A cabinet is a piece of furniture with shelves, drawers, or other spaces for storing and displaying objects, often fixed to a wall. The word cabinet is also used to describe a group of ministers or other senior government officials who meet together on a regular basis and are collectively responsible for formulating and implementing policy.
In the United States, the Cabinet consists of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and the Attorney General. The President is authorized to require the advice and opinion of the Cabinet upon any subject relating to the duties of each department.
The Cabinet originated in England in the 17th and early 18th centuries when the Privy Council became too large to discuss issues effectively. The monarchs Charles II (reigned 1660-85) and Anne (1702-14) began regularly consulting leading members of the Privy Council in order to reach decisions before meeting with the full council. This select committee of ministers, known as the Cabinet, gradually became the accepted machinery for governing.
When George Washington formed the first Cabinet in 1789, he established the precedent of surrounding himself with trusted advisors to take care “that the Laws may be faithfully executed.” Today, cabinet members are responsible for a variety of complex and time-consuming tasks. They must engage with a wide range of stakeholders and address numerous external political influences.
About the Author
