Two Cabinet-Level Positions You Should Know

Name two Cabinet-level positions. You can answer with any two of these: Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Attorney General, or Vice President.

For the citizenship test, you only need to name two. Choose two that are easy for you to remember. The most commonly known are Secretary of State (handles foreign policy), Secretary of Defense (oversees military), and Attorney General (leads Justice Department).

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, memorize two Cabinet-level positions. Here are the easiest to remember:

Secretary of State: Leads the State Department and handles foreign policy. The Secretary of State meets with foreign leaders, negotiates treaties, and represents America internationally. This is often considered the most prestigious Cabinet position.

Secretary of Defense: Leads the Defense Department and oversees the military. The Secretary of Defense manages all branches of the armed forces and advises the President on military matters.

Attorney General: Leads the Justice Department and is the nation’s top law enforcement officer. The Attorney General oversees federal prosecutors, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.

Any two of the 15 Cabinet positions are correct answers. Choose the two you remember most easily. The test does not require specific positions, just any two Cabinet-level positions.

The Major Cabinet Positions

Understanding what each Cabinet position does helps you remember them:

Secretary of State: First in the Cabinet line of succession. Conducts diplomacy, manages embassies worldwide, issues passports and visas. The Secretary of State is America’s chief diplomat.

Secretary of the Treasury: Manages federal finances, collects taxes, prints money, enforces financial laws. The Treasury Secretary advises the President on economic policy and oversees the IRS.

Secretary of Defense: Commands the military, manages defense budget, oversees Pentagon. The Defense Secretary is the President’s principal military advisor and runs the largest government department.

Attorney General: Enforces federal laws, prosecutes federal crimes, represents the government in court. The Attorney General must balance political loyalty to the President with independent law enforcement.

Secretary of the Interior: Manages federal lands, national parks, and natural resources. Oversees relations with Native American tribes. The Interior Secretary balances conservation with resource development.

Secretary of Agriculture: Oversees farming policy, food safety, and rural development. Manages food assistance programs like food stamps. The Agriculture Secretary represents rural America’s interests.

Secretary of Commerce: Promotes business and economic growth, conducts the census, issues patents and trademarks. The Commerce Secretary represents business interests in government.

Secretary of Labor: Protects workers’ rights, enforces workplace safety laws, tracks employment statistics. The Labor Secretary represents workers’ interests in government.

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS): Oversees Medicare, Medicaid, public health, and food safety. HHS is the largest domestic agency, affecting healthcare for millions of Americans.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Manages federal housing programs, enforces fair housing laws, assists with urban development. HUD Secretary works to make housing affordable and combat discrimination.

Secretary of Transportation: Oversees highways, aviation, railroads, and public transit. The Transportation Secretary ensures safe, efficient transportation systems nationwide.

Secretary of Energy: Manages energy policy, nuclear weapons, and energy research. The Energy Secretary balances energy production with environmental concerns.

Secretary of Education: Oversees federal education policy, administers student loans, and enforces education laws. The Education Secretary influences schools nationwide though most education policy is set locally.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Provides healthcare and benefits to military veterans. The VA Secretary runs the second-largest federal department, serving millions of veterans.

Secretary of Homeland Security: Protects against terrorism, secures borders, manages immigration, responds to disasters. Created after 9/11, this is the newest Cabinet department.

Vice President: Also considered Cabinet-level. The Vice President advises the President, presides over the Senate, and is first in line for succession.

Why These Positions Matter

Cabinet secretaries run massive organizations. The Defense Department employs over 2 million people. HHS has a budget exceeding $1 trillion. These secretaries make decisions affecting millions of Americans daily. They implement the President’s policies but also exercise significant independent judgment.

Cabinet positions attract talented, experienced people. Secretaries usually have relevant expertise: military experience for Defense, legal background for Attorney General, foreign policy experience for State. While some Cabinet members are political appointees with limited expertise, most bring substantial credentials to their positions.

Cabinet members can influence national policy significantly. A strong Treasury Secretary shapes economic policy. An effective Attorney General determines law enforcement priorities. Cabinet members with the President’s confidence and strong departmental support can accomplish major goals.

