how were the executive department secretaries and attorney general selected

by Melissa McDermott 7 min read

The president appoints Cabinet secretaries and the attorney general, subject to Senate confirmation, and they serve at his will.

Who appoints the heads of the executive departments?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What are the United States federal executive departments?

Sep 14, 2011 · The Executive Branch How does the process of selecting cabinet secretaries reflect checks and balances in the government? The president appoints the secretaries, and the senate approves them.

Who is the head of the Department of Justice?

Executive Departments: 1. 1789. Department of State. 2. 1789. Department of the Treasury. 3. 1789 1947. Department of War Department of Defense (merger of War and Navy departments) 4. 1789 1870. Attorney General Department of Justice. 1798. Department of the Navy (merged with War Department in 1947) 1829. Postmaster General (Post Office ...

What is the cabinet in the executive branch?

the president appoints cabinet secretaries and the attorney general, subject to senate confirmation what statement describes the president's power to get his program enacted the president must rely heavily on persuasion to get things done

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How are Cabinet secretaries and Attorney General selected?

(A) The president appoints cabinet secretaries and the attorney general, subject to Senate confirmation, and they serve at his will.

How is the secretary of an executive department chosen?

The heads of departments, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, are members of the Cabinet, and acting department heads also participate in Cabinet meetings whether or not they have been officially nominated for Senate confirmation.

How were the executive departments created?

In 1789, Congress created three Executive Departments: Foreign Affairs (later in the same year renamed State), Treasury, and War. It also provided for an Attorney General and a Postmaster General. Domestic matters were apportioned by Congress among these departments.

Who appoints executive department secretaries?

the PresidentThe Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest confidants.

Are members elected or appointed in the executive branch?

Unlike the President and Vice President, Cabinet-members are not elected; rather, they are appointed through nomination by the President and subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

How the executive department performs their roles and powers?

The executive branch is headed by the president, whose constitutional responsibilities include serving as commander in chief of the armed forces; negotiating treaties; appointing federal judges (including the members of the Supreme Court), ambassadors, and cabinet officials; and acting as head of state.

Why were executive departments created?

The day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws is in the hands of the various executive departments, created by Congress to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. The Constitution makes no provision for a presidential Cabinet. ...

What executive branch department was most recently created?

Terms in this set (31)Most recently added department in Executive branch. Department of Homeland Security.Number of main departments in Executive branch. ... Bureaucrat. ... Demographic make-up of bureaucrat. ... Original meaning of "bureaucracy" ... Bureaucratic responsibilities. ... Oversight. ... Who controls the bureaucracy?More items...

When were the executive departments created?

Order of Establishment of the Executive DepartmentsRank*YearExecutive Departments11789Department of State21789Department of the Treasury31789 1947Department of War Department of Defense (merger of War and Navy departments)41789 1870Attorney General Department of Justice15 more rows

What are the 12 Cabinet positions?

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 ...

Which department head is not a secretary?

Each of the department heads has the title Secretary, like Secretary of Defense or Secretary of Education, except for the head of the Justice Department who is called the Attorney General. Cabinet members are chosen by the president and the confirmed by the Senate.

Who falls under the executive branch?

the presidentThe executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.Jan 31, 2022

What is the Executive Office of the President?

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Who is the head of the DOJ?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What is the EOP in the White House?

Perhaps the most visible parts of the EOP are the White House Communications Office and Press Secretary’s Office. The Press Secretary provides daily briefings for the media on the President’s activities and agenda.

Where does the Vice President of the United States live?

Like the President, he or she also maintains an official residence, at the United States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C.

Who oversees the EOP?

The EOP, overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, has traditionally been home to many of the President’s closest advisers.

What is the role of the National Security Council?

Less visible to most Americans is the National Security Council, which advises the President on foreign policy, intelligence, and national security. There are also a number of offices responsible for the practicalities of maintaining the White House and providing logistical support for the President.

Who coordinates policy in the White House?

The Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security coordinate policy, including through the Homeland Security Council at the White House and in cooperation with other defense and intelligence agencies.

What is the Executive Office of the President?

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Who is the Executive Branch?

The Executive Branch. From the President, to the Vice President, to the Cabinet, learn more about the Executive Branch of the government of the United States. The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

What branch is the Vice President in?

The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise. The Cabinet and independent federal agencies are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws.

Where does the Vice President of the United States live?

Like the President, he also maintains an official residence, at the United States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C.

What is the President responsible for?

Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet — carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government.

Who is the head of the DOJ?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What is the Cabinet?

The Cabinet. The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest confidants.

Who was the first secretary of the Treasury?

Alexander Hamilton (1787–1804) was appointed and quickly approved by the Senate as the first secretary of the treasury on Sept. 11, 1789. Hamilton would continue to serve in that position until January 1795. He would have a profound impact on the early economic development of the United States.

How many members are in the President's Cabinet?

In contrast to having only four ministers, in 2019 the President’s Cabinet consists of 16 members which include the vice president.

What is the role of the Cabinet?

Its role is to advise the president on the issues related to each of the departments. While Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution sets up the ability of the president to select the heads of the executive departments, President George Washington established the “Cabinet” as a group of advisers who reported in private and solely to the U.S.

When was the first cabinet meeting?

President Washington held his first cabinet meeting on Feb. 25, 1793. James Madison coined the term "cabinet" for this meeting of the executive department heads. Washington’s cabinet meetings soon became quite acrimonious, with Jefferson and Hamilton taking opposite positions over the issue of a national bank that was part ...

What were the three departments that George Washington created?

In the first year of George Washington’s presidency, only three executive departments were established: the Departments of State, Treasury, and War. Washington selected secretaries for each of these positions. His choices were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, ...

Who is Martin Kelly?

Martin Kelly, M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer. He is the author of "The Everything American Presidents Book" and "Colonial Life: Government.". The United States President’s cabinet consists of the heads of each of the executive departments, along with the vice president. Its role is to advise the president on ...

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George Washington’s First Cabinet

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In the first year of George Washington’s presidency, only three executive departments were established: the Departments of State, Treasury, and War. Washington selected secretaries for each of these positions. His choices were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton
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Judiciary Act of 1789

  • On April 30, 1789, Washington took the oath of office as America’s first president. It was not until almost five months later, on Sept. 24, 1789, that Washington signed into law the Judiciary Act of 1789, which not only established the office of the U.S. attorney general but also established a three-part judicial system consisting of: 1. The Supreme Court (which at the time consisted of o…
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Cabinet Nominations

  • Washington waited until September to form his first cabinet. The four positions were quickly filled in only 15 days. He hoped to balance out the nominations by choosing members from different regions of the newly formed United States. Alexander Hamilton (1787–1804) was appointed and quickly approved by the Senate as the first secretary of the treasury on Sept. 11, 1789. Hamilton …
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Issues Facing Washington’s Cabinet

  • President Washington held his first cabinet meeting on Feb. 25, 1793. James Madison coined the term "cabinet" for this meeting of the executive department heads. Washington’s cabinet meetings soon became quite acrimonious, with Jefferson and Hamilton taking opposite positions over the issue of a national bank that was part of Hamilton’s financial plan. Hamilton had created a finan…
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Sources

  1. Borrelli, MaryAnne. "The President's Cabinet: Gender, Power, and Representation." Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002.
  2. Cohen, Jeffrey E. "The Politics of the U.S. Cabinet: Representation in the Executive Branch, 1789–1984." Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988.
  3. Hinsdale, Mary Louise. "A History of the President's Cabinet." Ann Arbor: University of Michig…
  1. Borrelli, MaryAnne. "The President's Cabinet: Gender, Power, and Representation." Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002.
  2. Cohen, Jeffrey E. "The Politics of the U.S. Cabinet: Representation in the Executive Branch, 1789–1984." Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988.
  3. Hinsdale, Mary Louise. "A History of the President's Cabinet." Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Historical Studies, 1911.