1. Executive Departments

2. Cabinet Departments 15 Departments
First cabinet had three department secretaries, State, Treasury, and War – Also the Attorney General
Each department specializes in a certain aspect of the federal government
Each department has a secretary that heads or runs it
The only exception is the Attorney General who heads the Department of Justice

3. Subunits
Each department has specialized subunits that answer to the head of that department
Example: Department of Justice
Terrorism and Violent Crime Section
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section
Most departments have offices in areas other than Washington DC
Example: Veterans Health Administration
173 medical centers and over 300 outpatient clinics

4. The President’s Cabinet
Advisory body
Not mentioned in the Constitution
It has evolved through custom and tradition
Vice President usually is a part of the cabinet meetings

6. How are Cabinet Member Chosen?
The President nominates
a candidate
The Senate holds hearings
and questions the candidate
They can reject or approve the candidate
With Senate approval the candidate is sworn in and becomes the Secretary or Attorney General

7. What does the President look for?
Same political party
Party loyalty
Professional qualifications and practical experience
Chooses from different regions to balance out the cabinet
Gender and race – increasingly appoint a varied cabinet
Management ability and experience

8. Women and Minorities in the Cabinet
FDR appointed the first women – Frances Perkins as Secretary of Labor
Lyndon Johnson appointed the first African American – Robert Weaver –HUD
Gerald Ford – first combination: Carla Hills (HUD) and African American, William Coleman (Sec. of Transportation)
Jimmy Carter – first African American woman – Patricia Harris – HUD and later Health and Human Services

9. Ronald Reagan: First Hispanic Lauro Cavazos – Sec. of Education
William Clinton: over 8 years in office:
Five women, six African Americans, four Hispanics, and the first Asian American – Norman Mineta – Sec. of Commerce
George W. Bush: over 8 years in office
Four African Americans, six women including the first Chinese American, Elaine Chao (Sec. of Labor), two Hispanics, and retained a Democrat Norman Mineta as Secretary of Transportation

10. What does the Cabinet do?
Administers their departments
Advises the President
Some Presidents have relied on their cabinets:
George H. W. Bush
William Jefferson Clinton
Some Presidents have barely used their cabinets:
JFK said meeting with his cabinet was a waste of time
Andrew Jackson had his group of informal advisors called the “Kitchen Cabinet”
FDR’s Brain Trust was a group apart from his cabinet

11. President Obama’s Cabinet
Department of State Department of Health and Human
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton Services
Secretary-designate: Kathleen Sebelius
Department of the Treasury
Secretary Timothy F. Geithner Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Department of Defense Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
Secretary Robert M. Gates
Department of Transportation
Department of Justice Secretary Raymond L. LaHood
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr
Department of Energy
Department of the Interior Secretary Steven Chu.
Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar  
Department of Education
Department of Agriculture Secretary Arne Duncan
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Commerce Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
Secretary Gary F. Locke
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
Secretary Hilda L. Solis    

12. Executive Office of the President
Created in 1939
Members assist and advise the President

13. White House Office
Press Secretary – Robert Gibbs releases official news in the President’s behalf
Chief of Staff – Rahm Emanuel – Directs the operations of the White House and controls who sees the President
National Security Advisor – General James Jones (ret. US Marine Corps) – Advises the President in any matter dealing with foreign or domestic issues.
White House Counsel – Gregory B. Craig - advises the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House.

14. Other Agencies
National Security Council – advises on domestic, foreign, and military matters
Office of Homeland Security - keeps the POTUS informed of any threats/terrorism
Office of Management and Budget – Prepares the federal budget for the fiscal year (10/1 – 9/30) and oversees the spending