History of……• The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the

beginnings of the Presidency itself.

• One of the principal purposes of the Cabinet (drawn from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution) is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of their respective offices.

• .

Appointment to..

• The President nominates and the Senate must confirm the nominee.

• President will usually reward loyal party members and may often select 1 position from the opposition party.

• Multiculturalism is often taken into consideration.

State 1789

• Advises President on foreign policy.

• Negotiates treaties with foreign countries.

• Office of Passport Services.

• Thomas Jefferson - 1st

• Secretary of State today is Hillary Clinton.

Treasury 1789

• Produces coins and bills; collects taxes

• Enforces alcohol, tobacco and firearms laws.

• Borrows money.• IRS and United States Mint.• Alexander Hamilton - 1st

• Secretary of Treasury today is Tim Geither.

Defense 1947

• Provides military forces to deter war and protect the nation’s security.

• Joint Chiefs of Staff.• Departments of Navy,

Army and Air Force.• Henry Knox – 1st.

• Secretary of Defense today is Leon Panetta.

Justice 1789

• Prosecutes those accused of violating federal law.

• Provides legal advice for President

• Represents US in court• FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals.• Edmond Randolph – 1st.• Attorney General today is

Eric Holder.

Interior 1849

• Manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parks.

• Helps Native Americans manage their affairs.

• US Fish and Wildlife Service.• National park Service.• Thomas Ewing - 1st • Secretary of Interior today is

Ken Salazar.

Agriculture 1889

• Manages national forests.• Inspects food.• Administers food stamp

and school lunch programs.

• Food and Nutrition Service.

• Norm Coleman- 1st

• Secretary of Agriculture today is Tim Vilsack.

Commerce 1903

• Conducts Census.• Grants patents and registers

trademarks.• Bureau of the Census.• International Trade

Administration.• William C. Redfield - 1st

• Secretary of Commerce today is John Bryson.

Labor 1913

• Enforces federal law on minimum wages, maximum hours, and safe working conditions.

• OSHA, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• William B. Wilson - 1st

• Secretary of Labor today is Hilda Solis.

Health and Human Services – 1953

• Funds health care research programs.

• Enforces pure food and drug act.

• Medicare and Medicaid.• Food and Drug Admin and

CDC.• Patricia Harris - 1st

• Secretary of HHS today is Kathleen Sebelius.

Housing and UrbanDevelopment - 1965

• Operates home – financing and public housing programs.

• Enforces fair housing laws.

• Office of Housing.• Robert C. Weaver- 1st

• Secretary of Housing today is Shaun Donovan.

Transportation 1967

• Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads and air travel.

• Federal Highway and Aviation Administration.

• Alan S. Boyd - 1st

• Secretary of Transportation today is Ray LaHood.

Energy 1977

• Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy.

• Conducts nuclear weapons research and production.

• James R. Schlesinger - 1st

• Secretary of Energy today is Steven Chu.

Education 1979

• Administers federal aid to schools and conducts educational research.

• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

• Shirley Hufstedler - 1st

• Secretary of Education today is Arne Duncan.

Veterans Affairs 1989

• Ad ministries benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans.

• Veteran Benefits Admin.• National Cemetery Admin.• Edward J. Derwinski - 1st

• Secretary of Veterans Affairs today is Eric Shinseki.

Homeland Security2002

• Border and transportation security.

• Emergency preparedness and response.

• Coast Guard, TSA, and immigration services.

• Tom Ridge – 1st

• Secretary of Homeland Security today is Janet Napolitano.