C A B I N E T D E PA RT M E N T S PAG E 4 3 5 - 4 4 0

CHAPTER 15 SECTION 3

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

• 15 executive Departments• Employ 2/3 of the Federal Government’s civilian

workforce• First Congress created 3 departments: State,

Treasury, and War• More departments were added as the

government’s role grew in the U.S.

CHIEF OFFICERS AND STAFF

• Headed by a Secretary (Except Department of Justice: Attorney General)• Primary link between presidential policy and his

and her own department• Promote and protect his/her department • Officials named by the President and confirmed

by the Senate

SUBUNITS

• Each department is made up of subunits, agencies.• 80% of the men and women who had the

bureaus, divisions, and other major units are career people, not political appointees• Structured geographically (Regional and/or

district offices)• 90% of all men and women who work as civilian

employees of the Federal govt. are stationed outside the nation’s capital

• Please read the diagram/timeline on page 436 -437 in textbook

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS TODAY

• Department of State is the oldest and one of the smallest• The Department of Defense is the largest• Department of Health and Human Services has

the largest budget• Department of Commerce has the smallest

budget• Department of Homeland Security is the newest

THE CABINET

• An informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs.• Constitution does not mention a Cabinet• Cabinet is a product of custom and usage

CHOOSING CABINET MEMBERS

• President appoints the head of each of the 15 departments, and confirmed by the Senate• Rejections from the Senate are rare• Factors that influence a President’s decision:

party affiliation, role in the presidential campaign, professional qualifications, practical experience, geography (Ex: Secretary of Agriculture comes from Mid-west)

• Interest groups care about Cabinet appointments, and influence some appointments (Ex: Secretary comes from financial world)• Gender and race, management abilities and

experience, and other personal characteristics are other factors. • First women appointed Frances T. Perkins to

Secretary of Labor• First African American was Robert C. Weaver to

head the Department of Housing and development• First Hispanic officer was Lauro F. Cavazos

Secretary of Education

THE CABINET’S ROLE

• Two major responsibilities: Individually each is the administration head of an executive department and Collectively they are advisors to the President. • Overall importance of Cabinet has declined• Growth of other presidential resources such as

staff assistance centered in the Executive Office eclipsed the Cabinet’s role