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Every Permanent Position In The US President’s Cabinet, Explained
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Vote up the presidential Cabinet positions you were most in the dark about.
The president's Cabinet is talked about a lot in the media and has been presented in movies and on television alike. As much as we hear about the Cabinet, however, it's not clear exactly what this means and who it includes.
The Cabinet of the United States is the body that advises the president about anything and everything undertaken by the federal government. The Cabinet meets in a room next to the Oval Office and, when it gathers, the president serves as chair.
The Cabinet was established in the Constitution, and 16 Cabinet positions make it into the official line of presidential succession (in the order of the creation of their respective agencies.) The composition of the Cabinet includes the heads of 15 federal departments and the vice president alongside individuals elevated to serve as Cabinet-level advisers by the president. President Joe Biden, for example, opted to include the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Ambassador of the United Nations in his Cabinet.
With dozens of potential members in the Cabinet, it's a much bigger advisory body than most people realize. Honestly, that many people in one room seems like it would make for some crowded, busy meetings.
But, what makes that core group so important? Why do they get a seat at the table? What do they actually do?
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Secretary Of The Interior
Duties: Tasked with oversight of the country's national parks, monuments, refuges, and other public lands, the secretary of the interior also supervises energy development and water management in those areas. In short, they are in charge of federal land and natural resources in the US.
Nearly 600 American Indian Tribes and Native Alaskans also fall under the auspices of the Department of the Interior.
Shed some light? - 2
Secretary Of Agriculture
Duties: Established in 1862, the US Department of Agriculture oversees policies related to food production, rural development, natural resources, and nutrition for individuals across the country.
The secretary of agriculture, as the head of the larger body, advises the president about matters from food scarcity programs to lands managed by the US Forest Service. Agricultural research, inspection services, farm service, and rural utility services are all overseen by the secretary of agriculture as well.
Shed some light? - Photo:
3Secretary Of The Treasury
Duties: The secretary of the treasury oversees the Treasury Department, established by an Act of Congress in 1789. In addition to advising the president about financial, economic, and tax policies on domestic and international fronts, the secretary of the treasury manages debt incurred by the public.
Among the bureaus under the authority of the secretary of the treasury are the Internal Revenue Service and the US Mint.
Shed some light?- 4
Secretary Of State
Duties: As a presidential appointee, the secretary of state advises the president on foreign affairs. They also make diplomatic visits, carry out foreign policy, negotiate with foreign entities, and oversee the Foreign Service of the United States.
Passports, immigration law administration, and liaising with Americans abroad all fall under the auspices of the secretary of state.
Shed some light? - 5
Secretary Of Commerce
Duties: Created in 1903, the Department of Commerce regulates trade, industrial development, and commercial activities in the US and abroad. The secretary of commerce leads the department's efforts to foster economic growth and opportunities.
The secretary of commerce oversees 13 bureaus including the US Census Bureau and the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Shed some light? - 6
Attorney General
Duties: Nearly a century before the establishment of the Department of Justice, the US Congress articulated a need for “a meet person, learned in the law, to act as attorney-general for the United States.” As the fourth position created by Congress, the attorney general became the chief officer of law enforcement in the federal government.
As of 2024, the Office of the Attorney General oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Prisons; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Additional offices under the domain of the attorney general include the Office of Justice Programs and the US Marshals Service.
Shed some light?
