Full Answer
Are Cabinet decisions at the heart of government?
Nevertheless, by long established convention, the decisions of Cabinet are at the heart of Executive government. Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in government and therefore the matters discussed have significant implications for the State, business and individuals.
What is a cabinet and how does it work?
A Cabinet is an administrative arrangement for government decision-making. In constitutional terms certain decisions of government may be made by Cabinet but can only be formally implemented via the Federal Executive Council (see page 77).
Why do ministers need to inform cabinet of the intended decision?
Informing Cabinet of the intended decision enables the Minister’s colleagues to understand the basis on which the Minister intends to make the decision, and to defend the decision publicly and collectively.
What is the role of Cabinet officials in the government?
Cabinet (government) The second role of cabinet officials is to administer executive branches, government agencies, or departments. In the United States federal government, these are the federal executive departments. Cabinets are also important originators for legislation. Cabinets and ministers are usually in charge of the preparation...
What does 5.25 mean?
5.25 Acceptance of ministerial office (whether inside or outside Cabinet) means accepting collective responsibility. Issues are often debated vigorously in the confidential setting of Cabinet meetings, although consensus is usually reached and votes are rarely taken. Once Cabinet makes a decision, Ministers must support it (except as provided in paragraphs 5.27 – 5.29), regardless of their personal views and whether or not they were at the meeting concerned.
What is 5.26 in the coalition?
5.26 In a coalition government, Ministers are expected to show careful judgement when referring to party policy that differs from government policy. Subject to paragraphs 5.27 – 5.30, a Minister’s support and responsibility for the collective government position must always be clear (see paragraph 6.18 on the difference between coalition and support arrangements).
What is the principle of collective responsibility?
5.24 The principle of collective responsibility underpins the system of Cabinet government. It reflects democratic principle: the House expresses its confidence in the collective whole of government, rather than in individual Ministers.
What is 5.14?
5.14 Ministers are expected to consult relevant ministerial colleagues before submitting papers that deal with significant or potentially controversial matters, or that affect other Ministers’ portfolio interests.Papers that do not contain evidence that appropriate consultation has taken place may be deferred from a particular meeting. In particular, Ministers are required to consult:
What is CabGuide 5.15?
5.15 The CabGuide provides detailed guidance on consultation requirements.
What should a minister do before their colleagues?
5.11 As a general rule, Ministers should put before their colleagues the sorts of issues on which they themselves would wish to be consulted . Ministers should keep their colleagues informed about matters of public interest, importance, or controversy. Where there is uncertainty about the type of consideration needed, Ministers should seek advice from the Prime Minister or the Secretary of the Cabinet. Similarly, departments should seek advice from the office of the portfolio Minister, or from the Cabinet Office.
What is the role of the Minister of State Services?
the Minister of State Services on machinery of government issues; the Minister of Foreign Affairs on all proposals relating to international treaties; the Minister of Justice on all proposals affecting constitutional arrangements; the Attorney-General on all proposals raising significant legal issues; and.
How are communist states ruled?
Communist states can be ruled de facto by the Politburo, such as the Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This is an organ of the Communist Party and not a state organ, but due to one-party rule, the state and its cabinet (e.g. Government of the Soviet Union) are in practice subordinate to the Politburo. Technically a Politburo is overseen and its members selected by the Central Committee, but in practice it was often the other way around: powerful members of the Politburo would ensure their support in the Central Committee through patronage. In China, political power has been further centralized into a standing committee of the Politburo .
What is the cabinet table?
The Cabinet table in the United Kingdom. Episcopal Summer Palace, the seat of the government of Slovakia in Bratislava. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch 's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries.
How many ministers are in a cabinet?
The size of cabinets varies, although most contain around ten to twenty ministers. Researchers have found an inverse correlation between a country's level of development and cabinet size: on average, the more developed a country is, the smaller is its cabinet.
What is the function of cabinet?
The function of a cabinet varies: in some countries, it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a decision-making head of state or head of government.
How is a coalition government formed?
In multi-party systems, the formation of a government may require the support of multiple parties. Thus, a coalition government is formed. Continued cooperation between the participating political parties is necessary for the cabinet to retain the confidence of the parliament. For this, a government platform is negotiated, in order for the participating parties to toe the line and support their cabinet. However, this is not always successful: constituent parties of the coalition or members of parliament can still vote against the government, and the cabinet can break up from internal disagreement or be dismissed by a motion of no confidence .
What is the role of the Cabinet?
Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events , whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures.
When did Charles I start the Cabinet Council?
Charles I began a formal "Cabinet Council" from his accession in 1625, as his Privy Council, or "private council", was evidently not private enough, and the first recorded use of "cabinet" by itself for such a body comes from 1644, and is again hostile and associates the term with dubious foreign practices.
What is the inner cabinet system?
Under the Inner Cabinet system, a Minister not in Cabinet may be called to Cabinet meetings when affairs relating to his or her own department are under discussion. The work of Cabinet under this system is facilitated by the formation of various Cabinet committees on which Ministers not in Cabinet may serve.
