Which presidential cabinet picks require congressional approval?
<p>Which new presidential cabinet position require congressional approval? </p>

<p>All of them.</p>

<p>The "cabinet" refers to the heads of the executive departments listed at <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/101" rel="nofollow noreferrer">5 USC 101</a>. "Cabinet" isn't defined in the Constitution or legislation, but this interpretation is supported by the American Heritage Dictionary (<a href="https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=cabinet" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>cabinet</em></a>), the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, and some discussion in <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/424/1/case.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Buckley v. Valeo, 424 US 1 (1976)</a>. All of these are consistent with an interpretation of "cabinet" to mean heads of departments of the executive branch.</p>

<p>All cabinet appointments require the advice and consent of the Senate (except for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recess_appointment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">recess appointments</a>).</p>

<p>The requirement for advice and consent of the Senate is given in individual statutes relating to each department. For the Secretary of State, for example, see <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2651a" rel="nofollow noreferrer">22 U.S. Code § 2651a (a) (2)</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of State, and the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That statute also happens to require some deputies to gain the consent of the Senate.</p>

<p>For the Secretary of the Treasury, see 31 U.S. Code § 301:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[...] The Secretary is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There are hundreds of <em>non-cabinet positions</em> that require the advice and consent of the Senate. These are presented in the report, <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30959.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring
Senate Confirmation and Committees
Handling Nominations"</a>.</p>

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