Executive Branch
By Lauren Hicks
Federal Executive Branch
The Executive power rests with the President, currently Barack Obama. The function of the Executive Branch in the federal government is to enforce the laws passed by Congress. The roles of the President include being the Chief Executive, Party Leader, Head of State, Chief Legislator, Economic Planner, Chief Diplomat, and Commander in Chief. The major departments that make up the President's Cabinet are the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services , the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Maryland Executive Branch
The Executive power rests with the Governor, currently Larry Hogan. The function of the Executive branch in the state government is to implement and enforce Maryland's laws and provide executive direction to government. It consists of various officers and agencies authorized by the Maryland Constitution and State laws. The Governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units, may grant pardons to criminals, commute the sentences of prisoners, or remit fines and forfeitures imposed on people who have been convicted, jailed, or fined for violations of state laws, appoints certain boards and commissions, commissions notaries public, appoints officers to fill vacancies in the elected offices of Attorney General and Comptroller, and is required to give a State of the Union Address every year. The major departments that make up the Governor's Executive Council are the Department of Aging, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Budget & Management, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Disabilities, the Department of Education, the Department of Environment, the Department of General Services, the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the Department of Housing & Community Development, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Juvenile Services, the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Planning , the Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services, the Department of State Police, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Concluding Sentence
Both the Federal and State Executive Branches have a head of state/ chief executive who can both give Executive orders and have Cabinets.