executive department
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States: An "executive department" is a primary administrative unit of the U.S. federal government, headed by a Secretary (or Attorney General for the Department of Justice) who is a member of the President's Cabinet. These departments are responsible for implementing and enforcing federal laws and administering national programs.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The Department of State is an executive department responsible for foreign policy.
- Funding for the new initiative must be approved by the relevant executive department.
- The President meets regularly with the heads of the executive departments.
Advanced Usage
- "Cabinet-level executive department": This phrase emphasizes that the department's leader serves in the President's Cabinet.
- The Department of Homeland Security became a Cabinet-level executive department in 2002.
Variants and Related Words
- Executive branch (n): The branch of the U.S. government responsible for enforcing laws, which includes the President, the Cabinet (heads of executive departments), and other agencies.
- Cabinet (n): A body of advisers to the President, composed of the heads of the executive departments and other high-ranking officials.
Synonyms
- Federal department: A department of the national government.
- Cabinet department: Highlights the department's status within the President's advisory group.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "executive department" specifically refers to the fifteen current major departments (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury) as defined by U.S. law. It is a formal, legal term within the context of the U.S. government structure. It is not typically used to describe departments within state governments or within the legislative or judicial branches.
Noun
- a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States