It is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the government serving under the president.

Under the Federal Constitution of 1949, the RIS had a parliamentary cabinet as ministers were responsible for government policy.

Article 83 of the Provisional Constitution of 1950 stated that ministers had full responsibility for government policy.

Moreover, the offices of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia and Speaker of the People's Representative Council which were supposed to be equal to the president, and the office of Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, which was supposed to be above all government branches, were included into the Cabinet.

Following the fall of Suharto and the beginning of the Reformasi era, the presidential cabinet system has been retained.

After 2010, all 'departements' were renamed into 'ministries' (Kementerian), thus bringing them in line with the Netherlands model of ministries and a state secretariat.