The Cabinet

Learning Objectives To examine the role and powers of the Cabinet To complete a short-answer exam question: How important is the president’s cabinet?

The Cabinet An official advisory board to the president, composed of the heads (secretaries) of the 14 major departments of the federal government. The secretaries, or chief administrators are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. Approval is normally taken for granted, but recent years have seen many rejections.

12 cabinet appointments have been rejected: – 1834: Taney – 1843: Cushing (three times!) – 1844: Henshaw; Porter; Green – 1868: Stanberry – 1925: Warren (twice) – 1959: Strauss – 1989: John Tower Pause for Thought Cabinet Appointments

History of the Cabinet The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Cabinet 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, as well as the Attorney General.

A Balanced Cabinet? Region Race Gender Age Ideology

Meet Obama’s Cabinet

Appointment to.. The President nominates and the Senate must confirm the nominee. President will usually reward loyal party members and may often select 1 position from the opposition party. Multiculturalism is often taken into consideration.

State 1789 Advises President on foreign policy. Negotiates treaties with foreign countries. Office of Passport Services. Thomas Jefferson - 1 st Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton Region – Born Illinois, Senator New York Race - White Gender - Female Age - 64 Ideology - Democrat

Treasury 1789 Produces coins and bills; collects taxes Enforces alcohol, tobacco and firearms laws. Borrows money. IRS and United States Mint. Alexander Hamilton - 1 st Secretary Timothy F. Geithner Region – born New York Race - White Gender - Male Age - 50 Ideology - Independent

Defense 1947 Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Departments of Navy, Army and Air Force. Henry Knox – 1st Secretary Leon E Panetta Region - California Race – Italian American Gender - Male Age - 73 Ideology - Democrat

Justice 1789 Prosecutes those accused of violating federal law. Provides legal advice for President Represents US in court FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals. Edmond Randolph – 1 st. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. Region – New York Race – African American Gender - Male Age - 60 Ideology - Democrat

Interior 1849 Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parks. Helps Native Americans manage their affairs. US Fish and Wildlife Service. National park Service. Thomas Ewing - 1 st Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar Region - Colorado Race - White Gender - Male Age - 56 Ideology - Democrat

Agriculture 1889 Manages national forests. Inspects food. Administers food stamp and school lunch programs. Food and Nutrition Service. Norm Coleman- 1 st Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack Region - Pennsylvania Race - White Gender - Male Age - 61 Ideology – Democrat

Commerce 1903 Conducts Census. Grants patents and registers trademarks. Bureau of the Census. International Trade Administration. William C. Redfield - 1 st Secretary John E. Bryson Region – New York Race - White Gender - Male Age - 68 Ideology - Democrat

Labor 1913 Enforces federal law on minimum wages, maximum hours, and safe working conditions. OSHA, Bureau of Labor Statistics. William B. Wilson – 1st Secretary Hilda L. Solis Region - California Race - Hispanic Gender - Female Age - 54 Ideology - Democrat

Health and Human Services – 1953 Funds health care research programs. Enforces pure food and drug act. Medicare and Medicaid. Food and Drug Admin and CDC. Patricia Harris - 1 st Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Region – Born Ohio, Governor Kansas Race - White Gender - Female Age - 63 Ideology - Democrat

Housing and Urban Development Operates home – financing and public housing programs. Enforces fair housing laws. Office of Housing. Robert C. Weaver- 1 st Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan Region – New York Race - White Gender - Male Age - 45 Ideology - Democrat

Transportation 1967 Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads and air travel. Federal Highway and Aviation Administration. Alan S. Boyd - 1 st Secretary Ray LaHood Region - Illinois Race – Lebanese-American Gender - Male Age - 66 Ideology - Republican

Energy 1977 Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy. Conducts nuclear weapons research and production. James R. Schlesinger - 1 st Secretary Steven Chu Region - Missouri Race – Chinese-American Gender - Male Age - 63 Ideology - Democrat

Education 1979 Administers federal aid to schools and conducts educational research. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Shirley Hufstedler - 1 st Secretary Arne Duncan Region - Illinois Race - White Gender - Male Age - 47 Ideology

Veterans Affairs 1989 Administries benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans. Veteran Benefits Admin. National Cemetery Admin. Edward J. Derwinski - 1 st Secretary Eric K. Shinseki Region - Hawaii Race – Japanese American Gender - Male Age - 69 Ideology - Unknown

Homeland Security 2002 Border and transportation security. Emergency preparedness and response. Coast Guard, TSA, and immigration services. Tom Ridge – 1 st Secretary Janet A. Napolitano Region – Born New York, Governor Arizona Race – Italian-American Gender - Female Age - 54 Ideology - Democrat

Cabinet-Rank Positions The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank: White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson Office of Management & Budget Jacob J. Lew, Director United States Trade Representative Ambassador Ronald Kirk United States Ambassador to the United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Alan B. Krueger

A Balanced Cabinet? Region Race Gender Age Ideology Is Obama’s cabinet balanced? REMEMBER: A Cabinet will never be truly balanced in terms of ideology, as it needs to reflect the governing party!!

Creation of Cabinet Departments Department of State – 1789 Department of Treasury – 1789 Department of the Interior – 1849 Department of Agriculture – 1862 Department of Justice – 1870 Department of Commerce – 1903 Department of Labour – 1913 Department of Defence – 1947 (War 1789, Navy 1798, Air Force 1947) Department of Housing and Urban Development – 1965 Department of Transportation – 1966 Department of Energy – 1977 Department of Education – 1979 Department of Health and Human Services – 1979 Department of Veterans Affairs – 1989 Department of Homeland Security The Growth of the Cabinet The modern Cabinet has grown and adapted over 2 centuries, but it is comparatively rare for new Departments to be created. Presidents do not want to be seen to be increasing the power of the federal government or their own power. Pause for Thought Cabinet Departments

Functions of the Cabinet To advise the president on policy within areas covered by their departments (PRIMARY CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE) To oversee the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal within executive departments To deal with specific areas of national and international affairs NB: Whether or not cabinet members act as advisers, they retain responsibility for directing the activities of the government in specific areas of concern

Cabinet Meetings Often receive criticism Frequency can vary (Reagan 36 – Clinton 6 Y1) Frequency decreases (Reagan ) GWB - ‘Big Picture’ Cabinet little to contribute to discussions Functions for the president Functions for cabinet

Functions for the President Team Spirit Collegial and consultative appearance Information giving and gathering Forum to debate policy ‘Big Picture’ items Check on legislation Push for congressional action See cabinet members

Functions for the Cabinet Get-to-know you session Resolve inter-departmental disputes Networking (before or after?) Opportunity to ‘catch’ president Increased standing in departments

Homework Reading and Note Taking, The Cabinet, p