What are the qualifications for ministerial appointment?
There are thus two commonly recognized qualifications necessary for ministerial appointment, (1) membership of the Privy or Executive Council, (2) membership of Parliament. From the point of view of the first qualification the ministry may be described as a select committee of the Privy or Executive Council; the remaining members of that body not being summoned to attend either the meetings of committees or the ordinary meetings of the Council. From the point of view of the second qualification the ministry may be called a Parliamentary committee , whose composition and policy is determined by the party commanding a majority in the national chamber.
What is the relationship between the Cabinet and Parliament?
The relationship between Cabinet and Parliament is of no greater or lesser significance than the relationship between the Ministry as a whole and Parliament.[204] . In a purely parliamentary context the existence of a Cabinet is of little procedural consequence. It is in basic terms an administrative mechanism to facilitate ...
What is a cabinet?
A Cabinet is an administrative arrangement for government decision-making. In constitutional terms certain decisions of government may be made by Cabinet but can only be formally implemented via the Federal Executive Council (see page 77). Quick and Garran describes the Cabinet as:
What is the principle of corporate unity and solidarity?
The principle of the corporate unity and solidarity of the Cabinet requires that the Cabinet should have one harmonious policy, both in administration and in legislation; that the advice tendered by the Cabinet to the Crown should be unanimous and consistent; that the Cabinet should stand or fall together.
When did the Lyons Ministry reorganize?
Following the reconstruction of the Lyons Ministry on 7 November 1938, Prime Minister Lyons reorganised Cabinet to form an ‘inner group’ of Ministers to examine and formulate policy prior to submission to ...
How many ministers were in the War Cabinet?
As noted by Sawer, the War Cabinet, which originally consisted of six Ministers:
Items For Consideration by Cabinet
- 5.11As a general rule, Ministers should put before their colleagues the sorts of issues on which they themselves would wish to be consulted. Ministers should keep their colleagues informed about matters of public interest, importance, or controversy. Where there is uncertainty about the type of consideration needed, Ministers should seek advice from the Prime Minister or the Secre…
Consultation
- 5.14Ministers are expected to consult relevant ministerial colleagues before submitting papers that deal with significant or potentially controversial matters, or that affect other Ministers’ portfolio interests.Papers that do not contain evidence that appropriate consultation has taken place may be deferred from a particular meeting. In particular, Ministers are required to consult: …
Confidentiality
- 5.23Discussion at Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings is informal and confidential. Ministers and officials should not disclose proposals likely to be considered at forthcoming meetings, outside Cabinet-approved consultation procedures. Nor should they disclose or record the nature or content of the discussions or the views of individual Ministers or officials expresse…
Collective Responsibility
- 5.24The principle of collective responsibility underpins the system of Cabinet government. It reflects democratic principle: the House expresses its confidence in the collective whole of government, rather than in individual Ministers. Similarly, the Governor-General, in acting on ministerial advice, needs to be confident that individual Ministers ...
Overview
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countries, it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a de…
Terminology
In most governments, members of the Cabinet are given the title of Minister, and each holds a different portfolio of government duties ("Minister of Foreign Affairs", "Minister of Health", etc.). In a few governments, as in the case of Mexico, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and United States, the title of Secretary is also used for some Cabinet members ("Secretary of Education", or "Secretary of State for X" in the UK). In many countries (e.g. Germany, Luxembourg, France, etc.)…
Selection of members
In presidential systems such as the United States, members of the Cabinet are chosen by the president, and may also have to be confirmed by one or both of the houses of the legislature. In most presidential systems, cabinet members cannot be sitting legislators, and legislators who are offered appointments must resign if they wish to accept.
Origins of cabinets
A council of advisors of a head of state has been a common feature of government throughout history and around the world. In Ancient Egypt, priests assisted the pharaohs in administrative duties. In Sparta, the Gerousia, or council of elders, normally sat with the two kings to deliberate on law or to judge cases. The Maurya Empire under the emperor Ashoka was ruled by a royal council. In Ki…
Parliamentary cabinets
Under the Westminster system, members of the cabinet are Ministers of the Crown who are collectively responsible for all government policy. All ministers, whether senior and in the cabinet or junior ministers, must publicly support the policy of the government, regardless of any private reservations. Although, in theory, all cabinet decisions are taken collectively by the cabinet, in practice m…
Cabinet of the United States
Under the doctrine of separation of powers in the United States, a cabinet under a presidential system of government is part of the executive branch. In addition to administering their respective segments of the executive branch, cabinet members are responsible for advising the head of government on areas within their purview.
Communist system
Communist states can be ruled de facto by the Politburo, such as the Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This is an organ of the Communist Party and not a state organ, but due to one-party rule, the state and its cabinet (e.g. Government of the Soviet Union) are in practice subordinate to the Politburo. Technically a Politburo is overseen and its members selected by the Central Committee, but in practice it was often the other way around: powerful members of the …
See also
• Cabinet collective responsibility
• Council of Ministers
• Council of State
• Demissionary cabinet
• Individual ministerial responsibility