• What are the origins of the executive
departments, and how did they develop?
• How are members of the Cabinet chosen?
• What role does the Cabinet play in the
President’s decisions?
Executive Departments
The executive departments, often called the Cabinet departments, are the traditional units
of federal administration.
• Each department is headed by a secretary, except for the Department of Justice, whose work is directed by the
attorney general.
• Each department is made up of a number of subunits, both staff and line.
• Today, the executive departments vary a great deal in terms of visibility, size, and importance.
The Cabinet
• The Cabinet is an informal advisory body
brought together by the President to serve his
needs.
• By tradition, the heads of the executive
departments form the Cabinet.
• The President appoints the head of each of the executive departments, which are then subject to Senate approval.
• Cabinet members serve as both head of their respective departments and as advisors to the
President.