Executive Office of the President (EOP) 2,000 employees; 500 White House Office staff. Chief of Staff: manages the President’s schedule, oversees White House Office staff Why is this a powerful position?

Office of Management & Budget Prepares President’s suggestions for federal budget Congress must actually pass the bill Oversees all federal spending

The Cabinet 15 department heads that advise the President Vice Presidents occasionally sit in on cabinet meetings, but Vice President Cheney was a permanent member of President Bush’s cabinet Justice Department head is called the Attorney General, but all other department heads are called secretaries. Newest member of the cabinet: Department of Homeland Security was created by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002; coordinates counterterrorism intelligence

Cabinet Responsibilities Established by President George Washington, not the Constitution Secretaries advise the President on issues related to their department, but the President does not have to listen. Cabinet members spend most of their time leading their departments. Need to know State Department, Defense Department, Treasury Department, Justice Department, and Department of Homeland Security

Department of Justice Attorney General (dept head): Eric Holder Responsible for enforcing laws Notable enforcement agencies: US Marshal Service Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Prisons

US Marshal Service (USMS) Federal law enforcement agency. Enforcement of federal courts: serve warrants, transport prisoners, seek fugitives (Most Wanted), run Witness Protection Program.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director: Robert Mueller, III Federal criminal investigations & internal (domestic) intelligence agency Recall: CIA is for foreign intelligence (other countries); FBI is for domestic (the US)

Other Advisors The Vice President: often the closest advisor to the President, depending upon the relationship. Power has grown over time (and Cheney has not been the only one to increase that power). The First Lady: mostly offers support for the President, but in recent years has taken on more of a role in special initiatives (such as Hillary Clinton with healthcare and Laura Bush with education