Cabinet is a group of officials in the executive branch of government. The Cabinet is a key element in shaping national policies, and it plays an important role in the administration of laws. It also works closely with bureaucratic agencies that manage day-to-day operations, ensuring that federal policies are implemented effectively.
Although the Constitution does not mention a Cabinet, it has become an integral part of governments wherever legislative powers have been vested in parliaments. In parliamentary systems of government, the cabinet is known as the Council of Ministers and consists of the heads of principal government departments. Ministers are appointed by the head of state and serve at his or her pleasure. Unlike members of the legislature, members of the Cabinet may be dismissed without approval from the Senate or downgraded to non-Cabinet rank.
In the United States, the President nominates department heads and has the power to dismiss them at any time. The President also presides over the Cabinet meeting, which is held in a room adjacent to the Oval Office in the White House West Wing. The Vice President is a member of the Cabinet by statute and attends meetings along with acting department heads who are not yet nominated for cabinet rank.
Cabinet meetings provide a forum for discussion of various policy issues and allow department heads to share ideas and perspectives. The cabinet is not a legislative body, but it influences legislation by providing opinions and advice to the President regarding forthcoming policy decisions. The cabinet often delegates the work of making policy to its sub-committees, which then report back to the full Cabinet.
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