An Introduction to the Presidential Cabinet: Part 1

The Cabinet, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State

The Cabinet

The presidential Cabinet consists of the vice president and the heads of 15 executive departments. It functions as an advisory body to the president of the United States. The Constitution does not define the Cabinet’s structure, and though it has changed over the centuries, its roots began in George Washington’s presidency and the four original departments of the executive branch: state, treasury, war, and justice.

The Cabinet structure is flexible, and each president determines how their Cabinet will work (as well as who will staff it). This flexibility allows the president to choose their closest advisors. Other than the vice president, who is elected, Cabinet members are nominated by the president and confirmed by Congress. Cabinet members serve at “the pleasure of the president,” and the president can remove them from or change their position at any time.

While the Cabinet does not vote on policy, its members influence the direction of national priorities and programs that impact American life. Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution allows the president to request the written opinions of the principal officer in each of the executive departments. This provision supports the president in enacting informed policies and allowing for a variety of perspectives to influence and direct the president’s decisions.  

In addition to its advisory function, the Cabinet plays a role in the presidential line of succession. If the president is unable to serve — due to incapacity, death, resignation, inability to hold the office, or removal from office — succession moves from the vice president to the speaker of the House, then the president pro tempore of the Senate, followed by the Cabinet secretaries in the order their departments were established. In the nation’s history, eight presidents have died in office and one has resigned, triggering line-of-succession procedures.

Vice president

Next in line to the president, the vice president is the ultimate understudy. Vice presidents should be prepared to lead the country at any given time, including possessing knowledge of the Constitution and functionality of the government, international affairs, the military, and more. They attend briefings, Cabinet meetings, and perform other duties the president delegates to them. They are notably the only elected member of the presidential Cabinet.

The vice president serves as the president of the Senate, presiding over Senate proceedings, breaking tie votes, and overseeing the counting and recording of electoral votes. Outlined by the Constitution, the vice president’s role as Senate president is the most historically enduring duty of the office. Even then, some duties of the Senate president have adjusted with the role’s expansion into other acts of governance. For example, the vice president is no longer present regularly in Senate meetings; rather, the vice president attends for special sessions only. 

Through much of U.S. history, vice presidential positions went vacant for years at time. That changed in 1967 when the 25th Amendment passed, allowing presidents to appoint a vice president in cases where the previous was unable to serve any longer. 

The office itself has not typically enjoyed a favorable reputation. John Adams — the first vice president — called it “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” It has been the brunt of jokes, like, “Why did the vice president bring a hammock to work?” “Because his job is mostly just ‘hanging around’ until something happens to the president.” 

The vice president of the United States is an evolving position. In the earliest years, the presidential candidate with the highest number of votes won the presidency, with the runner up winning the vice presidency. (This explains at least some of John Adams’ disdain about the office.) In 1804, the 12th Amendment set the rules for separate elections for presidents and vice presidents.

Only since 1921, when Calvin Coolidge began attending Cabinet meetings, has the vice president begun to work more closely with the president in an advisory capacity. In the second half of the twentieth century, President Eisenhower transferred the office of vice president from the legislative to the executive branch, signifying a shift in expectations of vice presidents. In recent years, the role has developed significantly into a politically strategic and more supportive one to the president. 

The advisory role of a vice president is not articulated in the Constitution, and, as such, presidents’ utilization of their vice presidents has varied. President Carter involved Vice President Mondale in daily executive operations more than any other vice president before him. This model has been followed by most administrations since. President George Bush relied heavily on Vice President Dick Cheney, who had previously served as secretary of state. A notable exception to this “Mondale model,” President Donald Trump consulted little with Vice President Mike Pence during their term together.

The first person of color to hold the office of vice president was Charles Curtis, whose mother was American Indian. He served under Herbert Hoover from 1929-1933. Vice President Kamala Harris became the first woman to hold the office in 2021.

Secretary of state

The secretary of state is the highest-ranking appointed Cabinet member and ranks fourth in the presidential line of succession following the vice president, speaker of the House, and president pro tempore of the Senate. As the president’s chief foreign affairs advisor, the secretary of state is responsible for making and carrying out U.S. foreign policy in coordination with other countries, international organizations, and federal agencies. 

Established in 1789, the U.S. Department of State was one of the original four executive departments of the federal government. The first secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, oversaw a small staff of five with only two diplomatic posts in London and Paris. Centuries later, the department has grown into a global network with more than 270 diplomatic missions. As of July 2025, the workforce includes about 13,000 members of the foreign service, 11,000 civil service employees, and 45,000 locally employed staff.

The department’s mission is “to protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values and shape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive.” In line with this mission, the secretary of state has a vital and historic role in representing the U.S. on the world stage. As the nation’s top diplomat, the secretary of state frequently meets with world leaders, negotiates treaties, addresses international crises, and advocates for American interests abroad. The secretary reports directly to the president and serves as a vital link between the White House and foreign governments.

The secretary oversees all U.S. ambassadors and diplomatic missions worldwide. There are currently 142 U.S. ambassadors who represent the country’s interests in foreign nations, reporting to the secretary. Through these diplomats, the secretary manages international relations, promotes American values, and seeks peaceful resolutions to conflicts. 

The secretary also leads efforts to coordinate foreign assistance, administer international development programs (including those formally under USAID), issue passports and visas, and work with allies and multilateral organizations like the United Nations and NATO. Additional responsibilities include supervising the extradition of foreign nationals, facilitating trade agreements, promoting cultural and educational exchanges, and advancing global human rights and democracy.

The role of secretary of state has left lasting marks on global diplomacy. One of the most influential figures to hold the position, John Quincy Adams helped establish the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, a policy that curbed European colonization in the Western Hemisphere and remains a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. In 1997, Madeleine Albright became the first woman appointed Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice, appointed in 2004, promoted what she called “transformational diplomacy,” emphasizing democratic development and lasting peace, a term that has since been used to describe other international policies. 

This article was written by Natasha Rogers and Sherilyn Stevenson, researchers and writers for Mormon Women for Ethical Government.