Every executive department of the United States federal government is led by a head with the title of Secretary (except for the head of the Justice Department, who holds the title of Attorney General). These departments have different goals and responsibilities, ranging from agriculture and energy to defense and transportation. The President of the United States appoints the heads of the 15 executive departments, each of whom serves on the President’s Cabinet. Within the executive branch, these heads are responsible for handling the day-to-day enforcement of the laws adopted by Congress. Their role is thus both advisory and administrative in nature.
Among the 15 executive departments, the number of employees and the departments’ budgets varies dramatically. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense is the largest government agency, employing over 2.87 million U.S citizens (making it the United States’ largest employer) and working with a current budget of $716 billion. Comparably, the Department of Education has the fewest number of employees of any of the executive departments, with only 4,400 employees nationwide and working with a $68 billion budget. Therefore, in addition to the difference in objectives and areas of focus, the heads of U.S. executive departments also have drastically different resources that they use to advance their department’s interests and goals.
Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash
Because executive department heads hold such powerful jobs in the United States, with their decisions impacting security, economics, and administration at a national level, there have been a number of Cabinet members throughout history who have held doctorates. Although it is not required to attain such a position, a Ph.D. in Law can open up a number of doors in the federal government, as well as in academia, business, and the judiciary. Law students interested in pursuing their Ph.D. in Law can receive it from the University of Washington School of Law but should be mindful that the program requires an LL.M. degree for admission, and, upon entering the program, a minimum of three years of study before they can submit their dissertation.