A cabinet is a group of ministers that regularly deliberates on major political issues. It makes most policy decisions, devises political strategy, and implements government policies. It usually meets weekly. Cabinet members, who are appointed by the head of state or head of government, typically serve at the pleasure of that person, and can be replaced or moved (“demoted”) to another portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.
In the United States, the Cabinet consists of the heads of the 15 executive departments (Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of State, Treasury, and War). The President nominates these officers to be members of the Cabinet, and they must be confirmed by the Senate by a simple majority vote. The Constitution authorizes the Cabinet to advise the President upon any subject relating to their offices.
The Cabinet has a long history in the United States, dating back to George Washington’s habit of consulting regularly with the heads of the departments of State, War, and Treasury as a group. In time, as the administration’s administrative duties expanded and new problems arose, the President began to consult the heads of other departments as well.
If you want your cabinets to function well and look good, it is worth paying extra for hardware like soft-close hinges that prevent doors from slamming shut and full-extension drawer slides that allow you to pull out all the way without straining. A lifetime limited warranty is also a good option for cabinetry, as it provides assurance that the manufacturer will stand behind their product.
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