Unsuccessful Cabinet members can create problems. Scandals, mismanagement, or poor judgment damage the President’s reputation. Presidents often remove Cabinet members who become liabilities. High Cabinet turnover suggests administrative chaos and poor presidential judgment.

Historical Examples

Some Cabinet members become historically significant:

Alexander Hamilton (Treasury): First Treasury Secretary, created the American financial system, established the national bank, and shaped early economic policy.

William Seward (State): Served under Lincoln, prevented foreign recognition of the Confederacy, purchased Alaska (called “Seward’s Folly” at the time but proved valuable).

Frances Perkins (Labor): First woman Cabinet member, served under FDR, helped create Social Security and establish federal labor standards.

George Marshall (State/Defense): Created the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II, serving first as Secretary of State then Secretary of Defense.

Robert McNamara (Defense): Shaped Vietnam War policy under Kennedy and Johnson, symbolizing both technocratic management and policy failure.

Janet Reno (Attorney General): First woman Attorney General, served eight years under Clinton, known for independent decision-making.

Colin Powell (State): First Black Secretary of State, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided military credibility to the Bush administration.

Condoleezza Rice (State): First Black woman Secretary of State, former National Security Advisor, advised Bush on foreign policy during Iraq War.

These examples show how Cabinet positions can be stepping stones to historical significance or permanent infamy, depending on the decisions made and historical circumstances.

Connections That Matter

Understanding Cabinet positions connects to separation of powers. Cabinet members run executive branch departments that enforce laws Congress passes. The Cabinet exercises executive power under the President’s direction, distinct from congressional lawmaking or judicial interpretation.

Cabinet positions relate to checks and balances. The Senate confirms Cabinet nominees, giving Congress input into executive branch leadership. Congress also holds hearings with Cabinet members, investigates their actions, and controls their departments’ funding.

The Cabinet connects to federalism. Executive departments work with state and local governments to implement federal programs. Secretaries must coordinate with governors, state agencies, and local officials, respecting state authority while exercising federal power.

For more on the executive branch, see our article on what the President does in the uscis-questions category. To understand Senate confirmation, explore our explanation of advice and consent. To learn about specific departments, read about federal government organization.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

Which two Cabinet positions should I memorize?
Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense are easiest to remember and most commonly known. Or memorize Attorney General and Secretary of the Treasury. Any two of the 15 work for the test.

Is Vice President a Cabinet position?
The Vice President attends Cabinet meetings and is considered Cabinet-level but doesn’t head an executive department. Mentioning Vice President as one of your two answers is acceptable for the citizenship test.

Which Cabinet position is most important?
This is debated. Secretary of State is often considered most prestigious. Secretary of Defense controls the largest department. Treasury Secretary shapes economic policy. Attorney General enforces laws. Importance varies by issue and administration.

Do Cabinet positions change?
Congress creates or eliminates executive departments by law. The most recent addition was Homeland Security in 2002. Other departments have been created, merged, or reorganized throughout history.

Can someone hold two Cabinet positions?
Not simultaneously. But Cabinet members can move between positions. For example, someone might serve as Defense Secretary then become Secretary of State in the same administration.

What’s the difference between Secretary and Attorney General?
Department heads are called Secretary (Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, etc.). The Justice Department head is called Attorney General, a title inherited from British legal tradition.

Do all Cabinet members have equal power?
No. Some departments are larger and more influential. Some secretaries have closer relationships with the President. Power varies based on the department, the person, and the President’s priorities.

Can Cabinet members criticize the President?
Not publicly. Cabinet members who publicly disagree with the President usually resign or are fired. They serve at the President’s pleasure and must support administration policies publicly.

How long do Cabinet members serve?
Until they resign, are fired, or the President leaves office. Some serve entire presidential terms. Others serve only briefly. Average tenure is about 3 years, though this varies greatly.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
Memorize any two Cabinet-level positions. Easy choices: Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, or Secretary of the Treasury. Practice saying them so you can answer quickly during your interview.