A cabinet is a piece of furniture with doors and shelves inside, used for storing things. Kitchen cabinets hold dishes, glasses, and food. Bathroom cabinets store towels and medicine. Filing cabinets in offices contain important papers organized in folders. The word comes from a French term for a small private room.

In government, a cabinet means something completely different: it's a group of the president's closest advisors who lead major departments. The U.S. Cabinet includes the Secretary of State (who handles relationships with other countries), the Secretary of Defense (who oversees the military), the Secretary of Education, and others. When the president needs advice on important decisions, cabinet members meet to discuss options and share their expertise. Each cabinet member runs a huge department with thousands of employees. The president chooses these people, but the Senate must approve them before they can take office.