1. UNIT #3
The Executive Branch
CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers

2. The President’s Cabinet
UNIT #3
The Executive Branch
CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
The President’s Cabinet
-Since 1789, George Washington and every other president has had a presidential cabinet
-Washington had four cabinet members
-Cabinet members must be approved by the Senate
-Cabinet members are now the heads of the 15 executive departments
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3. Executive Departments
UNIT #3
The Executive Branch
CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
Executive Departments
Department of…
State (1789)
Treasury (1789)
Defense (1789)
Justice (1789/1870)
Interior (1849)
Agriculture (1889)
Commerce (1903)
Labor (1913)
Health and Human Services (1965)
Transportation (1966)
Energy (1977)
Housing and Urban Development (1979)
Education (1979)
Veterans Affairs (1989)
Homeland Security (2002)
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4. Washington’s Cabinet UNIT #3 The Executive Branch CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
Washington’s Cabinet
Sec. of State Thomas Jefferson
Attorney Gen. Edmund Randolph
Sec. of War Henry Knox
Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton
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5. Cabinet Qualifications
UNIT #3
The Executive Branch
CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
Cabinet Qualifications
-Leading an executive department is an enormous amount of responsibility
Should have firsthand knowledge of the work/responsibilities of the department
Should have managed large scale organizations in the past
Supports similar causes as the president
May represent all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities and locations
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6. -Cabinet members have two duties 1. Run the department they head
UNIT #3
The Executive Branch
CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
Role of the Cabinet
-Cabinet members have two duties
1. Run the department they head
2. Advise the President
-Some presidents rely heavily on their cabinets (Clinton-42 & Bush-43)
-Others do not (Lincoln-16 & Johnson-36)
-Presidents depend heavily on their “inner cabinet”--Sec. of State, Defense, Treasury and Attorney General
-Some presidents meet frequently with their cabinet, some do not
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7. Obama’s Inner Cabinet UNIT #3 The Executive Branch CHAPTER #8
The Presidency
LESSON #2
The Cabinet as Advisers
Obama’s Inner Cabinet
Sec. of State John Kerry
Attorney Gen. Eric Holder
Sec. of Defense Chuck Hagel
Sec. of Treasury Jack Lew
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