Discussion Questions

1. Define "elite." According to Professor Light, what does it mean to have an Executive cabinet described as being elite? Do you think this is a positive or negative description? Explain.
2. How does Professor Light describe the make-up of President-elect Obama's cabinet? Do you think geographic diversity is important in creating an Executive cabinet? Why or why not?
3. What challenges does President-elect Obama face in regards to making appointments? What is the meaning of the phrase, "inside the beltway"?
4. When did the President-elect's transition planning begin? How long will the process last? According to Professor Light, why is the process so time consuming? How many appointments is a president responsible for making?
5. Featured Lesson Plan: Use this Transition clip in conjunction with C-SPAN Classroom's newly created Cabinet Lesson Plan.