The Cabinet
The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, 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.
The Cabinet includes 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, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
President Obama at Cabinet meeting April 20, 2009 at the White House.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
In order of succession to the Presidency:
Vice President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden
Department of State
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Department of the Treasury
Secretary Timothy F. Geithner
Department of Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates
Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Department of the Interior
Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar
Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Department of Commerce
Secretary Gary F. Locke
Department of Labor
Secretary Hilda L. Solis
Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
Department of Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood
Department of Energy
Secretary Steven Chu
Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank:
White House Chief of Staff
Rahm I. Emanuel
Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
Office of Management & Budget
Jeffrey Zients, Acting Director
United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Ronald Kirk
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Ambassador Susan Rice
Council of Economic Advisers
Chair Austan Goolsbee
