Cabinet Advises the President: Executive Department Heads

What does the Cabinet do? The Cabinet advises the President. Cabinet members are the heads of executive departments who meet with the President to discuss important issues, provide expertise, and help make decisions about running the government. Each Cabinet member leads a major department and serves as the President’s top advisor in their area of responsibility.

The Cabinet is not mentioned in the Constitution, but George Washington established the practice of meeting with department heads to discuss issues and get advice. Every President since Washington has had a Cabinet, though its size and importance have varied over time.

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, remember that the Cabinet advises the President. This is the Cabinet’s main function.

The Cabinet consists of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments. These department heads are called Secretaries, except for the Attorney General who leads the Justice Department. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate.

The 15 executive departments are:

1. State (foreign policy)
2. Treasury (finances and taxes)
3. Defense (military)
4. Justice (law enforcement)
5. Interior (natural resources and public lands)
6. Agriculture (farming and food)
7. Commerce (business and trade)
8. Labor (workers and employment)
9. Health and Human Services (healthcare and social services)
10. Housing and Urban Development (housing policy)
11. Transportation (roads, rails, air travel)
12. Energy (power and nuclear weapons)
13. Education (schools and education policy)
14. Veterans Affairs (services for military veterans)
15. Homeland Security (security and immigration)

Presidents can also give Cabinet rank to other officials like the White House Chief of Staff, U.S. Trade Representative, or heads of major agencies. These officials attend Cabinet meetings and have Cabinet-level status but don’t head executive departments.

How the Cabinet Works

Cabinet meetings bring together the President’s top advisors to discuss important issues. The President sets the agenda and leads discussions. Cabinet members share information, debate policy options, and provide advice based on their expertise and departmental responsibilities.

Cabinet members have dual roles:

Department Head: Each Cabinet member runs a large department employing thousands of people. They implement laws related to their department’s mission, manage budgets, and oversee programs. This administrative role is demanding and time-consuming.

Presidential Advisor: Cabinet members also serve as personal advisors to the President. They meet regularly with the President, either in full Cabinet meetings or individually, to discuss issues and provide counsel. The President expects loyalty and support from Cabinet members.

These dual roles can create tension. A Cabinet member’s department may have interests that conflict with the President’s priorities. Career employees in departments may resist presidential directives. Cabinet members must balance being effective administrators with being loyal presidential advisors.

The President’s relationship with the Cabinet varies. Some Presidents meet frequently with the full Cabinet and rely heavily on their advice. Others prefer smaller meetings with individual Cabinet members or key advisors. Modern Presidents often rely more on White House staff than Cabinet members for policy advice.

Why the Cabinet Matters

Cabinet members run the major departments that execute federal laws and deliver government services. The Secretary of Defense oversees the military. The Secretary of State conducts foreign policy. The Attorney General enforces federal laws. These are enormous responsibilities affecting millions of Americans and people worldwide.

Cabinet members also help the President make informed decisions. No President can be expert in every policy area. Cabinet members bring specialized knowledge and experience. The Secretary of the Treasury advises on economic policy. The Secretary of Health and Human Services advises on healthcare. The President needs this expertise to govern effectively.

Cabinet appointments signal a President’s priorities. If the President appoints an environmental activist as Interior Secretary, this suggests prioritizing conservation. If the President appoints a business executive as Commerce Secretary, this signals focus on economic growth. Cabinet choices reveal what the President values and how the administration will approach issues.

The Senate confirmation process provides oversight. Senators question nominees about their qualifications, policy views, and potential conflicts of interest. This vetting helps ensure Cabinet members are qualified and appropriate for their positions. Controversial nominees may face difficult confirmation battles or be rejected.

Historical Context

George Washington established the Cabinet precedent by regularly meeting with his department heads. His first Cabinet included Thomas Jefferson (State), Alexander Hamilton (Treasury), Henry Knox (War), and Edmund Randolph (Attorney General). These four men advised Washington on major decisions, though they often disagreed with each other strongly.

The Cabinet has grown significantly since Washington’s time. Originally there were four executive departments. Congress has created new departments as government responsibilities expanded. The most recent department, Homeland Security, was created in 2002 after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Some Cabinet positions have been extremely influential historically. Alexander Hamilton as Treasury Secretary essentially created American financial system. William Seward as Secretary of State under Lincoln helped prevent foreign intervention in the Civil War and negotiated the purchase of Alaska. George Marshall as Secretary of State after World War II developed the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe.

