| For the most part, studies relating to the presidential Cabinet have been qualitative in nature and have not been considered a viable sub-field of any of the major areas of study within American politics. It is the feeling that more direction is needed if Cabinet studies are to advance any further.; That said, it is concluded here that due to its significant influence direction of bureaucratic policy, the Cabinet deserves a place within the bureaucratic control literature. Since a great deal of executive-legislative conflict concerning bureaucratic control revolves around the staffing of key positions within the federal bureaucracy, of which scholars agree that the Cabinet posts can certainly be considered, the process of Cabinet construction certainly needs to be considered as part of the genre.; Moreover, since the Cabinet is unique in that its creation and function depend equally on both the president and Congress, all areas of Cabinet research, those being Cabinet building, structure and function need to be studied along the tandem institutions perspective proposed by Peterson (1990). Preliminary results presented within indicate that at least in terms of Cabinet building, both executive and legislative forces are vital with regards to final outcomes on presidential Cabinet nominations. Qualitative anecdotal evidence also suggests that the legislative efforts at curtailing the executive appointment prerogative through control of high level staffing decisions may also extend beyond the Cabinet building stage and into the realm of function, as exemplified by Reconstruction Era efforts by Congress at subjecting executive removal of bureaucratic agents to Senate advise and consent procedures.; Also, it must be noted that institutional changes seem to have the most significant impact on Cabinet building with the Congressional committee procedural changes of the early 1970's being the most recent example of legislative initiatives having a great deal of impact on the exercise of the presidential appointment power. Thus, future studies on ascertaining the dynamics of Cabinet building and function should be centered on the role of institutional changes that may come from either the executive or legislative branch. |
