Question

Explain the relationship between the US President and the Cabinet.

Write a short note on the relation between the US president and his cabinet.

Answer 1

1. In the United States, the relationship between the President and the Cabinet is fundamentally different from that in parliamentary systems. The President is the real and sole executive authority, and the Cabinet is not a constitutional body but a group of advisors appointed by him.
2. The President appoints Cabinet members (known as Secretaries) with the approval of the Senate, and he can dismiss them at will. They are individually responsible to the President, not collectively responsible to the legislature. The Cabinet does not have decision-making power; it merely assists the President in administrative functions and implementation of his policies.
3. Cabinet meetings are held at the discretion of the President, and he is not bound by the Cabinet’s advice. The President may choose to consult or ignore the Cabinet. This shows the President’s complete control over it, unlike in a parliamentary system where the Cabinet leads the executive and is collectively accountable to the legislature.