Table 4.6

State Cabinet Systems

Available versions: 2022 (showing) 2023

		Authorization for cabinet system				Criteria for membership
FIPS	State or other jurisdiction	State statute	State constitution	Governor created	Tradition in state	Appointed to specific office (a)	Elected to specific office (a)	Gubernatorial appointment regardless of office	Number of members in cabinet (including governor)	Frequency of cabinet meetings	Open cabinet meetings
01	Alabama	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✕	✕	25	Quarterly (p)	✕
02	Alaska	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	17	Gov.'s discretion	✓
04	Arizona	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	✕	✓	37	Quarterly	✕
05	Arkansas	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	17	Quarterly	✕
06	California	✕	✓	✓	✕	✓	✕	✓	11	Every two weeks	✕
08	Colorado	✕	✓	✓	✕	✓	✕	✓	23	Weekly	✕
09	Connecticut*	✓(k)	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	29	Gov.’s discretion	✕
10	Delaware*	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	17	Gov.’s discretion	✕
12	Florida*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	4	Appox. 1-2 per month	✓
13	Georgia	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)
15	Hawaii	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	46	Weekly during legislative session (mid-January - late April); Montly otherwise	✕
16	Idaho*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	31	Gov.’s discretion	✕
17	Illinois* (o)	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	65	Gov.’s discretion	(b)
18	Indiana*	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	23	Gov.’s discretion	✕
19	Iowa	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✕	✕	30	Monthly	✕
20	Kansas*	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	15	Bi-weekly	✕
21	Kentucky	✓	✓	✓	✕	✓	✕	✓	13	Twice monthly	✕
22	Louisiana*	✓	✕	✓	✓	✓	✕	✕	16	Monthly	✕
23	Maine*	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✓(q)	16	Monthly	✕
24	Maryland	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	25	Every other week	✕
25	Massachusetts*	✕	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	11	Weekly	✕
26	Michigan*	✓	✓	✓	✕	✓	✓	(e)	22	Gov.’s discretion	✕
27	Minnesota*	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	25	Quarterly	✕
28	Mississippi*	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)
29	Missouri	✕	✓	✕	✓	✓	✕	✕	17	Gov.’s discretion	✕
30	Montana	✕	✕	✕	✓(r)	✕	✕	✓	22	Monthly	✓
31	Nebraska	✕	✕	✓	✓	✓	✕	✓	27	Monthly	✕
32	Nevada*	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	21	At call of the governor	✕
33	New Hampshire	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)
34	New Jersey	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	23	Gov.’s discretion	✕
35	New Mexico	✓	✓	✕	✓	✓	✕	✕	31	Gov.’s discretion	✕
36	New York*	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✓	75	Gov.’s discretion	✕
37	North Carolina* (f)			✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	11	Weekly	(n)
38	North Dakota*	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	17	Monthly	✓
39	Ohio	✕	✕	✕	✓	✓	✕	✕	27	Gov.’s discretion	✕
40	Oklahoma	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	16 (h)	Monthly	✕
41	Oregon	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)
42	Pennsylvania*	✓	✓	✓	✕	✓(i)	✕	✓	27	Gov.’s discretion	✓
44	Rhode Island*	✕	✕	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓(l)	22	Gov.'s discretion	✓(m)
45	South Carolina	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓(i)	✕	✕	20	Gov.'s discretion	✓
46	South Dakota*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	22	Monthly	✕
47	Tennessee*	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	30	Monthly	✕
48	Texas*	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)
49	Utah	✕	✓	✓	✕	✓	✕	✓	24	Monthly, weekly during legislative session	✕
50	Vermont*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	12	Gov.’s discretion	✕
51	Virginia*	✕	✕	✓	✓(j)	✓	✕	✓	16	Weekly	✕
53	Washington	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	26 (s)	Monthly	✕
54	West Virginia	✕	✕	✓	✓	✓	✕	✕	14	Weekly	✕
55	Wisconsin	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	17	Monthly	✕
56	Wyoming	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	44	Quarterly	✕
60	American Samoa*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	16	Gov.’s discretion	✓
66	Guam*	✕	✕	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	55	Bi-monthly	✕
69	CNMI* **	✕	✓	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	17	Gov.’s discretion	✓
72	Puerto Rico*	✓	✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓	10 (c)	Every 6 weeks	✕
78	U.S. Virgin Islands*	✓	✕	✕	✕	✓	✕	✕	21	Monthly	✓

Source:

The Council of State Governments' survey of governors' offices, 2022.

Key:

*	—	Information from The Council of State Governments’ survey of governors’ offices and review of state websites, 2021.
**	—	Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
✓	—	Yes.
✕	—	No.
N/A	—	Not available.

Footnotes:

(a)	Individual is a member by virtue of election or appointment to a cabinet-level position.
(b)	Certain cabinet meetings are open to the public and media.
(c)	The Constitutional Cabinet has 10 members including the governor. There are other members of the Cabinet provided by statute.
(d)	No formal cabinet system. In Nevada, the cabinet is comprised of directors, chairpersons and leaders of Nevada’s top agencies, departments, institutions and the National Guard, in addition to the lt. governor.
(e)	Membership determined by governor. Some officers formally designated as cabinet member by executive order.
(f)	The Governor’s cabinet consists of 10 department heads who have responsibility for the majority of the executive branch. They are appointed by the governor and report to the governor. The Council of State exists as a separate body and is composed independently elected statewide officials who oversee certain areas of the executive branch. While the Council of State is provided for in the Constitution and state statutes, the cabinet is created by the governor.
(g)	Frequency of meetings may fluctuate with Governor’s schedule.
(h)	State statute allows for 15 cabinet members. With the Governor included there are 16 members.
(i)	With the consent of the senate.
(j)	While there is no specific state statute that establishes the cabinet system, the state code makes repeated references to cabinet secretaries and sets forth the duties of each secretary and the agencies assigned to the secretary.
(k)	Governor’s cabinet is specified in statute, but no longer in use. Governor directs department heads through commissioners’ meetings and subject matter groups called clusters.
(l)	At the discretion of the governor.
(m)	Varies by meeting.
(n)	Council of State, but not cabinet meetings, are open to the public.
(o)	Agency directors are provided by statute. Governor may create and appoint other cabinet-level positions.
(p)	Quarterly with weekly optional phone calls with the cabinet and governor.
(q)	Consists of commmissioners who serve at the governor’s pleasure.
(r)	The departments are created by the constitution and statute, but the Governor creates the Cabinet and decide who serves on it.
(s)	There are an additional 32 small agency cabniets that are not included in that total.