Other Cabinet members have been controversial or ineffective. Some faced scandals and resigned. Others proved unqualified for their positions. The quality of Cabinet appointments varies greatly depending on the President’s judgment and the pool of available candidates.

Presidential relationships with Cabinets have varied. Lincoln called his Cabinet his “team of rivals,” appointing strong personalities who disagreed with him and each other. Eisenhower, with military experience, ran Cabinet meetings like staff meetings with structured agendas. Kennedy often bypassed his Cabinet, preferring to rely on a small group of White House advisors. Trump had unusual turnover in Cabinet positions, with many members serving only briefly.

The Cabinet and Presidential Succession

Cabinet members are in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President Pro Tempore. The order follows when departments were created, starting with the Secretary of State.

This succession is established by statute, not the Constitution. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 created the current order. If the presidency and vice presidency are both vacant, and congressional leaders cannot serve, Cabinet members would become President in this order:

1. Secretary of State
2. Secretary of the Treasury
3. Secretary of Defense
4. Attorney General
5. (Then other Cabinet members in order of department creation)

This succession has never been used. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment provides for filling vice presidential vacancies, making it unlikely that succession would ever reach Cabinet members. But the possibility exists, requiring Cabinet members to be ready to assume the presidency if catastrophe struck.

During the State of the Union address and other events where all top officials gather, one Cabinet member (called the “designated survivor”) is kept at a secure location. If an attack killed the President, Vice President, and other successors, the designated survivor would become President, ensuring continuity of government.

Connections That Matter

Understanding the Cabinet connects to separation of powers. The Cabinet runs the executive branch departments that enforce laws passed by Congress and interpret how laws apply. The Cabinet exercises executive power under the President’s direction.

The Cabinet relates to federalism. Executive departments administer programs nationwide, working with state and local governments. Secretaries must balance federal authority with state sovereignty, implementing national policies while respecting state differences.

The Cabinet also connects to checks and balances. Senate confirmation of Cabinet members gives Congress input into executive branch leadership. Congress can investigate Cabinet members, subpoena them to testify, and potentially impeach and remove them for misconduct.

For more on executive departments, see our article on the executive branch in the uscis-questions category. To understand presidential advisors, explore our explanation of the White House staff. To learn about Senate confirmation, read about advice and consent power.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cabinet members are there?
Fifteen department heads plus the Vice President make up the Cabinet. Presidents can give Cabinet rank to other officials, so the total number varies by administration.

Can the President fire Cabinet members?
Yes. Cabinet members serve at the President’s pleasure and can be removed at any time. The President doesn’t need Senate approval to fire Cabinet members, though this can be politically costly.

Do Cabinet members have to agree with the President?
They should generally support the President’s policies publicly. Cabinet members who publicly disagree with the President usually resign or are fired. Private disagreement is expected, but public loyalty is required.

What happens if the Senate rejects a Cabinet nominee?
The President can nominate someone else or leave the position temporarily filled by an acting secretary. Presidents sometimes make recess appointments to bypass Senate confirmation temporarily, though this is controversial.

Can Cabinet members run their departments independently?
No. Cabinet members serve the President and must implement the President’s policies. While they have administrative discretion, they cannot pursue agendas contrary to the President’s direction.

Do Cabinet members have security clearances?
Yes. All Cabinet members receive high-level security clearances because they deal with classified information. They are briefed on national security issues and participate in sensitive discussions.

How much do Cabinet members get paid?
Cabinet secretaries make $246,400 per year as of 2025. This is set by law and is the same for all Cabinet members except the Attorney General who makes slightly less.

Can former presidents serve in the Cabinet?
Yes. Nothing prohibits it, though it has never happened. William Howard Taft became Chief Justice after being President, showing that former presidents can hold other government positions.

Do Cabinet members live in Washington, D.C.?
Usually yes, though this is not required. Cabinet positions require regular presence in Washington for meetings and managing their departments. Most maintain residences in or near the capital.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
The Cabinet advises the President. This is the key answer. You might also be asked to name two Cabinet-level positions. Good examples include Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, or Attorney General.