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The President's Cabinet
The purpose of the Cabinet is to advise the President
on matters relating to the duties of their respective offices. As the
President's closest and most trusted advisors, members of the Cabinet
attend weekly meetings with the President. The Constitution does not
directly mention a "Cabinet," but the Constitutional authority
for a Cabinet is found in Article II, Section 2. The Constitution states
that the President "may require the opinion, in writing of the
principle officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject
relating to the duties of their respective offices." The Constitution
does not say which or how many executive departments should be created.
Who makes up the Cabinet?
The Cabinet traditionally includes the Vice President and the heads
of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce,
Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security,
Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation,
Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Cabinet-level
rank has also been given to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; the Director
of the National Drug Control Policy; the Assistant to the President
for Homeland Security; and the U.S. Trade Representative.
When requested by the President, other officials
are asked to attend these weekly meetings including, the President's
Chief of Staff, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, the Counselor to the President,
the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator
of the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Representative to
the United Nations.
How does one become a member of the Cabinet?
The 15 Secretaries from the executive departments are appointed
by the President, and they must be confirmed by a majority vote (51
votes) of the Senate. They cannot be a member of Congress or hold any
other elected office. Cabinet appointments are for the duration of the
administration, but the President may dismiss any member at any time,
without approval of the Senate. In addition, they are expected to resign
when a new President takes office.
The following is a list of the current
heads of the 15 executive department agencies, their department, when
that department was created, and a brief description of the department
from the United
States Government Manual. The list is organized by
order of succession. More information about each department can be found
in the United States Government Manual on GPO Access. Clicking
on the name of the department will take you to that department's Web
site.
State
| Treasury | Defense
| Justice | Interior
| Agriculture | Commerce
| Labor | Health & Human Services
Housing & Urban Development | Transportation
| Energy | Education
| Veterans Affairs | Homeland
Security
 Secretary
of State Colin L. Powell
Department
of State (1789):
The Department of State advises the President in the formulation and
execution of foreign policy and promotes the long-range security and
well-being of the United States. The Department determines and analyzes
the facts relating to American overseas interests, makes recommendations
on policy and future action, and takes the necessary steps to carry
out established policy. In so doing, the Department engages in continuous
consultations with the American public, the Congress, other U.S. departments
and agencies, and foreign governments; negotiates treaties and agreements
with foreign nations; speaks for the United States in the United Nations
and other international organizations in which the United States participates;
and represents the United States at international conferences.
The Secretary of State is responsible
for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of U.S. foreign
relations and for the interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government
abroad. The Secretary is the first-ranking member of the Cabinet, is
a member of the National Security Council, and is in charge of the operations
of the Department, including the Foreign Service.
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 Secretary
of the Treasury John Snow
Department
of the Treasury (1789):
The Department of the Treasury performs four basic functions: formulating
and recommending economic, financial, tax, and fiscal policies; serving
as financial agent for the U.S. Government; enforcing the law; and manufacturing
coins and currency.
As a major policy adviser to the
President, the Secretary of the Treasury has primary responsibility
for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial,
economic, and tax policy; participating in the formulation of broad
fiscal policies that have general significance for the economy; and
managing the public debt. The Secretary also oversees the activities
of the Department in carrying out its major law enforcement responsibility;
in serving as the financial agent for the U.S. Government; and in manufacturing
coins, currency, and other products for customer agencies. The Secretary
also serves as the Government's chief financial officer.
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 Secretary
of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Department
of Defense (1947):
The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military
forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country.
The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
and Air Force, consisting of about 1.4 million men and women on active
duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the 1 million members
of the Reserve and National Guard. In addition, there are about 700,000
civilian employees in the Defense Department.
Under the President, who is also Commander-in-Chief,
the Secretary of
Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department,
which includes the separately organized military departments of Army,
Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice,
the unified combatant commands, and various defense agencies established
for specific purposes.
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 Attorney
General John Ashcroft
Department
of Justice (1870):
As the largest law firm in the Nation, the Department of Justice serves
as counsel for its citizens. It represents them in enforcing the law
in the public interest. Through its thousands of lawyers, investigators,
and agents, the Department plays the key role in protection against
criminals and subversion, in ensuring healthy competition of business
in our free enterprise system, in safeguarding the consumer, and in
enforcing drug, immigration, and naturalization laws.
The affairs and activities of the Department of
Justice are generally directed by the Attorney General. The Attorney
General represents the United States in legal matters generally and
gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive
departments of the Government when so requested. The Attorney General
appears in person to represent the Government before the U.S. Supreme
Court in cases of exceptional gravity or importance.
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 Secretary
of the Interior Gale A. Norton
Department
of the Interior (1849):
The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide
access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust
responsibilities to tribes. The Department manages the Nation's public
lands and minerals, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and western
water resources and upholds Federal trust responsibilities to Indian
tribes. It is responsible for migratory wildlife conservation; historic
preservation; endangered species; surface-mined lands
protection and restoration; mapping; and geological, hydrological, and
biological science.
The Secretary of the Interior reports directly
to the President and is responsible for the direction and supervision
of all operations and activities of the Department.
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 Secretary
of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman
Department
of Agriculture (1862):
The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income
and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products.
The Department helps to curb and to cure poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
It works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity
by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural
resources. Rural development, credit, and conservation programs are
key resources for carrying out national growth policies. Department
research findings directly or indirectly benefit all Americans. The
Department, through inspection and grading services, safeguards and
ensures standards of quality in the daily food supply.
The Secretary of Agriculture reports directly
to the President and is responsible for the direction and supervision
of all operations and activities of the Department.
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 Secretary
of Commerce Donald L. Evans
Department
of Commerce (1903):
The Department of Commerce encourages, serves, and promotes the Nation's
international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement.
