This document provides an agenda and lesson plan for teaching students about the structure and organization of the US executive branch. The lesson includes warm-up questions, objectives, guided practice like creating a graphic organizer of the executive branch, and independent practice having students meet virtually with different Cabinet Secretaries. Key points covered are the leaders of the executive branch like the President and Vice President, components of the executive branch like the White House Office and independent agencies, and the 15 Cabinet-level departments.

1. Warm-Up ____ 1. Declare war ____ 2. Electoral College ____ 3. 270 ____ 4. Congressional Committees ____ 5. 435 ____ 6. Conducting elections ____ 7. Speaker of the House ____ 8. Check and Balance A. a group in Senate and HOR that reviews proposed laws and revises the bill’s language. B. The number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency C. Reserved Power D. The two houses of Congress must pass a bill before it can go to the President E. Delegated Power F. The number of house of representatives G. Congressional majority leader H. The way we elect the president

2. Students willcreate a graphic organizer in order todescribe the structure of the executive branch, including the membership of the fifteen cabinet departments. Agenda

3. Agenda Structure and Organization of the Executive Branch Reapportionment and Redistricting Structure and Organization of the Executive Branch Regulatory Agencies of the Exec Branch Structure and Organization of Congress Power and Roles of the Executive Branch How a Bill Becomes a Law Electoral College and Electing the President State and Local Government Electoral College and Electing the President

4. Objective and Warm-Up INM: Structure and Organization of theExecutive Branch GP/IP#1: Graphic Organizer GP/IP#2: Executive Department Speed-dating Exit Slip Agenda

5. The executive branch is one of three branches of government in the U.S. The executive branch serves to enforce laws and execute government policy. What is the Executive Branch?

6. There are multiple leaders in the executive branch: The President: The leader of our country The Vice President: The President of the Senate Who are the leaders of the Executive Branch?

7. What is the structure of the Executive Branch? The President works in the White House Office, where he is assisted by numerous individuals, including: Chief of Staff: Works with the Congress to see that all legislative goals are accomplished Press Secretary: Responsible for communicating the message of the President and the Executive Branch to the Press Key Advisors and Longtime Associates

8. What is the structure of the Executive Branch? The White House Office works within a larger organization called the Executive Office of the President with other groups, including: National Security Council: deals with domestic, foreign, and military policies. Council of Economic Advisors: works to inform President of economic trends. Office of Management and Budget: prepares the national budget for Congress to approve/fail.

9. Who belongs to the President’s Cabinet? Beyond the EOP, the President meets with and is advised by his Cabinet. The Cabinet consists of fifteen Secretaries, each of whom oversees their own department. The President is responsible for appointing the Secretary for each of these Departments. Each of these Presidential appointments must be approved by the Senate with a simple majority vote.

10. What are the 15 departments? The fifteen Secretaries of the President’s Cabinet are responsible for the administration of their own Executive Department, including: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

11. What are the regulatory agencies? The Executive Branch also includes about 60 Independent Agencies and Organizations. Some examples are: Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Company, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Election Assistance Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Postal Service

12. Guided and Independent Practice #1 Based on your notes, you will graphically organize the Executive Branch. Use the handout titled “Executive Branch Family Tree.” We will get you started with the first couple of blank spaces, and then you should finish in less than seven (7) minutes.

14. Guided and Independent Practice #2 Secretary Speed-Dating You have a meeting with the Secretary of each Executive Branch Department. You will need to use your two minutes to discover the name of the department, name of the secretary, and summarize the purpose of the department. You will have an open-note Exit Slip, so make sure that you don’t slack off!!! (That means you should take good notes.)

16. oversees the distribution of FASFA loans and Pell grants for higher education.

17. improves the rules and regulations for testing and funding rural school districts.

18. provides research-based suggestions for pre-K to 12th grader teachers.

19. Implements education reforms in Native American lands.

21. Independent Practice You will need to use your two minutes to discover the name of the department, name of the secretary, and summarize the purpose of the department. You will have an open-note Exit Slip, so make sure that you don’t slack off!!! (That means you should take good notes.)

22. You will have 5 minutes to complete today’s exit slip. Please circle only one answer. Complete it in silence. When you are done, carefully check over your answers. After checking your answers, please begin your homework. Exit Slip

23. What are 3 things that you learned today? What are 2 things that confused you? What is 1 thing you want to know more about? Exit Slip