Cabinet

Cabinet, top-level advisory council to the head of state, usually composed of the heads of the major executive departments. Though not mentioned in the Constitution, the U.S. cabinet has been a consultative body to the executive since George Washington. Normally the cabinet meets weekly with the president, though procedure varies. Members of the cabinet are individually appointed by and responsible to the president. They are not members of either house of Congress and may not address them, though they are often called to testify before committees.