1. Cabinet Departments page 435-440
Chapter 15 section 3
Cabinet Departments page

2. Executive Departments
Employ 2/3 of the Federal Government’s civilian workforce
First Congress created 3 departments: State, Treasury, and War
More departments were added as the government’s role grew in the U.S.

3. Chief Officers and Staff
Headed by a Secretary (Except Department of Justice: Attorney General)
Primary link between presidential policy and his and her own department
Promote and protect his/her department
Officials named by the President and confirmed by the Senate

4. Subunits Each department is made up of subunits, agencies.
80% of the men and women who had the bureaus, divisions, and other major units are career people, not political appointees
Structured geographically (Regional and/or district offices)
90% of all men and women who work as civilian employees of the Federal govt. are stationed outside the nation’s capital

5. Please read the diagram/timeline on page 436 -437 in textbook

6. The Executive Departments today
Department of State is the oldest and one of the smallest
The Department of Defense is the largest
Department of Health and Human Services has the largest budget
Department of Commerce has the smallest budget
Department of Homeland Security is the newest

7. The Cabinet
An informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs.
Constitution does not mention a Cabinet
Cabinet is a product of custom and usage

8. Choosing Cabinet Members
President appoints the head of each of the 15 departments, and confirmed by the Senate
Rejections from the Senate are rare
Factors that influence a President’s decision: party affiliation, role in the presidential campaign, professional qualifications, practical experience, geography (Ex: Secretary of Agriculture comes from Mid-west)

9. Interest groups care about Cabinet appointments, and influence some appointments (Ex: Secretary comes from financial world)
Gender and race, management abilities and experience, and other personal characteristics are other factors.
First women appointed Frances T. Perkins to Secretary of Labor
First African American was Robert C. Weaver to head the Department of Housing and development
First Hispanic officer was Lauro F. Cavazos Secretary of Education

10. The Cabinet’s Role
Two major responsibilities: Individually each is the administration head of an executive department and Collectively they are advisors to the President.
Overall importance of Cabinet has declined
Growth of other presidential resources such as staff assistance centered in the Executive Office eclipsed the Cabinet’s role