, 1889 the powers and duties of the department were enlarged. The Department of Agriculture was made the eighth executive department in the federal government and the Commissioner was made the Secretary.

The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income and to develop and expand markets in foreign countries for agricultural products.

The department conducts programs that will decrease the level of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in America. The Department of Agriculture works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources.

The Department of Agriculture conducts rural development, credit, and conservation programs that are key resources for carrying out our national growth policies. The Department, through inspection of and grading services for meat and eggs, safeguards and ensures standards of quality of the daily food supply.

The office of Attorney General was created on September 24, 1789. Edmund Randolph was the first Attorney General, serving in President Washington's cabinet.

Until 1870, the Attorney General was a member of the President's cabinet, but was not the head of a department.

The Department of Justice was established on June 22, 1870 with the Attorney General being appointed as the Secretary.

As the largest law firm in the nation, the Department of Justice serves as counsel for its citizens.

The Department of Justice represents the American citizens by enforcing the law in the public interest. Through its thousands of lawyers, investigators, and agents, the Department plays the key role in protection against criminals and subversion and by ensuring healthy competition of business in our free enterprise system.

The Department of Justice has the responsibility to enforce all of the various drug, immigration, and naturalization laws.

The Department also plays a significant role in protecting citizens through its efforts for effective law enforcement, crime prevention, crime detection, and prosecution and rehabilitation of offenders.

The Department of Justice conducts all cases in the Supreme Court in which the United States is a party. The Department generally represents the government in legal matters of the executive departments. The Attorney General supervises and directs the U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals in the various judicial districts around the country.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice.

The FBI was established in 1908 by the Attorney General. The bureau is charged with investigating all violations of federal law except those that have been assigned by legislative enactment of otherwise to another federal agency.

The Treasury Department was created on

September 2, 1789.

The Department has been changed by many subsequent acts of Congress that have delegated new duties to its charge and establishing the numerous bureaus and divisions that now comprise the Department 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.

As a major policy adviser to the President, the Treasury Secretary has the primary responsibility for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policy.

In addition, the Secretary has many responsibilities as the chief financial officer of the government.

The Secretary serves as Chairman of the Economic Policy Council and as U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

As a major policy adviser to the President, the Treasury Secretary has the primary responsibility for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policy; participating in the formulation of broad fiscal policies that have a general significance for the economy, and managing the public debt.

The Secretary also oversees the activities of the department in carrying out its major law enforcement responsibility in serving as the financial agent for the U.S. government; and in manufacturing coins, currency, and other products for customer agencies.

The major law enforcement activities of the Treasury Department are carried out in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is responsible for enforcing and administering firearms and explosives laws, as well as those covering the production, taxation, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products.

The Department of Veterans Affairs was created on October 25, 1988 when President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that made Veterans Administration into a Cabinet department. This act authorized the President to consolidate and coordinate the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions, and the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers.

The Department of Veterans Affairs comprises three organizations that administer veterans programs: the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery System.

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.

This concludes the lessons on the President's Cabinet Departments of the executive branch of the federal government. In the next lesson we will examine some of the major independent agencies of the executive branch.

The Presidency

The Executive Office of the President

The Cabinet Departments

Major Independent Agencies