Office of the President

Executive Advisors Washington was inaugurated in NY Set precedents (example that becomes standard practice) on how to run our country Congress set up departments within the branch Constitution did not establish names or limit number of departments Washington set up first three departments in summer 1789 Outlined in Article 2, Section 2 – President’s Powers : Appointments Washington appointed the department leaders who became his advisors

Handle relations with other nations/foreign affairs State Department 1st Secretary Handle relations with other nations/foreign affairs Thomas Jefferson Current – John Kerry

Deal with national financial matters Treasury Department Deal with national financial matters Alexander Hamilton Current - Jacob Lew 1st Secretary

Provide for national defense War Department Current – Chuck Hagel Provide for national defense 1st Secretary Henry Knox

Attorney General Edmund Randolph President’s legal advisor & responsible for enforcement of national laws Current – Eric Holder, Jr. Edmund Randolph

Presidential Advisors Became known as the President’s “Cabinet” Constitution does not say the President must use them to advise him on decisions Washington used these men to make critical national decisions

Departments of the President’s Cabinet Agriculture Commerce Trade/sales & purchases Defense (formerly War) Education Energy Health & Human Services Protects health & offer those services to Americans State Transportation Veteran Affairs Works for veterans of America Homeland Security Protects America & its people Housing & Urban Development Home ownership & community growth Justice Enforce law Labor Welfare of job seekers Interior Protects natural & cultural heritage of U.S.A. Treasury

Government in Action Judiciary Act of 1789 Create a federal court system Supreme Court assigned 6 justices John Jay ~ Chief Justice 3 courts of appeals District court in each state