1. Part 5 Objective: You will be able to list the different cabinet positions

3.  Each department is headed by a secretary, except for the Department of Justice, whose work is directed by the attorney general.  Each department is made up of a number of subunits, both staff and line.  Today, the executive departments vary a great deal in terms of visibility, size, and importance.

4.  The Cabinet is an informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs.  By tradition, the heads of the executive departments form the Cabinet.  The President appoints the head of each of the executive departments, which are then subject to Senate approval.  Cabinet members serve as both head of their respective departments and as advisors to the President.

5.  John Kerry  Chief engineer of American diplomacy  manages American travel overseas.

6.  Jack Lew  Manages federal finances, collects taxes, produces stamps, and provides government advice on matters of economic policy.

7.  Ken Salazar  Manages conservation efforts, national parks, and environmental protection.

8.  Eric Holder  Attorney General  Enforces federal laws by taking offenders to court, investigates and detains offenders through the FBI.

9.  Tom Vilsack  Oversees national forests & conservation efforts, responsible for safety of meat, poultry, and egg products  attempts to provide open foreign markets for American agricultural products.

10.  Penny Pritzker  “to foster, serve, and promote the Nation’s economic development and technological development.”

11.  Thomas Perez  Looks out for “job seekers, wage earners, and retirees” by administering federal labor laws  providing services like connecting potential employers to unemployed workers.

12.  Ashton Carter  Manages the nation’s military  headquartered at the Pentagon.

13.  Sylvia Mathews Burwell  Conducts health research, manages efforts to prevent disease  manages Medicare and Medicaid,

14.  Shaun Donovan  Strives to increase domestic homeownership and improve access to affordable housing free of discrimination.

15.  Anthony Foxx  Manages national transportation infrastructure like highways, air traffic, and railways.

16.  Ernest Moniz  Manages the nation’s nuclear weapons and energy  develops energy policies  conducts energy research.

17.  Arne Duncan  Manages federal student aid programs  monitors academic performance nationwide  administers federal education legislation

18.  Robert McDonald  Provides for the healthcare, benefits, and memorial service needs of veterans.

19.  Jeh Johnson  Oversees a wide range of federal agencies to help them coordinate plans to confront national emergencies and threats to national security.