Final answer:
The creation of the Department of Defense is authorized by United States Code Title 10. Established in 1949, it consolidated the military departments for better defense coordination, and was influenced by the National Security Act of 1947. Congress has powers over military funding, and the President serves as Commander in Chief.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creation of the Department of Defense (DoD) as an executive component of the U.S. government is authorized by United States Code (USC) Title 10. The DoD was officially created in 1949 and brought together the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the newly created Department of the Air Force under a single, unified department to improve national defense and security, particularly in response to the geopolitical situation after World War II and the onset of the Cold War. This reorganization was a pivotal move to streamline the military command structure and enhance the military's ability to respond to international threats, reinforced by the National Security Act of 1947.
Congress plays a crucial role in the operation and funding of the military, as detailed in Sections 8 Clauses 12, 13, and 14 of the U.S. Constitution, which grant Congress the power to raise and support armies, maintain a navy, and establish regulations for the management of the armed forces. Furthermore, the President of the United States is designated as the Commander in Chief, providing civilian oversight of the military.
Today, the executive branch encompasses not just the DoD, but also 14 other cabinet-level departments, over 60 government agencies, and numerous subunits, with civilian federal employees working both within the United States and internationally. The scale of the executive branch illustrates the expansiveness of the federal bureaucracy that supports the president in implementing policies and enforcing the laws of the land.