C H A P T E R 1 5

PURPOSE OF THE CABINET
SECRETARIES
1.
To advise the president in their areas of expertise.
2.
Direct their cabinet departme nts.

• The following cabinet departments are some of the most important.
• They cabinet secretaries meet with the president frequently.
• They are called the Inner Circle – along with other close advisors to the president, including;
• Chief of Staff
• National Security Advisor
• Vice President

STATE
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on foreign policy
• Oldest
• Most prestigious
• Negotiates agreements with other countries
• Secretary
John Kerry

TREASURY
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on monetary policy
• Prints money
• Borrows $ and deals with public debt
• Collects
Taxes
• Secretary
Jack Lew

DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on military policy
• Joint Chiefs
• Provides military forces
• Largest of depts.
700,000 civilians & 1.4 million military
• Secretary
Chuck Hagel

JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on legal policy
• Federal prosecutors
(lawyers for the US)
• Oversees federal prisons
• Law
Enforcement
• Attorney
General Eric
Holder

INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on land policy (Dept. of
Dirt)
• Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, & national parks
• Operates
Hydro-electric power
• Manages
Native
American affairs
• Secretary Sally
Jewell

…HOMELAND
SECURITY
DEPARTMENT
• Advises on national security policy
• Newest (2002)
• Manages border & transportation security
• Develops emergency plans
• Safeguards infrastructure & information
• Secretary Janet
Napolitano

• Turn your flyer (or alternate assignment) in to the basket.
• Get out a scrap sheet of paper…

• 1. After the Vice- President, name the 2 offices who are next in line for the presidency and the 2 people who hold that office.
a) Office, person b) Office, person

• 2. Name the first 5 cabinet departments in line for the presidency (in order) and the name of the secretary from that department.
a) Cabinet department, secretary b) Cabinet department, secretary c) Cabinet department, secretary d) Cabinet department, secretary e) Cabinet department, secretary

• 3. Name the cabinet department who is responsible for… a) Coining money b) Safeguarding food c) Negotiates treaties d) Manages Yellowstone e) Oversees the FBI

• 1. Speaker of the House/ John Boehner
• Pres. Pro Tem/ Patrick Leahy
• 2. State/ John Kerry
• Treasury/ Jack Lew
• Defense/ Chuck Hagel
• Justice / Eric Holder
• Interior / Sally Jewell

• 3. Name the cabinet department who is responsible for… a) Coining money - Treasury b) Safeguarding food- Agriculture c) Negotiates treaties- State d) Manages Yellowstone - Interior e) Oversees the FBI - Justice