Federal Jobs by Government Branch

Class Location: The Internet.

Description: This course is designed to

Objective: Become familiar with

The federal government includes three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—each with its own agencies and employment opportunities. More than 90 percent of all federal employees work for the executive branch. Of the other two, the legislative branch employs about 50 percent more people than the judicial branch.

The executive branch includes the Executive Office of the President, the 15 Cabinet Departments, and dozens of independent agencies. Examples of independent agencies include the Federal Election Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the National Credit Union Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service, among many others. In addition, other corporations, committees, and commissions also fall under the executive branch and employ large numbers of people.

The legislative branch is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together employ more than 20,000 people. These jobs are often very competitive and require assertive networking. Most of these jobs are either with personal staffs of Congressmen or committee staffs. You'll often have to get your foot in the door in an entry-level position such as a receptionist or assistant, but these jobs usually allow you to move up through the ranks fairly quickly. In addition, a number of Congressional agencies support Congress, and each hires its own staff. These agencies include the General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, the Library of Congress, the Architect of the Capitol, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Technology Assessment, the Botanic Garden, and the Copyright Royalty Tribune.

Finally, the judicial branch includes the U.S. Supreme Court, various U.S. courts, and several support organizations. All of these courts and organizations employ both legal specialists and support personnel. The more professional positions in the judicial branch often require extensive networking, including schools, alumni, and law firms. Again, you may have to start in an entry-level position to work within the court system.