You made it to the Oval Office – congratulations, now you’re in charge and everything depends on your will.
Or does it?
There is no denying that the position of the President of the United States comes with great power. However, the country you rule has been built on solid democratic foundations. The separation of powers is part of the package, hence you need to gather some heavyweights in your corner to advise you on crucial political matters.
This is what the Cabinet of the United States is in I Am Your President. The Members of the Cabinet, your closest associates, are key to proper governance over the country. Every decision you make is assessed and evaluated by the Members of the Cabinet. While some of them may find the bills you sign appropriate, the others can completely disagree with your priorities, affecting their willingness to cooperate in the future.
Nevertheless, the most important people in the Cabinet are the ones that sit in your closest proximity, around the golden square. These are the Members that directly affect your statistics, depending on their talents and your affinity with them. That is why the choices you make regarding the hierarchy of the Cabinet are crucial for your administrative effectiveness. That said, no Member is irreplaceable: you can move the Members around the table any way you like, sitting some of them around you and leaving the others on the bench – provided you have acquired someone that can take their seat!
Speaking of which, there are also unique Cabinet Members that can be unlocked during the gameplay and placed in your Cabinet. Although not easy to acquire, these members are significantly better than their default establishment counterparts.
No power is given forever, and no spot in the Cabinet is life-long occupied by one person. The relations between you and your associates are fluid, so is their impact on your statistics and overall rating. Should you want to keep the office, you’d do well to closely monitor the Cabinet Members and their impression of you, as they may either make your presidency flourish or put it in the grave.
One may say: “when in White House, do as the White House residents do”... or was it “I am the White House”? For now, the chair behind the Resolute Desk is yours but making sure no one tries to kick you out if it is another thing entirely.
