Final answer:
The Executive Council at the federal level of the United States includes high-ranking officials such as the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate Pro Tempore, Secretary of State, and other Cabinet Secretaries. State executive councils include similar positions but operate within state governments. Additional advisory roles in the Executive Office of the President, like the Council of Economic Advisers, may also be part of the broader executive advisory framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Executive Council typically refers to the group of high-ranking officials within a government who are charged with executive functions.
These positions often involve managing the operations of large government segments, making major policy decisions, and advising the head of the government.
In the United States, the Executive Council at the federal level includes:
- The President of the United States
- The Vice President of the United States
- The Speaker of the House of Representatives
- The President of the Senate Pro Tempore
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of the Treasury
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Attorney General
- Remaining Cabinet Secretaries, who head executive departments as per their order of creation
Additional positions may include those that the President awards cabinet-level rank, such as the White House Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, and others.
Just to let you know, the governor of a state and other state executives, including the lieutenant governor and the attorney general, are part of the state's executive council, which is similar in function but operates at the state level.
Presidents have appointment powers that allow them to appoint thousands of federal positions, including those in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), without requiring Senate approval.
These positions can also include other advisers within the EOP, like the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).