Just the Facts: The Executive Branch of Government

The executive branch is the most powerful of the three branches of the United States government, as established by the Constitution. The president of the United States dictates foreign policy, the armed forces, the cabinet, the FBI, and the DEA, among other duties as the country's commander in chief. This program examines the legal and historical precedents that contributed to the creation of the powerful office and the impact it has had on the country's development. Views of past presidents on the executive branch's scope of authority are presented, along with insights and comments from noted educators and political officials on this important branch of the U.S. government.