Dec 30, 2015
History of……• The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the
beginnings of the Presidency itself.
• One of the principal purposes of the Cabinet (drawn from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution) is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of their respective offices.
• .
Appointment to..
• The President nominates and the Senate must confirm the nominee.
• President will usually reward loyal party members and may often select 1 position from the opposition party.
• Multiculturalism is often taken into consideration.
State 1789
• Advises President on foreign policy.
• Negotiates treaties with foreign countries.
• Office of Passport Services.
• Thomas Jefferson - 1st
• Secretary of State today is Hillary Clinton.
Treasury 1789
• Produces coins and bills; collects taxes
• Enforces alcohol, tobacco and firearms laws.
• Borrows money.• IRS and United States Mint.• Alexander Hamilton - 1st
• Secretary of Treasury today is Tim Geither.
Defense 1947
• Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security.
• Joint Chiefs of Staff.• Departments of Navy,
Army and Air Force.• Henry Knox – 1st.
• Secretary of Defense today is Leon Panetta.
Justice 1789
• Prosecutes those accused of violating federal law.
• Provides legal advice for President
• Represents US in court• FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals.• Edmond Randolph – 1st.• Attorney General today is
Eric Holder.
Interior 1849
• Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parks.
• Helps Native Americans manage their affairs.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service.• National park Service.• Thomas Ewing - 1st • Secretary of Interior today is
Ken Salazar.
Agriculture 1889
• Manages national forests.• Inspects food.• Administers food stamp
and school lunch programs.
• Food and Nutrition Service.
• Norm Coleman- 1st
• Secretary of Agriculture today is Tim Vilsack.
Commerce 1903
• Conducts Census.• Grants patents and registers
trademarks.• Bureau of the Census.• International Trade
Administration.• William C. Redfield - 1st
• Secretary of Commerce today is John Bryson.
Labor 1913
• Enforces federal law on minimum wages, maximum hours, and safe working conditions.
• OSHA, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• William B. Wilson - 1st
• Secretary of Labor today is Hilda Solis.
Health and Human Services – 1953
• Funds health care research programs.
• Enforces pure food and drug act.
• Medicare and Medicaid.• Food and Drug Admin and
CDC.• Patricia Harris - 1st
• Secretary of HHS today is Kathleen Sebelius.
Housing and UrbanDevelopment - 1965
• Operates home – financing and public housing programs.
• Enforces fair housing laws.
• Office of Housing.• Robert C. Weaver- 1st
• Secretary of Housing today is Shaun Donovan.
Transportation 1967
• Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads and air travel.
• Federal Highway and Aviation Administration.
• Alan S. Boyd - 1st
• Secretary of Transportation today is Ray LaHood.
Energy 1977
• Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy.
• Conducts nuclear weapons research and production.
• James R. Schlesinger - 1st
• Secretary of Energy today is Steven Chu.
Education 1979
• Administers federal aid to schools and conducts educational research.
• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• Shirley Hufstedler - 1st
• Secretary of Education today is Arne Duncan.
Veterans Affairs 1989
• Ad ministries benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans.
• Veteran Benefits Admin.• National Cemetery Admin.• Edward J. Derwinski - 1st
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs today is Eric Shinseki.