president make decisions and policy Ch. 8.3 THE CABINET Cabinet Secretaries, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy

The Selection of the Cabinet The president appoints the heads of 15 executive departments. called secretaries, along with the VP and other officials they make up the cabinet. Cabinet secretaries; advise the president; and administer huge bureaucracies. In appointing department heads, the president must balance the following factors: A. Must have a background that fits the department he or she will head. B. It should be gender and racially balanced. C. They often have advanced college degrees. The selection process includes the following steps: A. The president-elect draws up a list of candidates B. Key staff members meet with the candidates to discuss the issues C. The Senate holds confirmation hearings on the choices for cabinet heads.

The Role of the Cabinet They meet when the president calls them together. Meetings take place in the cabinet room of the White House and are closed to the public and press. The cabinet’s role in decision making depends on how the president defines it.

Factors Limiting the Cabinet’s Role The president’s use of the cabinet is often limited for the following reasons: A. Cabinet members answer to more than one person, such as career officials in their own departments, members of Congress, and special interest groups. B. Disagreements often occur among secretaries. C. Keeping secrets is difficult when 15 department heads are involved in a discussion. D. Trust. Presidents often do not know their cabinet members well.