Bureaucracy – levels of non-elected government officials that help the President carry out his powers and duties

1. Negotiates with foreign nations.

2. Regulates national parks in the U.S.

3. Can use the FBI to enforce the laws of the U.S.

4. Creates safety standards for factories.

5. Enforces regulations of television advertisements.

6. Oversees the inspection of hospitals.

7. Coordinate Memorial Day celebrations.

8. Promotes the development of battery powered vehicles.

9. Oversees the budget of the Coast Guard.

10. Handles the investment of federal monies.

Commerce Dept.

State Dept.

Justice Dept.

Interior Dept.

Labor Dept.

Defense Dept.

Veteran Affairs Dept.

Health and Human Services Dept.

Treasury Dept.

Transportation Dept.

The Cabinet is not mentioned in the Constitution but is selected by each president as he/she sees fit, with the consent of the Senate.

The Cabinet consists of the heads of the 15 major bureaucratic departments (State, Defense, Treasury, etc.).

Each is headed by a secretary (except Justice, which is headed by the Attorney General).

Congress controls the budget of each department.

Have both advisory responsibilities and administrative powers.

These departments account for 60% of the federal workforce.

Departments vary in prestige, power, size, and access to the president.

Department of State (1789) Department of the Treasury

(1789) Department of Defense

(1947) Department of Justice

(1870) Department of the Interior

(1849) Department of Agriculture

(1862) Department of Commerce

(1903) Department of Labor (1913)

Department of Health and Human Services (1953)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965)

Department of Transportation

(1966) Department of Energy

(1977) Department of Education

(1979) Department of Veterans

Affairs (1988) Department of Homeland

Security (2003)

The appointee must be qualified for the job (Senate approval).

Another goal is to make the Cabinet “look like America.” What does that mean?

Does President Obama’s cabinet “look like America? Photo

Secretary of State – John Kerry Secretary of Defense – Chuck Hagel

Secretary of Treasury – Jack Lew Attorney General – Eric Holder (DC)

Secretary of the Interior – Sally Jewell

Secretary of Agriculture – Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Commerce – Penny Pritzker

Secretary of Labor – Thomas Perez

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Kathleen Sebelius

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – Shaun Donovan

Secretary of Transportation – Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Energy – Ernest Moniz

Secretary of Education – Arne Duncan

Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs – Eric Shinseki

Secretary of Homeland Security – Rand Beers

A Ford factory in Mexico was attacked by rebels wanting to seize it.

The Palestinians and Israelis want to stop fighting one another over territory in the West Bank.

Cuba kicks the Castro family out, installs democracy and wants to start trading with the U.S.

At our current rate of deforestation, environmentalists report, the U.S. will “wipe out” the required amount of forests to supply the world with an adequate oxygen supply by the years 2075. Something must be done now to save the world for future generations.

Studies show that drug use among teens has increased 50% in the past year. During the same time period, illegal drug shipments from Columbia to the U.S. have tripled.

Scores on the 4th International Exam of Math and Science (IEMS) show that students in the U.S. rank 16th out of 17 industrialized nations. Education in the U.S. appears to be failing and the American Chamber of Commerce reports that American students are “ill-prepared” for the job market that they entering, resulting in American companies recruiting foreign workers.

Which Offices would the President put to work on these problems?

Which Departments?