Deputy cabinet secretaries can also meet in case a particular scenario requires their presence. They may come up with issues that require immediate attention. It is not obvious that cabinet secretaries would agree to every issue presented during the meeting, and conflicts may arise. Disagreements are healthy and inevitable and they are very important because that demonstrates a democratic society. When they disagree on some issues, they are capable of inventing strong public policies based on strong leadership and democracy. This explains why the cabinet members should play a larger role in formation of public policy. Every person views an idea in different perception, and the issue becomes substantial or disputed after a heated discussion, as the issues presented are based on objectives and not personal interests.
Administrative consistency
After the president meets with cabinet members, they are in a position of giving a comprehensive report to difference organs of the government based on decisions made. As mentioned in the introductory, the cabinet should have a good relationship with the president. Cabinet members should stick together and perform their duties as one group with a common objective. The president chairs the meeting and everyone should incline in one direction; the president's direction. However, presidents differ in the way they carry out the administrative duty.
Prior to conducting the meeting, the cabinet members may be alerted to submit their views and recommendations pertaining to a particular question that the president suggests for debate. In essence, what I mean here is that, there is no defined way through which the president and the cabinet members should conduct their meetings, but what matters is the function they play in formulating the policies. Even though academic qualification for the Cabinet members is essentials, I believe experience is overrides it.
Political support
Pfiffner, James and Roger assert (251-253) argues that a key fundamental responsibility of the cabinet to the president is the political sphere. As discussed, the president plays a key duty in appointing the cabinet members that he deems are loyal to him and will support his policies and proposals. Therefore, in order for the cabinet to appear presentable as public figures, they must agree to work with president, and adhere to his policies.
Personal analysis and conclusion
As Pfiffner, James and Roger assert (251-253) the issue of democracy is entirely a concept that is unfriendly to most government officers because of separation of powers. The president is the chief executive officer and therefore, to have the final word on every decision made based on his own discretion. However, when the concept of democracy...
It fragments the political power and shares the responsibilities to other arms of the government that plays a major role in formulating the public policies. For one to be conversant with the dynamics of control one must have knowledge on how the government is run and the organs involved in running it.
Michael argues that of the three arms of the government; the legislative role is a fundamental organ, in that, those involved in formulating the rules and laws that govern a nation are very essential (13-15). He is referring to the presidential cabinet members. They play a larger role in formation of public policy. The counsel and advisory services they offer assists him/her make unbiased decisions. It also serves as a location where the president can deal with most of the administrative branch; therefore, enhancing administrative consistency. The cabinet is not at present and is never likely to develop into a collective responsibility body. Presidents cannot share their responsibilities or legal authority with the cabinet; therefore, there are inherent restrictions to the Cabinet, which reforms cannot overcome or alter (Landau 8). The cabinet, its members along with its sub-group provide for the president an adaptive source through which he can handle the government's executive branch.
Works Cited
Elaine Landau. The President, Vice President, and Cabinet: A Look at the Executive Branch.
New York: Lerner Publications, 2012
James D. King and James W. Riddlesperger, "Presidential Cabinet Appointments: The Partisan
Factor," Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 14, spring 1984: 231-237.
James MacGregor Burns, The Power to Lead: The Crisis of the American Presidency (New
York: Simon
and Schuster, 1984).
Jeffrey Cohen, The Politics of the U.S. Cabinet: Representation in the Executive Branch, 1789-
1984 (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988), chapter 4
Nelson, Michael, editor. The Presidency and the Political System, 9th edition. Washington D.C.:
CQ Press, 2010.
Pfiffner, James P. And Roger H. Davidson, editors. Understanding the Presidency, 6th ed. New
York: Pearson Education Inc., 2011.pg 251-253.
Works Cited
Nelson, Michael, editor. The Presidency and the Political System, 9th edition. Washington D.C.:
CQ Press, 2010.
Pfiffner, James P. And Roger H. Davidson, editors. Understanding the Presidency, 6th ed. New
York:
Pearson Education Inc., 2011
