<P> The heads of the executive departments and all other federal agency heads are nominated by the President and then presented to the Senate for confirmation or rejection by a simple majority (although before the use of the "nuclear option" during the 113th US Congress, they could have been blocked by filibuster, requiring cloture to be invoked by ​ ⁄ supermajority to further consideration). If approved, they receive their commission scroll, are sworn in and then begin their duties . </P> <P> An elected Vice President does not require Senate confirmation, nor does the White House Chief of Staff, which is an appointed staff position of the Executive Office of the President . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Office </Th> <Th> Senate Confirmation Review Committee </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of State </Td> <Td> Foreign Relations Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of the Treasury </Td> <Td> Finance Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Defense </Td> <Td> Armed Services Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Attorney General </Td> <Td> Judiciary Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of the Interior </Td> <Td> Energy and Natural Resources Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Agriculture </Td> <Td> Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Commerce </Td> <Td> Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Labor </Td> <Td> Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Health and Human Services </Td> <Td> Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (consult) Finance Committee (official) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Housing and Urban Development </Td> <Td> Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Transportation </Td> <Td> Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Energy </Td> <Td> Energy and Natural Resources Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Education </Td> <Td> Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Veterans Affairs </Td> <Td> Veterans Affairs Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Secretary of Homeland Security </Td> <Td> Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Trade Representative </Td> <Td> Finance Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Director of National Intelligence </Td> <Td> Select Committee on Intelligence </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ambassador to the United Nations </Td> <Td> Foreign Relations Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Office of Management and Budget </Td> <Td> Budget Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Director of the Central Intelligence Agency </Td> <Td> Select Committee on Intelligence </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency </Td> <Td> Environment and Public Works Committee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Administrator of the Small Business Administration </Td> <Td> Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Office </Th> <Th> Senate Confirmation Review Committee </Th> </Tr>

Who is the first ranking member of the cabinet