The President's Cabinet

November 20, 2008

The tradition of the United States Cabinet dates back to the founding of the country itself. One of its original purposes (U.S. Constitution Article II, Section 2) is to advise the President on any subject he or she may require relating to the duties of their respective offices.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments:

Agriculture
Commerce
Defense
Education
Energy
Health and Human Services
Homeland Security
Housing and Urban Development
Interior
Labor
State
Transportation
Treasury
Veterans Affairs
Justice (Attorney General)

Under President George W. Bush, Cabinet-level rank also has been accorded to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Director, Office of Management and Budget; the Director, National Drug Control Policy; and the U.S. Trade Representative. It's not known if these positions will maintain their rank or if others will be added during the Obama administration.

The Current Cabinet

Which president first established a Cabinet?
George Washington held the first recorded meeting of a "Cabinet" in 1791.

How much are the secretaries paid?
All Cabinet secretaries are considered federal employees and paid according to Executive Schedule -- Level I as published by the Office of Personnel Management. In 2008, that translated to a salary of $188,100.

How long do the secretaries serve?
Members of the Cabinet serve the pleasure of The President of the United States. That means the president can fire he or she at any time. They are expected to resign when a new president takes office unless asked to stay on. If they are, their nominations must get Senate approval.

When does the Cabinet meet?
There is no official schedule for Cabinet meetings, but presidents generally try to meet with their Cabinets on a weekly basis. Besides the president and department secretaries, Cabinet meetings are usually attended by the vice president, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and other top-level officials as determined by the president.

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