executive department
1
4.2
- noun
- /ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv dɪˈpɑrtmənt/
- Formal
:
departamento ejecutivo
- Several elements of the initiative were implemented by executive departments and congressional legislation.
- executive department agencies
Examples
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Contacts with executive department officials (12 percent), White House officials (11 percent), and officials at a regulatory agency (21 percent), though less frequent, were also substantial.
Academic text (2014) -
Generally, the highest policy-level decisions are made by the president and the directors of various executive departments.
Academic text (1994) -
The law should tell the executive departments what needs to happen in fairly general ways.
Blog text (8) -
Real power still resides in the executive departments that have people, equipment, money, and the capacity to get things done.
Academic text (1998) -
Mr. O'Neill on the ground in Yemen represented one executive department, and the ambassador represented another.
Blog text (1) -
Indeed, tension between direct governmental oversight of the bankruptcy system through executive department agencies and judicial oversight through the federal courts has been a constant theme in the development of federal bankruptcy law.
Academic text (2017) -
Trade, immigration, narcotics control, resource development, environmental protection, and public health will all require complex management, engaging the active participation not only of many executive departments but also of Congress, state and local authorities, corporations, trade unions, and many other nongovernmental organizations.
Academic text (1990) -
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments.
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Real power still resides in the executive departments that have people, equipment, and resources to accomplish tasks.
-
Generally, the highest policy-level decisions are made by the president and the directors of various executive departments.
Synonyms
∞
1.8
A part of a company or organization that does a particular job
6
3.6
A government department or agency that works for the national government in the United States
6
2.5
A part of government that runs public services like schools
3
3.7
A part of the national government that handles a specific public task, like law or health
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a department forming part of the executive branch' is directly and compositionally derived from 'executive' (relating to the executive branch or those who enforce/implement laws) modifying 'department' (an organizational unit). This standard modifier+head structure is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Executive department comes from two simple ideas: executive (to 'carry out' orders) and department (a part or team). Think of the government as a big organization where the president gives work to teams, so an executive department is the team that carries out laws and runs public affairs.