Cabinet members make some of the most important decisions in an administration, and drive issues to the forefront of the policy agenda. Below are the people who make things happen – and the jurisdiction of each agency. The departments and their heads are listed below in order of presidential succession, after the vice president, the speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate.

Albright

Department of State: Madeleine K. Albright The key United States foreign affairs agency, the State Department is in charge of diplomacy, negotiation and relations with other nations.

Department of the Treasury: Lawrence Summers Treasury helps maintain the nation's economy, sets monetary policy and provides safety for American citizens and leaders. Its agencies include the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Summers

Cohen

Department of Defense: William S. Cohen A central player in setting foreign policy, the Pentagon oversees the U.S. military including all the armed forces, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other defense agencies.

Department of Justice: Janet Reno Justice's duties include enforcing the law, investigating and preventing crime and prosecuting offenders. It also represents the administration and the federal government in lawsuits.

Reno

Babbitt

Department of the Interior: Bruce Babbitt Interior is chiefly in charge of protecting natural resources. Its agencies include the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Department of Agriculture: Dan Glickman USDA oversees farm and agriculture policy, including international trade, nutrition programs, food safety and consumer issues, rural development and natural resources.

Glickman

Daley

Department of Commerce: William M. Daley Chiefly responsible for business and trade, Commerce focuses on domestic and global economic performance. Its agencies include the Census Bureau, the Patent and Trademark Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Department of Labor: Alexis M. Herman Labor's chief responsibility is the nation's work force. It sets policy for workers, mediates contract disputes and oversees statutes on wages, workplace health and safety, pensions, equal opportunity, worker's compensation and job training.

Herman

Shalala

HHS: Donna E. Shalala The primary focus of the Department of Health and Human Services is public health, welfare and safety issues. Its domain includes Medicare and Medicaid, aid for low-income families, immunization and funding to fight infectious disease, Head Start, child support enforcement and preventing domestic violence.

HUD: Andrew Cuomo HUD takes care of America's cities. The department is responsible for public housing, empowerment zones and business and economic support for communities.

Cuomo

Slater

Department of Transportation: Rodney E. Slater Transportation formulates policy on aviation, railroads, waterways and highways. It also is in charge of regulation, infrastructure and maintenance.

Department of Energy: Bill Richardson Energy focuses on technology to improve energy sources, education and efficiency. The department also addresses environmental quality and issues like nuclear waste disposal.

Richardson

Riley

Department of Education: Richard W. Riley The department oversees U.S. education policy and standards. Its responsibilities also include student loans and leadership on specific education issues.

Department of Veterans Affairs: Togo D. West The department operates services – including medical care, assistance, benefits and cemeteries – for the more than 26 million American veterans.

West

Cabinet-Level Positions

Although not technically part of the Cabinet, some top administration positions are treated as such. Like the Cabinet, nominees to these posts must be approved by the Senate. U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations: Richard C. Holbrooke Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency: Carol M. Browner U.S. Trade Representative: Charlene Barshefsky Director, Central Intelligence: George J. Tenet Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation: Louis J. Freeh