What Are the Qualifications for Becoming a Cabinet Member?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

The only real qualification for becoming a Cabinet member is having the president make the appointment. The member must also be approved by the Senate after the appointment.

In order to become a Cabinet member, the person appointed can be a member of Congress or hold any other elected position. When Cabinet members are approved by a majority vote in the Senate, they hold their positions during the president’s administration.The president can dismiss Cabinet members whenever it’s necessary, and the president does not need approval from the Senate when dismissing a member. Cabinet members typically step down when the president’s term ends.