THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET
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ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE II, SECTION 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE CABINET
CONSISTS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARIES OF 15 DEPARTMENTS.
Their role is to advise the President on issues related to their respective departments, which cover
a wide ranges of issues related to the safety and wellbeing of the Americans at home and abroad.
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IN ORDER OF SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY
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VICE PRESIDENT:
Breaks ties in the Senate and assumes the presidency if the president dies.
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SECRETARY OF STATE:
Develops foreign policy, negotiates with foreign representatives, deals with treaties and
agreements, supervises embassies
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SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY:
Collects revenue (the IRS), produces money, monitors national debt, develops economic
policy, operates the Postal Service and the Secret Service
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE:
Oversees the armed forces, flood control, and development of oceanographic resources,
manages oil reserves
ATTORNEY GENERAL:
The nation's top law-enforcement officer and head of the Dept. of Justice; represents the
U.S. in legal matters, supervises U.S. district attorneys and marshals, paroles and pardons,
federal prisons and penal institutions, includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the
Immigration and Naturalization Service
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SECRETARY OF LABOR:
Assures work safety, fair pay, unemployment insurance benefits, and reemployment
services; The Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps track of changes in employment, prices, and
other economic statistics.
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SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:
Oversees the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, Social Security,
Medicare/Medicaid, the Center for Disease Control, Federal Drug Administration, the National
Institutes of Health & the Public Health Service
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SECRETARY OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT:
Manages the Federal Housing Administration, promotes community development,
administers fair-housing laws, and provides affordable housing and rent subsidies.
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SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION:
Deals with air, maritime and surface transportation standards; manages the Coast Guard,
ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible travel
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SECRETARY OF ENERGY:
Supervises the nation's nuclear weapons program, radioactive waste disposal, energy
production and conservation, energy research and energy pricing.
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SECRETARY OF EDUCATION:
Administers more than 150 federal education programs to ensure equal access to education;
establishes policies on federal financial aid for education, and collects data on schools.
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SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR:
Protects the environment, our natural resources, public lands, and oversees U.S. territories;
includes the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Indian Affairs
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SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE:
Oversees farming & subsidies, food, natural resources, food safety; runs food assistance and
nutrition programs; also known as the USDA
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SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS:
Cares for the nation's veterans and spouses, issues checks for disability, education and
pensions, and supervises national cemeteries.
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SECRETARY OF COMMERCE:
Deals with patents, trademarks and censuses; promotes international trade, economic
growth, and technological advancement
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SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY:
Secures the country, prevents terrorist attacks and responds to natural disasters.
Critical Thinking
Questions
1. Why do you think Presidents choose to exercise their right to veto?
2. Do you see a common thread among bills vetoed?
3. Based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vetoes, do you think vetoes are only used for large issues?
STUDEN T G O VER N M EN TAL AFFAI R S P RO G RA M | S G A P. O RG |
Sources: www.ehow.com/facts_5566126_job-descriptions-presidential-cabinet-members.html; www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0775305.html; www.mentalfloss.com/article/22142/all-presidents-men-15-cabinet-leveldepartments; www.usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/prescababout.htm; www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet