Harvard Model Congress Asia

Cabinet

The United States Cabinet consists of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the U.S. government. George Washington established the first Presidential Cabinet in 1789, as Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution stipulates 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.” Over the past two centuries, the Cabinet’s purview has expanded to practically every public policy area influenced by the federal government. The Cabinet is currently comprised of fifteen senior officials appointed by the President to serve as the heads of federal executive departments responsible for government matters ranging from international relations and national defense to health and human services, education, and commerce.

Before assuming office, Cabinet secretaries must be confirmed by a simple majority vote in the United States Senate. Once approved, they immediately accept the duties associated with the executive department to which they were appointed by the President. Cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the President, and consequently, they function as the primary advocates of the administration and the various public policies that it supports. Furthermore, Cabinet secretaries serve as a direct connection between the administration and other branches of the government, and as such, they frequently testify at congressional hearings, meet with members of the press, and promote the administration’s policies at the state and federal level.

At HMCA, the atmosphere within the Presidential Cabinet is dynamic and engaging as delegates are expected to think critically about the merits and shortcomings of the policies proposed by the administration and the legislation drafted by their fellow delegates. As experts in their respective fields, Cabinet secretaries will encounter many opportunities to participate in lively policy debates, analyze and evaluate legislation, testify before congressional committees and international organizations, and present policy recommendations to other Cabinet members and even the President himself. Most importantly though, Cabinet secretaries are expected to do everything in their power to ensure that the administration’s policy agenda is implemented as effectively and efficiently as possible in all of the departments and organizations that comprise the federal government.