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15 Units of federal administration
Often called the Cabinet Departments
Each department headed by a secretary
(Except for the Department of Justice)
These department heads serve in the
President’s Cabinet

Department
State
(1789)
Principal Functions
Advises President on foreign policy
Negotiates agreements with foreign countries
Represents the Unites States in the global society
Treasury
(1789)
Defense
(1789)
Produces coins and bills
Collects taxes
Borrows money and manages public debt
Enforces alcohol, tobacco, and firearms laws
Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security
Justice
(1870)
Prosecutes those accused of violating federal law
Provides legal advice to the President
Operates federal prisons
Enforces federal laws
Represents United States in court

Department
Health and Human Services
(1953)
Education
(1979)
Principal Functions
Funds health care research programs
Conducts programs to prevent and control diseases
Enforces pure food and drug laws
Administers Medicare and
Medicaid
Administers federal aid to schools
Conducts educational research
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Secretary Arne Duncan

Treasury Secretary
Tim Geithner
Secretary of
Defense
Leon E. Panetta
Attorney
General
Eric H. Holder,

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An advisory group hand picked by the president to head the special executive departments
Ex: Secretary of State, Secretary of
Treasury, and Secretary of War
The Vice President is often in attendance of cabinet meetings

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President chooses a leader for each of the 15 executive departments
There have been 600 appointed leaders since 1789
Only 12 have been rejected
The latest to be rejected was in 1989
(John Tower) who was selected by
George H.W. Bush.

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Of course experience professional qualifications
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Regional balance
Ex: Secretary of Interior is often chose from
West Coast where most of the departments work is handled.
Secretary of Agriculture is mostly picked from the Midwest aka farm states.

Franklin Roosevelt appointed first female
(Frances T. Perkins) 1933 to 1945
Lyndon Johnson appointed first African
American (Robert C. Weaver) 1966 to
1969
Ronald Reagan appointed the first
Hispanic (Lauro F. Cavazos) 1988

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Cabinet members have to main and basic roles: Administrate head of their specific department & together advise the presidents

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1. Which President appointed the first female
Cabinet member?
2. Which region is the Secretary of Agriculture usually selected?
3. True/False The U.S. Secretary of State is Hillary
Clinton
4. Which of the following is false about the
Executive Departments?
a) b) c)
There are15 Units of federal administration
AKA the Cabinet Departments
Every department headed by a secretary
Department heads serve in the President’s Cabinet d)
5. True/False Department of Treasury enforces alcohol, tobacco, and firearms laws