Presidential Cabinet
Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution stipulates that the president “may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal
Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices.” Since the
ratification of the Constitution at the end of the 18th century, as the nation has grown in size and the issues facing it have
become more complex, the presidents have come to rely heavily on the “principal Officer[s]” who comprise the Presidential Cabinet.
The members of the Cabinet are heads of different organizations and departments within the federal government, appointed by the
president, who provide a unique approach to the innumerable, multifaceted issues with which he is confronted on a daily basis.
Cabinet members consider both practical consequences (e.g. “How could this law be implemented?”) and ideological preferences
(e.g. “How can we turn the president’s agenda into policy?”). They may also advise the president with an aim to avoid problems
or present solutions to troubling matters.
Another important role of cabinet members is their relationship with the Congress and the public. Assumed to be experts in their
field, Cabinet members are often called to testify in congressional hearings, meet with the press, and interact with citizens across
the nation. While in private they may raise concerns with presidential decisions, in public they are some of the president’s most
vocal advocates (after all, he did appoint them).
The Presidential Cabinet at HMCE
As knowledgeable experts in their respective fields, Cabinet members at HMCE will have the opportunity to testify on relevant
matters in other committees. The atmosphere within the HMCE Cabinet is dynamic and constantly changing, for members debate the merits
of various policies from their departments’ point of view and present their officially recommended policies to the President at the end
of the conference.
This program will challenge its members to think critically about what constitutes good policy and will push the Cabinet secretaries
not only to convince the Congress of the merit of their policy recommendations, but also to write persuasive memos to the President to
convince him that their recommendations are indeed worthwhile. This committee will be particularly exciting at our 2010 conference, as
it will be the first time in eight years that the Cabinet will be selected by a new president.
At HMCE, you will be given the opportunity to experience the exciting work of a Cabinet-level official. You will participate in
debates about the merits of different policies, consider legislation that is to come before Congress, testify before congressional
committees and international summits, and present policy recommendations to the president. You will also face the challenge of
promoting your specific view and that of your department while all of your peers will be attempting to do the same—but for their
departments and with their bureaucratic biases. However, at the end of the day, you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you put
together recommendations that will help the United States government move forward and best serve US citizens.
For more details, see the 2010 Guide to the Cabinet.
2010 Staff and Topics
Committee Chair:
Jon Staff
Committee Vice Chair:
Michael Feehly
Note: The Presidential Cabinet does not discuss pre-assigned topics like many program committees; rather, it
coordinates with the president and his staff to convey the administration's views to other committees and
governmental organizations.
Update:
Cabinet Changes and Political Commentary
Committee message board:
http://hmce.activeboard.com
Relevant Links
Use these links to research the structure and members of the current and incoming Cabinets, as well as issues on which Cabinet members are working.
Use the following links to visit the Web sites of the various Cabinet departments.