The Cabinet members are responsible only to the President in the sense that they are called to office by him and are subject to his dismissal at any time, whereas the President is responsible to the country by popular elec tion. The President very seldom endeavors to direct ordinary department operations, but practical necessity has clothed the secretaries with a measure of authority and discretion. Hence, as department heads, the Cabinet offi cers are morally responsible to Congress and indirectly to the country for the conduct of the affairs of their separate departments. They are liable to censure and impeachment, and conviction on impeachment means removal from office, which also results actually though not technically from a vote of censure. Ap pointments of Cabinet officers are subject to the approval of the Senate, which is rarely withheld, and the only limitation on the power of removal is consideration of party welfare; the Tenure-of-Office Act of 1867 (q.v.) was an exception but this act was repealed. In forming his Cabinet, the President usually en deavors to strengthen his administration po litically by observing a code of geographical and other rules, distributing his appointments to cultivate doubtful sections or to reward party strongholds. In early times the Cabinet changed with the party, but with the develop ment of the powers of appointment and removal the Cabinet comes into office with the Presi dent and retires with him. While in foreign countries ability to debate, personal prestige and political sagacity are usually essential to cabinet appointments, the reverse is true of the President's Cabinet. The President may fill the various portfolios with totally unknown men, in reliance on their unproved abilities, without serious risk, and some of these ap pointments have been eminently successful The Secretary of State is usually selected with the greatest care, since he is regarded as the head of the Cabinet in influence and follows the Vice-President in the presidential succes sion, but he has neither the powers nor the in fluence of the European Premier, these residing in the President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Cabinet meetings are frequent, occurring twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) when the President is at the seat of government. The procedure resembles a conference of a board of directors, the nature of the discussions de pending upon the President. Sometimes they degenerate into mere discussions of routine affairs connected with the various departments. There is no question as to what officers shall sit in the Cabinet nor can outsiders mix in its councils; at times, however, outside persons with information to impart have met with it, but this is regarded more as a special consulta tion than as a Cabinet meeting. The Presi dent's position as head of his party necessitates advisers outside his official household; and oftentimes he has certain intimates not con nected with the government on whom he de pends for impartial and unbiased opinions on matters of special importance to the country.
Since Jackson's time these advisers have not attained such influence as to receive the title '(Kitchen Cabinet.* Cabinet opinions carry weight according to the personality of the President and secretaries and surrounding conditions. As previously stated the President is not obliged to consult the Cabinet but is expected to do so. As a rule, however, he consults it regarding matters of grave public importance and very seldom takes action re garding departmental affairs without first, con sulting the several department heads.
The term cabinet is sometimes applied in the United States to the heads of State departments advisory to the governor, but this is even less justifiable than its application to the Presi dent's advisers, since the State officers are elected by the people on the same ticket with the governor and the latter has no power of appointment or dismissal. Its use in connec tion with the municipal officers accessory to a mayor has some justification, as many of these officers are appointed by him.
The history of the national executive de partments and of the President's Cabinet will be found under the title UNITED STATES - BE