A cabinet is a piece of furniture used for storage, like a bedroom or bathroom cabinet. There are many different sizes, styles and materials of cabinets. Cabinets can be made from wood, metal or plastic. Some cabinets are tall, while others are short. Cabinets can be decorative, or they can be plain and functional. Cabinets are often used to hold items such as drinking glasses and plates.
In a political sense, the word cabinet refers to a council that advises a head of state or government, or more specifically a group of ministers who serve as heads of government departments. The cabinet has become an essential part of governance in countries where legislative powers are vested in a parliament. In some cases the cabinet functions as a collective decision-making body, while in others it is simply an advisory institution to the prime minister or other head of state who exercises ultimate executive power.
The Cabinet was first established in the United States when George Washington formed his original Cabinet in 1789. He brought together his most trusted advisors to discuss core functions of the new federal government: money supply, diplomacy, defence and enforcement of laws. Washington set the tradition of cabinet meetings that continue to this day.
While cabinet members are expected to have frank discussions and may disagree, once a position is agreed upon the rest of the cabinet is expected to abide by it. This is known as collective responsibility. Some cabinet discussions are leaked to the press, but many prime ministers try to clamp down on this.