ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter presents an overview of the cabinet in the US. It describes the role of the cabinet, how it is formed, and the individuals who have been appointed to the cabinet. The chapter also outlines some classic and recent theories of cabinet change in presidential systems that are particularly applicable to the US. The chapter also uses new data on the tenure of cabinet secretaries in the US to illustrate some of the theoretical points presented throughout the text. As the archetype of a democratic presidential system, the US presents a unique opportunity to explore cabinet formation and change relative to the dynamics of cabinets in parliamentary systems.
