United States Cabinet

The Cabinet is a part of the executive branch of the U.S. federal government consisting of the heads of federal executive departments. Despite having evolved as one of the most powerful organs of the contemporary U.S. government, the term "Cabinet" does not appear in the U.S. Constitution, where reference is made only to the heads of departments.

Former Cabinet positions

• Secretary of Foreign Affairs was renamed Secretary of State and given additional responsibilities in March 1790.
• From 1789 to 1947, the duties of the Secretary of Defense were instead handled by Cabinet-level positions of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy.
• Prior to 1913, the duties of the current Secretaries of Commerce and Labor were held by a single Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
• Between the years 1829 and 1971, the Post Office Department was a Cabinet-level executive agency and thus the Postmaster General was a Cabinet officer.
• Prior to 1980, the duties of the Secretaries of Education and of Health and Human Services were united as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.