The Executive Departments
[The Cabinet]
Selecting the Cabinet
Numerous factors are considered when selecting members of the cabinet.
• Does their background experience suit their post?
• Do they have high-level administrative experience?
• Do they bring geographical balance to the cabinet?
• Will they satisfy interest groups?
• Do they bring ethnic, racial, or gender balance to the cabinet?
The Role of the Cabinet
• Cabinet secretaries are the heads of the 15 executive departments
• The role of the Cabinet has always been determined by the President
• Certain cabinet members form the “inner cabinet,” who can greatly
influence the president’s decisions on matters related to their
departments’ areas of interest
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Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Treasury
Attorney General
Department of State
(1789)
John Kerry,
Secretary of State
• Responsible for the nation’s
overall foreign policy
• Protects U.S. citizens abroad
• Oversees embassies (and
staffs them)
• Analyzes American interests in
other nations
Department of Defense
(1789)
Chuck Hagel,
Secretary of Defense
• Protects the security of the
U.S.
• Oversees the armed forces
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Largest department in the
Executive Branch with
nearly 2 million employees
Treasury Department
(1789)
Jack Lew
Treasury Secretary
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Manages the nation’s monetary
resources
The Mint manufactures coins
The Bureau of Printing &
Engraving produces paper
money
IRS collects taxes
ATF regulates production and
distribution of alcohol and
tobacco and administers
explosives and firearms laws
Department of the Interior
(1849)
Sally Jewell,
Interior Secretary
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Protects public lands and natural
resources
Operates hydroelectric power plants
Oversees relations with American
Indians; helps them manage their affairs
Oversees the mining of natural resources
National Park Service manages national
parks and monuments, historic sites,
wildlife refuges, and recreational areas
Department of Justice
(1870)
Eric Holder,
Attorney General
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Office of the Attorney General est. 1789
Oversees the nation’s legal affairs;
represents the U.S. in court
Provides legal advice to the President
Enforces anti-trust and
civil rights laws
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)
Operates federal prisons
Department of Agriculture
(1889)
Tom Vilsack,
USDA Secretary
• Helps farmers and ranchers
improve their incomes and
expand their markets
• Provides financial credits to
farmers
• Develops conservation programs
• Safeguards the nation’s food
supply
Department of Commerce
(1903)
Penny Pritzker,
Secretary of Commerce
• Promotes and protects American
industry, technology, and business
interests
• Issues patents and trademarks
• Census Bureau conducts census
every 10 years
Department of Labor
(1913)
Thomas Perez,
Labor Secretary
• Protects American workers by ensuring
safe working conditions, safeguarding the
minimum wage
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics analyzes
data on employment, wages, and
compensation
• Encourages cooperation between labor
and management
• Administers unemployment insurance and
workers’ compensation programs
Department of Housing and
Urban Development (1965)
Julian Castro
HUD Secretary
• Helps preserve the nation’s
communities
• Ensures equal housing opportunities
and fair housing laws
• Helps make mortgages available for
more people to buy homes
• Operates public housing programs
Department of
Transportation
(1966)
Anthony Foxx,
DOT Secretary
• Regulates all aspects of American
transportation needs, policy
development, and planning
• Regulates aviation, railroads,
highways, waterways, mass
transit, and oil and gas pipelines
Department of Energy
(1977)
Ernest Moniz,
Energy Secretary
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Promotes production of renewable
energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear
energy
Researches and develops energy
technology
Conducts nuclear weapons research
and production
Transmits and sells hydroelectric
power
Sets rate for interstate transmission
of natural gas and electricity
Department of Health and
Human Services (1979)
Sylvia Burwell,
HHS Secretary
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Created in 1953 as part of Health, Welfare, and
Education
Funds health care research programs
Social Security Administration aids seniors and
welfare recipients
Manages Medicare and Medicaid programs
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ensures
the safety of food and drugs and approves new
treatment of disease; enforces pure food and
drug laws
CDC (Center for Disease Control)
NIH (National Institutes of Health)
Department of Education
(1979)
Arne Duncan,
Secretary of Education
• Coordinates federal assistance programs
for public and private schools
• Conducts educational research
• Oversees programs for LEP students
(ESL/HILT)
• Oversees programs for students with
disabilities
Department of
Veterans’ Affairs
(1989)
Robert McDonald,
VA Secretary
• Administers hospitals and
various educational programs to
benefit veterans and their
families
• Administers benefits and
pensions to veterans of the
armed forces
• Oversees military cemeteries
Department of
Homeland Security (2002)
Jeh Johnson,
Secretary of Homeland Security
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Prevents, prepares for, and protects against terrorist
attacks on American soil
Oversees border and transportation security
Oversees emergency preparedness and response
Provides information analysis and infrastructure
protection
When created, independent agencies and
organizations from other cabinet departments were
transferred to Homeland Security:
- Secret Service from Treasury Dept
- Coast Guard from Transportation Dept
- INS from Justice Dept
- FEMA