Cabinet Departments
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate. They serve at the pleasure of the President and advise on policy matters.
Line of Succession: Cabinet members are in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President and Speaker of the House, in the order their departments were created.
The 15 Executive Departments
Department of State
Established 1789
Department of the Treasury
Established 1789
Department of Defense
Established 1947
Department of Justice
Established 1870
Department of the Interior
Established 1849
Department of Agriculture
Established 1889
Department of Commerce
Established 1913
Department of Labor
Established 1913
Department of Health and Human Services
Established 1953
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Established 1965
Department of Transportation
Established 1967
Department of Energy
Established 1977
Department of Education
Established 1979
Department of Veterans Affairs
Established 1989
Department of Homeland Security
Established 2002