The Cabinet
Whenever the President needs help or advice, they will ask a group of people called the Cabinet. The purpose of the Cabinet Secretaries is to advise the President, as they are the President's closest and most trusted advisers. The Cabinet includes the Vice President, the heads of 15 executive branch departments, and other Government officials chosen by the President.
The 15 Secretaries from the executive departments, including the Attorney General, are nominated by the President, and they must be approved (confirmed) by a majority vote (51 votes) of the Senate. Nominees can not be a member of Congress or hold any other elected office. Executive department Secretaries and the Attorney General serve as long as the President is in office.
The following is a list of the 15 executive department agencies, when that department was created, and a brief description of the department. The list is organized by order of succession:
According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President of the United States is incapacitated, dies, resigns, is for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office (impeached and convicted), people in the following offices, in this order, will assume the office of the President, provided they are qualified as stated by the Constitution to assume the office of the President:
The 15 Secretaries from the executive departments, including the Attorney General, are nominated by the President, and they must be approved (confirmed) by a majority vote (51 votes) of the Senate. Nominees can not be a member of Congress or hold any other elected office. Executive department Secretaries and the Attorney General serve as long as the President is in office.
The following is a list of the 15 executive department agencies, when that department was created, and a brief description of the department. The list is organized by order of succession:
- Department of State (1789): Works with other countries.
- Department of the Treasury (1789): Supervises the collection of taxes and the printing of money.
- Department of Defense (1947): Oversees the armed forces. formed out a merger between the Department of War and the Department of the navy.
- Department of Justice (1870): Enforces the U.S. Government's laws.
- Department of the Interior (1849): Protects natural resources and wildlife.
- Department of Agriculture (1862): Ensures a healthy food supply and provides support for farmers.
- Department of Commerce (1903): Promotes business and job opportunities for all Americans, responsible for all copyrights, patents, and trademarks; and oversees matters related to oceans, weather, and technology.
- Department of Labor (1913): Oversees the interests of U.S. workers.
- Department of Health and Human Services (1953): Looks after people's health and provides services including conducting medical research, preventing diseases, assuring the safety of food and drugs; providing financial assistance for low income families.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965): Oversees housing needs, and focuses on improving and developing communities.
- Department of Transportation (1966): Oversees the nation's transportation system including highways, railroads, ports, and air travel.
- Department of Energy (1977): Researches and develops energy systems that are friendly to the environment, but are not too expensive.
- Department of Education (1979): Establishes guidelines and provides leadership to address American education. It helps local communities meet the needs of their students.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (1988): Operates programs for veterans and their families.
- Department of Homeland Security (2003): Works to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.
According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President of the United States is incapacitated, dies, resigns, is for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office (impeached and convicted), people in the following offices, in this order, will assume the office of the President, provided they are qualified as stated by the Constitution to assume the office of the President:
- Vice President
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Defense
- Attorney General
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of Homeland Security