Skip to Main Content
FDLP Resource Guides
Beginning summer 2023, we are updating our guides. You may notice changes to the look and feel of our existing guides. If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact askGPO.

Structure of the U.S. Government

Overview

This guide shows the structure of the U.S. Government, including the three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. Below is a general flowchart. For more detailed information, see the United States Government Manual.

Screenshot of the organization of the U.S. Government

Executive Branch

The Executive Branch includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet, the Executive Office of the President, Executive Departments, and Independent Establishments and Government Corporations (IEGC). Click on the tabs of this box to find more information about this branch of Government.

A collage of Presidential portraits

A collage of presidential portraits (Image source: Library of Congress)

The following guide highlights the roles of the President and Vice President, and the structure of the Cabinet, the Executive Office of the President, and the Executive Departments and their agencies.

President George W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act on September 25, 2008

President George W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act on September 25, 2008 (Image source: NAID: 176248579)

The table below lists all Executive Departments with their main websites, their official acronym or shorthand name, and FDLP Resource Guides about them.

Executive Department Acronym or Shorthand Name FDLP Resource Guide
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA USDA Guide
U.S. Department of Commerce DOC Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Defense DoD Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Education ED Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Energy DOE Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Justice DOJ Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Labor DOL Coming soon!
U.S. Department of State DOS Coming soon!
U.S. Department of Transportation DOT Coming soon!
U.S. Department of the Interior DOI DOI Guide
U.S. Department of the Treasury Treasury or USDT Treasury Guide
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA VA Guide

Check out information about the 58 IEGCs in the following guide:

Collage of images about the IEGCs National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Postal Service, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), and United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

IEGCs include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Postal Service (USPS), National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), and United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (Image sources (left to right): NAID: 237616384, NAID: 5612642, NAID: 556701, and NAID: 540034).

Judicial Branch

FDLP Resource Guides will have a guide about the judicial branch.

  • U.S. Federal Court System (coming soon!)

Photograph of Sandra Day O'Connor Being Sworn in a Supreme Court Justice by Chief Justice Warren Burger, Her Husband John O'Connor Looks On (September 25, 1981)

Photograph of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger swearing in Sandra Day O'Connor on September 21, 1981 (Image source: NAID: 1696015)

Legislative Branch

Visit the following guide to learn about the legislative branch, including the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the six legislative branch agencies:

House Committee on Energy and Commerce a holding a hearing on March 24, 2004

House Committee on Energy and Commerce holding a hearing on March 24, 2004 (Image source: NAID: 6769104)

Learn more about the FDLP Official Logo Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)
For questions or comments, contact the FDLP Resource Guides Team at @askGPO