Legal Definitions - inner cabinet

An inner cabinet is a group of high-ranking officials who advise an executive officer, such as the President. It is called the "inner" cabinet because it is usually closer to the executive and more influential than the rest of the cabinet, which is sometimes referred to as the "outer" cabinet.

In the United States, the President's cabinet is a group of advisers that includes the heads of the 15 executive departments, such as the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense. Other officials, such as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, may also be given cabinet rank.

The inner cabinet specifically refers to the heads of the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, and Justice. These officials are often considered to be the most influential members of the cabinet.

For example, during the Obama administration, the inner cabinet included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Attorney General Eric Holder. These officials were considered to be some of the most powerful advisers to the President.