The Presidential Cabinet Standards SSCG 15 The student

The Presidential Cabinet

Standards • SSCG 15 The student will explain the functions of the departments and agencies of the federal bureaucracy. – b. Explain the functions of the Cabinet.

Essential Questions

2 Roles of Cabinet Secretaries • Advisors to the President • Administrators of large bureaucracies • Ex. Sec. Def advises president on military matters and heads Dept. of Defense

Nomination and Confirmation • President elect comes up with list, “leaks” to press to see reaction of public and Congress • Senate holds confirmation hearings (almost always confirms)

How used • Strong presidents use less • Kitchen Cabinetgroups of friends Jackson relied on instead of cabinet, met in kitchen • Brain Trustacademics F. Roosevelt relied on over cabinet

How Used Cont. • When polling his cabinet and finding that all 8 disagreed with his view, Lincoln quipped, “ 8 nays, 1 aye: the ayes have it!”

How Used Cont. • Modern cabinet of Reagan, Bush, and Clinton haven’t been used much more

The “Inner Cabinet” • Based on George Washington’s original cabinet

The “Inner Cabinet” • Secretary of State. Deals with foreign affairs • Current: Hillary Clinton • Past: Thomas Jefferson, Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, Condi Rice

: -) • “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends. ” – Abe Lincoln • “Better to have them in the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in. ” – Lyndon B. Johnson

Inner Cabinet • Secretary of Defense- deals with military matters, out of military for at least 10 yrs. • Current: Robert Gates • Past: Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Knox (Sec. War)

Inner Cabinet • Secretary of Treasury- deals with finance and money matters, chief economic advisor to pres. and signs $ • Current: Tim Geithner • Past: Alexander Hamilton, Henry Paulson

Inner Cabinet • Attorney General. Chief lawyer, heads Justice Dept. • Current: Eric Holder • Past: Robert F. Kennedy, Janet Reno, Alberto Gonzales