The Role of the U.S. President and Cabinet

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The U.S. President and the Cabinet: The Executive Branch

The U.S. executive branch is made up of two essential components: the president and the Cabinet he or she selects to represent each of the 15 major departments of U.S. government. The Cabinet is an intimate group that meets at least once a week to discuss the most essential aspects of U.S. policy and government with the president. Members of the executive branch function not only as essential policymakers, but also as direct representatives of the American electorate.

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The Role of the U.S. President and Cabinet

The following sites provide historical and contextual background for the executive branch of the U.S. government, including the office of the president, and explain the need for a Cabinet.

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If you want to learn more about how presidents are elected, visit findingDulcinea’s General Election Web Guide and Election 2008 Web Guide.

To learn more about the other two branches of American government, read findingDulcinea’s Supreme Court Web Guide and the U.S. Congress Web Guide.

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Project Vote Smart outlines the key role of the president, including qualifications, benefits and powers. The recommended external links are also worth visiting.

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America.gov , a Web site maintained by the U.S. Department of State, features articles on the incoming Obama Cabinet. The site also outlines various aspects of government and its regulation, including the Constitution, Federalist system, and state and local governments.

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How the U.S. Presidential Cabinet Functions

We hear about the U.S. Cabinet and its decisions every day in the news, and although it is an essential element in U.S. politics, many Americans aren’t familiar with exactly how the Cabinet works. The following sites provide an overview of the rules that govern the Cabinet and the U.S. departments it represents.

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Cabinet members are selected by the president and generally serve with him throughout the length of his term. When the president leaves office, his Cabinet resigns as well.

A traditional presidential Cabinet contains these positions: the vice president, the attorney general, 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, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs.

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Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids presents “The President’s Cabinet,” a basic overview of the purpose, selection process and qualifications of Cabinet members. The site lists each department and its role in U.S. government, and clarifies the role of each Cabinet member in advising the president.

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The U.S. Constitution Online has a section on the U.S. Cabinet that explains how the Constitution implied that a Cabinet should be created. The site provides a chart listing the departments and the date each one was officially added by Congress to the executive branch. You’ll also learn which president was the first to appoint a secretary to each Cabinet position.

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Presidents and Their Cabinets in History

The sites below provide information on the careers of past presidents and the politicians who served in their Cabinets. This is an informative way to trace the political history of the United States, as many important historical figures have served in the Cabinet.

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For additional Web resources detailing American history, visit findingDulcinea’s Web Guide to U.S. History.

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The History Channel Web site offers “The U.S. Cabinet and Its Role,” which indexes secretaries by office and president. If you’re looking for a secretary of state, for example, you’ll find all past secretaries listed together. Browse the site for other articles about the U.S. presidency and Cabinet.

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The Internet Public Library presents the U.S. Presidents in chronological order. Click any name for a list of his Cabinet members, a timeline of important events in his presidency, historical presidential documents and more.

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President Obama and His Cabinet

Discover who President Obama has selected to represent his Cabinet thus far and what their roles entail. Because there are so many secretaries to keep track of, it’s easy to forget which name goes with which department: these sites offer profiles and information on members of the new administration.

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If you encounter a term you don’t recognize, visit a glossary of political terms, like this one, presented by ThisNation.com.

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The White House official Web Site is the definitive source of information on the president and the executive branch as a whole, offering current news and historical detail. Visit "The Administration" to learn about incoming members of the Obama team, including biographies of the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden as well as those who will serve in the Cabinet, as White House staff and in the Executive Office of the President.

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The New York Times profiles all of the confirmed Cabinet secretaries. You’ll see a photo of each department head, along with links to descriptions of each member's responsibilities and up-to-date biographical information on each.

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