The Cabinet and the Executive office of the President

The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself.

The U.S.A Constitution does not say any thing about a 'Presidential Cabinet.' It only mentions in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 that, "the President may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices." So, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

Structure of the Cabinet: The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the

Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Heavy and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and urban  Development,     Interior,     labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney Generai. Each Executive Department has a Secretary who is the head of that Department and is appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. The Ten Secretaries of ten Departments and the Attorney -General are recognized   as   the   top   political   figures   in   the   national administration. They sit in the 'President's Cabinet" and are the principal advisers of the President. Appointment: The Cabinet members are appointed by the President according to his free will on the consent of the Senate. They are not members of the Congress nor are they responsible to it. They can hold the office as long as they enjoy the President's confidence. The President can dismiss them at will.

The position of the Cabinet: The American cabinet system differs greatly from the cabinet system in other countries, like India or England. The U.S. President cannot put his responsibility on the shoulders of the Cabinet nor can be make it responsible to the people for their actions.

In other countries the Cabinet has a Constitutional status and the ministers are directly responsible to the people for their actions. In other countries the cabinet has a constitutional status and the ministers are directly responsible to the people for their actions. They are not appointed or dismissed by the executive head of the State, in his own direction. They are appointed to the advice of the Prime Minister.

In America, on the other hand, the cabinet is more like the President's own Council of Advisers. In India, the President cannot afford to disregard the advice of the Cabinet. But in U.S.A. it is the President's sweet will whether to accept the advice of the Cabinet or not. There is a classic example of the fact showing how utterly the President can  disregard the Cabinet's   advice.   Once an important  subject   was  being discussed by seven members of President Abraham Lincoln's cabinet, with Lincoln in the Chair. When it was put to vote the seven members voted in the negative, although Lincoln himself wanted a decision in affirmative. He wound up the discussion by quietly saying: "the Vote is notes and Therefore, the aye has it." This cannot happen in countries like India or England.

The Cabinet meets ordinarily once a week. The President decides what matters are to be discussed in the cabinet meeting. Proceedings are informal and there are no rules of debate. No official records of proceedings are maintained.