The Executive Branches of Governments Executive branches of governments today are quite large. Now modern governments have taken on many more responsibilities than they once had. When the executive branch of the United States government was organized in 1789, there were only three departments: War, State, and Treasury. As of 1989 there were 14 departments: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense (replacing the old War Department), Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. Most departments are presided over by an official called a s