Omar Bennett
The United States Cabinet, established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, is comprised of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments, including the Secretary of State, who is fourth in the line of succession to the President. The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's principal foreign affairs adviser and carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department and the Foreign Service of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Role | To advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office |
| Members | The Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments |
| Order of Succession | The Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Secretary of State |
| Annual Salary of Vice President | $235,300 |
| Meetings | Presidents have used Cabinet meetings of selected principal officers but to widely differing extents and for different purposes |
| Authority | The President has the authority to organize the Cabinet, such as instituting committees |
| Impeachment | Like all federal public officials, Cabinet members are subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives |
| Secretary of State | The Secretary of State is the President's chief foreign affairs advisor |
| Secretary of State Duties | Custody of the Great Seal of the United States, preparation of certain presidential proclamations, publication of treaties and international acts, and communication between the Federal Government and the States on the extradition of fugitives |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution does not explicitly establish a Cabinet
- The President determines US foreign policy
- The Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign affairs adviser
- The Cabinet includes the Vice President and 15 executive department heads
- The Twenty-fifth Amendment authorises the Vice President to declare the President unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office
The US Constitution does not explicitly establish a Cabinet
The tradition of the Cabinet arose from the debates at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where there were discussions on whether the president would exercise executive authority solely or collaboratively with a cabinet of ministers or a privy council. As a result, the Constitution vests "the executive power" in the president, authorizing but not compelling the president to seek advice from principal officers. The first President, George Washington, organized his principal officers into a Cabinet, and it has been a part of the executive branch structure ever since.
While the Constitution does not specify the exact executive departments or their duties, over time, different departments have been added or removed to meet the country's evolving needs. The First Congress established four departments: State, War, Treasury, and Post Office. Washington later signed the Judiciary Act, creating the position of Attorney General, which grew into the Justice Department. More recently, in 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was established in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The Cabinet's composition can vary under each president, and they have the authority to organize the Cabinet, such as by forming sub-cabinet councils or including key White House staff. Cabinet members are subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". Additionally, the Twenty-fifth Amendment authorizes the vice president and a majority of the heads of the executive departments to declare the president "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office".
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The President determines US foreign policy
The US Constitution grants the President the power to determine foreign policy. The Cabinet's role, as established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Department of State carries out the President's foreign policy, and the Department of Defense carries out the President's military policy. The President is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President 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, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General. The highest-ranking Cabinet member (after the Vice President) is the Secretary of State, who is fourth in line of succession to the President. The Secretary of State is followed by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate in the order of succession.
While the President determines foreign policy, there are checks and balances on this power. Treaties negotiated by the President require ratification by the Senate to take force as US law. The President's ambassadorial nominations also require Senate approval before taking office. Military actions must first be approved by both chambers of Congress, and Congress has the power to declare war.
Historically, foreign policy has not often been a central issue in domestic politics. However, there have been notable instances of US foreign policy, such as the Carter Doctrine, which stated US interests in maintaining the status quo within the Persian Gulf region, and the Reagan administration's support for freedom fighters around the world during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
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The Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign affairs adviser
The Secretary of State is the highest-ranking Cabinet member after the Vice President and is fourth in line of succession to the President. The Secretary of State is responsible for the custody of the Great Seal of the United States, the preparation of certain presidential proclamations, and the publication of treaties and international acts. They also maintain the official record of the foreign relations of the United States and the custody of certain original treaties and international agreements.
The Secretary of State serves as the channel of communication between the Federal Government and the States on the extradition of fugitives to or from foreign countries. The role of the Secretary of State is critical in shaping U.S. foreign policy and ensuring its effective implementation through various government departments. The Secretary of State's duties relating to foreign affairs have become more complex as international commitments have multiplied over time.
The Secretary of State is a key member of the President's Cabinet and plays a crucial role in advising and supporting the President in conducting foreign relations. The specific duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of State can vary depending on the administration and the President's priorities. However, the overall role of the Secretary of State as the President's principal foreign affairs adviser has remained consistent and is a vital function within the U.S. government.
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The Cabinet includes the Vice President and 15 executive department heads
The United States Cabinet, established in Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, is comprised of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments. The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Constitution does not explicitly establish a Cabinet, but the Cabinet's role is inferred from the language of the Opinion Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 1) for principal officers of departments to provide advice to the President.
The 15 executive departments are: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The Attorney General is also included as a member of the Cabinet. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs advisor and is fourth in line of succession to the President.
The Twenty-fifth Amendment authorizes the Vice President, together with a majority of the heads of the executive departments, to declare the President "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office". The heads of the executive departments are also in the presidential line of succession. While the President may give wide latitude to department heads, it is legally possible for a Cabinet member to exercise certain powers over their own department against the President's wishes, although this is highly unusual due to the threat of dismissal.
In recent administrations, Cabinets have grown to include key White House staff in addition to department and various agency heads. President Ronald Reagan formed seven sub-cabinet councils to review policy issues, a practice that has been followed by subsequent presidents.
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The Twenty-fifth Amendment authorises the Vice President to declare the President unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office
The Cabinet of the United States is a body of the most senior appointed members of the government, responsible for advising the President. The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments, such as the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, and so on. The Cabinet's role is inferred from the language of the Opinion Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 1) of the Constitution, which states that the principal officers of departments are to provide advice to the President.
The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution authorises the Vice President, along with a majority of the heads of the executive departments, to declare the President "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office". This provision is designed to address situations where the President is incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform their duties, such as in the event of a physical or mental inability. In such cases, the Vice President would assume the powers and duties of the Presidency, either on a temporary or permanent basis, until the President regains their ability to serve.
The Twenty-fifth Amendment was established to address ambiguities in Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution, which created difficulties in the past when Presidents died or became incapacitated in office. For example, in 1841, when President William Henry Harrison died, there was a question over whether the Vice President, John Tyler, would become the Acting President or succeed to the Presidency. The Twenty-fifth Amendment clarifies that in the event of the President's death, resignation, or inability to serve, the Vice President shall assume the powers and duties of the Presidency.
It is important to note that the Twenty-fifth Amendment does not explicitly state whether the Vice President becomes the President or merely assumes the powers and duties of the office. Additionally, the terms "unable" and "inability" are left undefined, allowing for flexibility in interpreting the amendment to cover a wide range of scenarios. The process of declaring the President unable to serve involves the Vice President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments transmitting a written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In summary, the Twenty-fifth Amendment provides a mechanism for ensuring the continuity of the Presidency in the event that the President is unable to perform their duties. It authorises the Vice President, in consultation with a majority of the executive departments, to make this declaration and assume the powers and duties of the Presidency until the President regains their ability to serve.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President 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, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
The annual salary of the Vice President is $235,300.
The Secretary of State is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser. They carry out the President's foreign policies through the State Department and the Foreign Service of the United States.