The Department provides a wide variety of programs through the competitive
free enterprise system. It offers assistance and information to increase
America's competitiveness in the world economy; administers programs
to prevent unfair foreign trade competition; provides social and economic
statistics and analyses for business and government planners; provides
research and support for the increased use of scientific, engineering,
and technological development; works to improve our understanding and
benefits of the Earth's physical environment and oceanic resources;
grants patents and registers trademarks; develops policies and conducts
researsch on telecommunications; provides assistance to promote domestic
economic development; and assists in the growth of minority businesses.
The Secretary of Commerce is responsible for the
administration of all functions and authorities assigned to the Department
of Commerce and for advising the President on Federal policy and programs
affecting the industrial and commercial segments of the national economy.
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 Secretary
of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Department
of Labor (1913):
The purpose of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop
the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their
working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable
employment. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers
a variety of Federal labor laws guaranteeing workers' rights to safe
and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage and overtime
pay, freedom from employment discrimination, unemployment insurance,
and workers' compensation. The department also protects workers' pension
rights; provides for job training programs; helps workers find jobs;
works to strengthen free collective bargaining; and keeps track of changes
in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. As
the Department seeks to assist all Americans who need and want to work,
special efforts are made to meet the unique job market problems of older
workers, youths, minority group members, women, the handicapped, and
other groups.
The Secretary of Labor is the principal adviser
to the President on the development and execution of policies and the
administration and enforcement of laws relating to wage earners, their
working conditions, and their employment opportunities.
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 Secretary
of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson
Department
of Health and Human Services (1953):
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Cabinet-level department
of the Federal executive branch most involved with the Nation's human
concerns. In one way or another, it touches the lives of more Americans
than any other Federal agency. It is literally a department of people
serving people, from newborn infants to persons requiring health services
to our most elderly citizens.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services advises
the President on health, welfare, and income security plans, policies,
and programs of the Federal Government; and directs Department staff
in carrying out the approved programs and activities of the Department
and promotes general public understanding of the Department's goals,
programs, and objectives.
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 Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez
Department
of Housing and Urban Development (1965):
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the principal Federal
agency responsible for programs concerned with the Nation's housing
needs, fair housing opportunities, and improvement and development of
the Nation's communities. The Department of Houseing and Urban Development
was created to: administer the principal programs that provide assistance
for housing and for the development of the Nation's communities; encourage
the solution of housing and community development problems through States
and localities; and encourage the maximum contributions that may be
made by vigorous private homebuilding and mortgage lending industries,
both primary and secondary, to housing, community development, and the
national economy.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Develepment
formulates recommendations for basic policies in the fields of housing
and community development; encourages private enterprise participation
in housing and community development; promotes the growth of cities
and States and the efficient and effective use of housing and community
and economic development resources by stimulating private sector initiatives,
public/private sector partnerships, and public entrepreneurship; ensures
equal access to housing and affirmatively prevents discrimination in
housing; and provides general oversight for the Federal National Mortgage
Association.
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 Secretary
of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta
Department
of Transportation (1966):
The U.S. Department of Transportation establishes the Nation's overall
transportation policy. Under its umbrella there are 10 administrations
whose jurisdictions include highway planning, development, and construction;
urban mass transit; railroads; aviation; and the safety of waterways,
ports, highways, and oil and gas pipelines. Decisions made by the Department
in conjunction with the appropriate State and local officials strongly
affect other programs such as land planning, energy conservation, scarce
resource utilization, and technological change.The Department of Transportation
was established ``to assure the coordinated, effective administration
of the transportation programs of the Federal Government'' and to develop
``national transportation policies and programs conducive to the provision
of fast, safe, efficient, and convenient transportation at the lowest
cost consistent therewith.''
Secretary The Department of Transportation is
administered by the Secretary of Transportation, who is the principal
adviser to the President in all matters relating to Federal transportation
programs.
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 Secretary
of Energy Spencer Abraham
Department
of Energy (1977):
The Department of Energy, in partnership with its customers, is entrusted
to contribute to the welfare of the Nation by providing the technical
information and the scientific and educational foundation for the technology,
policy, and institutional leadership necessary to achieve efficiency
in energy use, diversity in energy sources, a more productive and competitive
economy, improved environmental quality, and a secure national defense.
The Secretary of Energy decides major energy policy
and planning issues; acts as the principal spokesperson for the Department;
and ensures the effective communication and working relationships with
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and the public. The Secretary
is the principal adviser to the President on energy policies, plans,
and programs.
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 Secretary
of Education Rod Paige
Department
of Education (1979):
The Department of Education establishes policy for, administers, and
coordinates most Federal assistance to education. Its mission is to
ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence
throughout the Nation.
The Secretary of Education advises the President
on education plans, policies, and programs of the Federal Government
and serves as the chief executive officer of the Department, coordinating
and overseeing all Department activities, providing support and encouragement
to States and localities on matters related to education, and focusing
the resources of the Department and the attention of the country on
ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence
throughout the Nation.
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 Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi
Department
of Veterans Affairs (1988):
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates programs to benefit veterans
and members of their families. Benefits include compensation payments
for disabilities or death related to military service; pensions; education
and rehabilitation; home loan guaranty; burial; and a medical care program
incorporating nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers. The Department
is comprised of three organizations that administer veterans programs:
the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration,
and the National Cemetery Administration. Each organization has field
facilities and a central office component.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports directly
to the President and is responsible for the direction and supervision
of all operations and activities of the Department.
 Secretary
of Homeland Security Tom Ridge
Department
of Homeland Security (2003):
Worksto prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's
vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks
and natural disasters.
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