Executive branch of the United States

The **executive branch of the United States** federal government is established in Article II of the United States Constitution, which vests executive power in the President of the United States. The president is both the head of state (the ceremonial head of the nation) and the head of government (the chief executive).

## President

*Main article: President of the United States*
The Constitution directs the president to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" and requires the president to swear or affirm to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Many presidential actions are undertaken via executive orders, presidential proclamations, and presidential memoranda. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

### Powers

Under the Reception Clause, the president is empowered to "receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers"; the president has broad authority to conduct foreign relations and is generally considered to have the sole power of diplomatic recognition as the United States' chief diplomat.

Article II's Appointments Clause provides that the president "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States."

The Constitution also grants the president the "Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment"; this clemency power includes the power to issue absolute or conditional pardons, and to issue commute sentences, to remit fines, and to issue general amnesties. The presidential clemency power extends only to federal crimes, and not to state crimes.

## Vice President

*Main article: Vice President of the United States*
The vice president is the second-highest official in rank of the federal government. The vice president's duties and powers are established in the legislative branch of the United States federal government under Article I, Section 3, Clauses 4 and 5 as the president of the Senate; this means that they are the designated presiding officer of the Senate. In that capacity, the vice president has the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote. Pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment, the vice president presides over the joint session of Congress when it convenes to count the vote of the Electoral College.

### Succession to the presidency

As first in the presidential line of succession, the vice president's duties and powers move to the executive branch when becoming president upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president, which has happened nine times in U.S. history. Lastly, in the case of a Twenty-fifth Amendment succession event, the vice president would become acting president, assuming all of the powers and duties of president, except being designated as president. Accordingly, by circumstances, the Constitution designates the vice president as routinely in the legislative branch, or succeeding to the executive branch as president, or possibly being in both as acting president pursuant to the Twenty-fifth Amendment. Because of circumstances, the overlapping nature of the duties and powers attributed to the office, the title of the office and other matters, such has generated a spirited scholarly dispute regarding attaching an exclusive branch designation to the office of vice president.

## Cabinet and other executive agencies

*Main article: Cabinet of the United States*
The daily enforcement and administration of federal laws is in the hands of the various federal executive departments, created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. The heads of the 15 departments, chosen by the president and approved with the "advice and consent" of the Senate, form a council of advisers known as the president's Cabinet. Once confirmed, cabinet officers serve at the pleasure of the president.

In addition to departments, there are a number of other Cabinet-level officials and independent agencies that make up the executive branch, including the White House Chief of Staff, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and others.

 Principles and terminology
 Styles
 Administrative divisions