The President’s Cabinet

The Constitution makes no mention of the Cabinet, nor did Congress create it. Instead, the Cabinet is the product of custom

and usage.• George Washington

appointed four people to the first four “executive posts”

1. Secretary of State2. Secretary of the

Treasury3. Secretary of War4. Attorney General

Secretary of State – Condoleezza Rice

• advises the President on foreign policy

• represents the U.S. abroad and in international organizations

• negotiates agreements with foreign countries

Secretary of the Treasury –Henry Paulson

• dept. produces coins, bills

• borrows $ and manages public debt

• enforces alcohol, tobacco, and firearms laws

Secretary of Defense – Robert Gates

• dept. provides military forces to deter war and protects the nation’s security

Attorney General – Michael Mukasey

• dept. provides legal advice to President

• represents U.S. in court

• oversees immigration and naturalization

• enforces federal laws

• operates federal prisons

Secretary of the Interior – Dirk Kempthorne

• manages public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parks

• operates hydroelectric power plants

• helps Native Am. manage their affairs

Secretary of Agriculture – Ed Schafer

• manages national forests

• assists farmers and ranchers

• administers food stamps and school lunch programs

• inspects food

Secretary of Commerce –Carlos Gutierrez

• conducts census• grants patents and

registers trademarks

• promotes international trade, economic growth, & technological development

Secretary of Labor – Elaine Chao

• enforces federal laws on minimum wages, maximum hours and safe working conditions

• operates job training programs

• administers unemployment insurance & workers’ compensation programs

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Mike Leavitt

• funds health care research programs

• conducts programs to prevent and control disease

• enforces pure food and drug laws

• administers Medicare and Medicaid

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – acting

secretary Roy Bernardi• operates home-

financing and public housing programs

• enforces fair housing laws

Secretary of Transportation –Mary Peters

• administers programs to regulate highways, mass transit, railroads, waterways, air travel, and oil and gas pipelines

• enforces maritime (sea) law

Secretary of Energy – Samuel Bodman

• promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, & nuclear energy

• transmits & sells hydroelectric power

• conducts nuclear weapons research and production

Secretary of Education –Margaret Spellings

• administers federal aid to schools

• conducts educational research

Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Dr. James Peake

• administers benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans of armed forces

• oversees military cemeteries

Secretary of Homeland Security

Michael Chertoff• established a

National Counterterrorism Center

• established a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

• appointed a Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

Cabinet-level posts

• Vice President: Dick Cheney

• Chief of Staff: Josh Bolten

• Environmental Protection Agency: Steve Johnson

• Office of Management and Budget: Jim Nussle

• Office of National Drug Control Policy: John Walters

• U.S. Trade Representative:Susan Schwab