French government ministers are members of the Prime Minister's cabinet, although in French the term "cabinet" is rarely used to describe the gouvernement, even in translation (as it is used in French to mean a minister's private office, composed of politically-appointed aides). In French, the word gouvernement can refer to government in general, but generally refers to the cabinet. The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ... A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ...

The gouvernement is responsible to Parliament, and the National Assembly may pass a motion of censure, forcing the resignation of the cabinet. This, in practice, forces the gouvernement to be from the same political stripe as the majority in the Assembly. Ministers have to answer questions from members of Parliament, both written and oral; this is known as the questions au gouvernement (questions to the government). In addition, ministers attend meetings of the houses of Parliament when laws pertaining to their areas of responsibility are being discussed.

Government ministers cannot pass legislation without parliamentary approval, though the prime minister may issue regulations (décrets with a value of réglement) within certain constraints. Ministers, however, can propose legislation to Parliament; since the Assembly is from the same political stripe as the ministers, such legislation is, in general, very likely to pass. However, this is not guaranteed, and, on occasion, the opinion of the majority parliamentarians may differ significantly from those of the executive, which often results in a large number of amendments.

Traditionally, the cabinet comprises members of three ranks. Ministers are the most senior members of the governement; ministers-delegate (ministres délégués) assist ministers in particular areas of their portfolio; secretaries of state (secrétaires d'État) assist ministers in less important areas, and attend cabinet meetings only occasionally. Before the Fifth Republic, some ministers of particular political importance were called "ministers of state" (ministres d'État); the practice has continued under the Fifth Republic in a purely honorific fashion: ministers styled Minister of State are considered of a higher importance in the cabinet. The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, which was introduced on October 5, 1958. ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ...

The gouvernement has a leading role in shaping the agenda of the houses of Parliament. It may propose laws to Parliament, as well as amendments during parliamentary meetings. It may make use of some procedures to speed up parliamentary deliberations.

The cabinet has weekly meetings (usually on Wednesday mornings), chaired by the President, at the Élysée Palace. The entrance to the Élysée Palace The hall of festivities during a CSCE conference. ...

List of Cabinet Ministers

Head of the "gouvernement": the Prime Minister of France. The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ...

The number and names of ministries and the splitting of responsibilities and administrations between them varies from government to government.

Current Ministerial positions (with their current titles):

• Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry (taxes, budget),
• Ministry of the Interior (law enforcement, relationships with local governments)
  • Minister of Territorial Development ("Aménagement du Territoire") - see Minister of the Interior
• Ministry of Justice and "Keeper of the Seals" (prisons, running the court system, supervision of the prosecution service)
• Ministry of National Education (formerly "Minister of Public Instruction")
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Transportation (currently the title is "Minister of Transportation, Public Works, Tourism and the Sea")
  • Minister of Public Works ("Travaux Publics" or "Equipement") - see Minister of Transportation
  • Minister of the Sea - see Minister of Transportation
  • Minister of Tourism - see Minister of Transportation
• Minister of Culture and Communications (national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad, national archives and regional culture centers)
• Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fishing and Rural Affairs
• Minister of Health and Solidarity (France's huge healthcare system)
• Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development
• Minister of Employment, Social Cohesion and Housing (formerly "Minister of Social Affairs")
  • Minister of Housing - see Minister of Employment
• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Minister of Overseas France (formerly "Minister of Colonies")
• Minister of Small Businesses, Commerce, Craftsmanship and Self-Employed Professionals
• Minister of Civil Service (formerly, in Jean-Pierre Raffarin's gouvernement (2002), "Minister of Administration, State Reform and Local Development")

Ministerial positions which no longer exist: The Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (Ministre de lEconomie, des Finances et de lIndustrie), or Minister of Finances for short, is arguably the third most important official in the French government, after the President and Prime Minister. ... Categories: French government | Stub ... Categories: French government | Stub ... Categories: French government | France-related stubs | Education in France ... Categories: French government | Stub ... In 1589, the four French Secretaries of State became specialized, with one of the secretaries responsible for foreign affairs. ... The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (Ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, alternatively translated Minister of Youth and Sports) is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national and public sport associations, youth affairs, public sports centers and national stadia (like the Stade de... Jean-Pierre Raffarin Jean-Pierre Raffarin   listen? (born August 3, 1948) is a French conservative politician. ...

• Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
• Minister of War
• Minister of the Marine - formerly "Minister of Marine and Colonies"
• Minister of the Merchant Marine
• Minister of Air - merged into Minister of Defense
• Minister of Information - formerly Minister of Propaganda
• Minister of Worship - often combined with Minister of Public Instruction
• Minister of Pensions - merged into Minister of the Economy
• Minister of Commerce and Industry - merged into Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry
• Minister of Police (1796-1818, 1852-53) - merged into Minister of the Interior
• Post-War Ministerial positions:
  • Minister of Reconstruction and Town Planning
  • Minister of Veterans and War Victims