The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State,Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
In order of succession to the Presidency:
Vice President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden
Department of State
Secretary John Kerry
state.gov
Department of the Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew
treasury.gov
Department of Defense
Secretary AshtonCarter
defense.gov
Department of Justice
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch
usdoj.gov
Department of the Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell
doi.gov
Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
usda.gov
Department of Commerce
Secretary Penny Pritzker
commerce.gov
Department of Labor
Secretary Thomas E. Perez
dol.gov
Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell
hhs.gov
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Julián Castro
hud.gov
Department of Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx
dot.gov
Department of Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz
energy.gov
Department of Education
Secretary John King
ed.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Robert McDonald
va.gov
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Jeh Johnson
dhs.gov
The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank:
White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough
Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Gina McCarthy
epa.gov
Office of Management & Budget
Director Shaun L.S. Donovan
whitehouse.gov/omb
United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Michael Froman
ustr.gov
United States Mission to the United Nations
Ambassador Samantha Power
usun.state.gov
Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman Jason Furman
whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea
Small Business Administration
Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet
sba.gov
