A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers or the Executive Council.
In some countries, particularly those with parliamentary systems, the cabinet collectively decides the government's policy and tactical direction. In other countries, such as the United States, the cabinet has little collective power and functions largely as an advisory council to the Head of Government. In some countries, cabinets are required to be appointed from sitting members of the legislature.
In most governments, members of the cabinet are given the title of minister, and each hold a different portfolio of government duties ("Minister of the Environment", etc). In a few governments, the title of secretary is used for cabinet members.
Historically, cabinets are the successors of Privy Councils. The notion of the modern cabinet is credited to the reign of George I and George II; both of whom made use of such a system, as they weren't native speakers of the language in which they governed.
In some European countries and in the European Union, cabinet (pronounced as in French, i.e. without sounding the "t" but stressing the "e") is used to mean the private office of advisors and assistants working directly for a minister or senior executive.
In countries with a presidential system, such as the United States, the cabinet does not function as a collective legislative influence; rather, their primary role is as an unofficial advisory council to the head of government, consisting of the heads of the executive departments they are appointed to lead.
In some countries, cabinets are required to be appointed from sitting members of the legislature while in others, such as the United States, cabinet members may not be sitting legislators; they must resign their legislative office if they accept a cabinet appointment.
Historically, cabinets are the successors of Privy Councils.
The principal characteristics of Europeancabinets are the responsibility of the cabinet to the legislature, and the identification of the cabinet with the government.
Members of the Cabinet of the British government constitute the supreme executive authority of the government, and are the sole advisers to the crown.
Normally, a Cabinet is formed as the result of a general election, but if a Cabinet resigns, the governor-general may ask the opposition leader in the House of Commons to form a government from the opposition.The prime minister chooses Cabinet ministers from members of the Canadian Parliament, largely from the House of Commons.
Feeds |
Contact