⇒ Primary Constitutional role of cabinet is to advise the President on policy within areas covered by their departments.

⇒ Cabinet also deals with specific areas of national and international affairs

⇒ Raise and provide public money and oversee its proper expenditure

⇒ Impeach and try federal officers

⇒ Cabinet meetings often receive criticism

⇒ Frequency of cabinet meetings can vary (Reagan had 36 in first year, whereas Clinton had 6 in his first year)

⇒ The frequency of the cabinet meetings often decreases throughout the presidency (Reagan had 36 in year 1, then 21, then 12, and finally 12 in his last year)

⇒ The cabinet provides a number of functions for the President:

• Team spirit
• Collegial appearance
• Forum to debate policy
• Check on legislation
• Push for congressional action

⇒ Functions for Cabinet:

• Resolve inter-departmental disputes
• Networking
• Opportunity to speak with the president

⇒ Also see our notes on:

• Executive Power
• Federal Bureaucracy
• EXOP and Congress
• Other Checks