CHANGES IN THE CABINET COUNCIL STRUCTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00759R000100160005-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 11, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2010/08/10: CIA-RDP87T00759R000100160005-5
April 11, 1.985
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CAS,PET kNDSF CTED AGENCY HEADS
1
'ILL 0
FROM: ALFRW V. KIN(;ON
CABINET SECRETARY
SUBJECT: Changes in the Cabinet Council Structure
Attached are copies of two memoranda from the President, a
statement and a fact sheet outlining his changes in the
Cabinet Council structure.
These changes will be announced by the Press Office in Santa
Barbara today at approximately at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
I am looking forward to working with each of you, and all of
you, to make the new Cabinet Council system more productive
and responsive in executing the President's programs and
policies. Having discussed the new system with most of you,
and noting the enthusiasm with which it was greeted, I am
confident we will make it successful.
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 Approved For Release 2010/08/10: CIA-RDP87T00759R000100160005-5
April 11, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET
THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
THE CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS
SUBJECT: Economic Policy Council
To ensure better coordination in the formulation and execution
of economic policy, I am creating a cabinet-level organization
to be known as the Economic Policy Council.
The Council will be composed of the Secretaries of State,
Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, the Director
of Office of Management and Budget, the United States Trade
Representative, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic
Advisers and such other members as I may from time to time
designate. The Vice President and the Chief of Staff will
serve as ex-officio members of the Council. Other Executive
department and agency heads will be invited to attend the
Council's meetings when issues involving their department
or agency are under consideration.
The Council will report to me and provide advice concerning
all aspects of national and international a onomic policy. It
will oversee the formulation, coordination, and implementation
of all economic policy of the United States.
In my absence, the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall serve
as Chairman Pro Tempore, will preside at meetings of the
Council.
The staff of the Council shall be headed by an Executive
Secretary who will report to the Chief of Staff through the
Cabinet Secretary.
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Office of the Press Secretary
(Santa Barbara, California)
For Immediate Release April 11, 1985
Today I am announcing the creation of two cabinet-level bodies --
the Economic Policy Council and the Domestic Policy Council -- to
assist me in the formulation and execution of domestic and economic
policy. I will chair both Councils. These two Councils will
replace the seven existing Cabinet Councils and the Senior
Interagency Group-International Economic Policy. The new entities
will streamline policy development and decision making. Together
with the National Security Council, they will serve as the primary
channels for advising me on policy matters.
The Economic Policy Council will be composed of the Secretaries of
State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, the Director of
Office of Management and Budget, the United States Trade
Representative and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors.
It will provide advice to me concerning all aspects of national and
international economic policy. The heads of the national security_
community departments and agencies and t h e
discussed. _In my absence, the Secretary of
as Chairman Pro-Tempore.
Treasury will serve
The Domestic Policy Council will be composed of the Attorney
General, the Secretaries of the Interior, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy and Education,
and the Director of Office of Management and Budget. It will
provide advice to me on domestic and social policy. In my absence
the Attorney General will serve as Chairman Pro Tempore.
The heads of non-member departments and agencies will be invited to
participate in either Council's deliberations whenever matters
affecting their organizations are on the agenda. The Vice President
and Chief of Staff will serve as ex-officio members of both
Councils.
The new, streamlined decision making process enhances my commitment
to cabinet government. It will provide for added accountability and
efficiency in formulating and implementing policy.
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olicy or budget matters
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Office of the Press Secretary
(Santa Barbara, California)
For Immediate Release April 11, 1985
Economic Policy Council
Domestic Policy Council
In order to provide better policy coordination, formulation and
implementation, the President today announced the creation of two
new cabinet-level councils, the Economic Policy Council and the
Domestic Policy Council, to advise him on economic and domestic
policy issues.
The Economic Policy Council will consider those policy issues
that are primarily economic in nature; the Domestic Policy
Council will consider those policy issues that are not primarily
economic in nature.
These new councils build on the President's commitment to cabinet
government and to the inclusion of department and agency heads in
the Administration's decision-making process.
General Features
The streamlined, consolidated system will help clarify respon-
sibility and enhance accountability for formulating and imple-
menting economic and domestic policy.
o The two new councils will replace the following:
Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade
Cabinet Council on Economic Affairs
Cabinet Council on Food and Agriculture
Cabinet Council on Human Resources
Cabinet Council on Legal Policy
Cabinet Council on Management and Administration
Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and the
Environment
Senior Interagency Group on International Economic
Policy
o The Economic Policy Council, the Domestic Policy,
Counc' National Security Council will serve as
the primary channels for advising the Presi en on
p- oIicy.
o The Vice President and the Chief of Staff will serve as
ex-officio members of both the Economic and Domestic
Policy Councils.
o Executive department and agency heads who are not
members of a council will be invited to attend the
Council's meetings when issues involving their depart-
ment or agency are under consideration.
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Chairmanship
The President will chair meetings of the Domestic Policy
Council. In his absence, the Attorney General, who will
serve as Chairman Pro Tempore, will preside at meetings of
the Council.
Responsibilities
The Council will have responsibility for advising the
President on all aspects of domestic policy issues, and for
overseeing the coordination and implementation of the
Administration's domestic policies.
The staff of the Council shall be headed by an Executive
Secretary who will report to the Chief of Staff through the
Cabinet Secretary.
Like the current cabinet councils, the Domestic Policy
Council will rely heavily on interagency subcabinet level
Working Groups. This will enable it to fully utilize the
expertise and resources of the departments and agencies, and
to provide a structure through which departmental initia-
tives can be considered fully.
Overall Coordination
The White House Chief of Staff will have responsibility for
ensuring that the activities of the National Security Council,
the Economic Policy Council, and the Domestic Policy Council are
fully coordinated. He will also have the responsibility for
assigning topics to a particular Council.
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