[United States Government Manual]
[June 02, 1998]
[Pages 89-90]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES                William J. Clinton

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Article II, section 1, of the Constitution provides that ``[t]he 
executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of 
America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, . . .  
together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term . . . .'' In 
addition to the powers set forth in the Constitution, the statutes have 
conferred upon the President specific authority and responsibility 
covering a wide range of matters (United States Code Index).

    The President is the administrative head of the executive branch of 
the Government, which includes numerous agencies, both temporary and 
permanent, as well as the 14 executive departments.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet, a creation of custom and tradition dating back to George 
Washington's administration, functions at the pleasure of the President. 
Its purpose is to advise the President upon any subject, relating to the 
duties of the respective offices, on which he requests information 
(pursuant to Article II, section 2, of the Constitution).

    The Cabinet is composed of the heads of the 14 executive 
departments--the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, 
Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban 
Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and 
Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Additionally, in the Clinton 
administration, Cabinet-level rank has been accorded to: the Chief of 
Staff to the President; the Director of Central Intelligence; the 
Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; the Counselor to the President; 
the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; the Director, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Director, Office of Management 
and Budget; the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; the 
Administrator, Small Business Administration; the U.S. Representative to 
the United Nations; and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Vice 
President also participates in Cabinet meetings, and from time to time, 
other individuals are invited to participate in discussions of 
particular subjects. A Secretary to the Cabinet is designated to provide 
for the orderly handling and followup of matters brought before the 
Cabinet.

[[Page 90]]

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE VICE PRESIDENT                                Al Gore

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Article II, section I, of the Constitution provides that the President 
``shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years . . . together 
with the Vice President . . . .'' In addition to his role as President 
of the Senate, the Vice President is empowered to succeed to the 
Presidency, pursuant to Article II and the 20th and 25th amendments to 
the Constitution.

    The executive functions of the Vice President include participation 
in Cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership on the National Security 
Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
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