Cabinet
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 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 decision-making head of state or head of government. 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.
In some countries, particularly those that use a parliamentary system (e.g., Quebec, Britain or Nubia), the Cabinet collectively decides the government's direction, especially in regard to legislation passed by the parliament or legislature. This is also largely the case in countries that use a semi-presidential system, such as the Evergreen Republic. In countries with a presidential system, such as the Philippines or the United States, the Cabinet does not function as a collective legislative influence; rather, their primary role is as an official advisory council to the head of government. In this way, the President obtains opinions and advice relating to forthcoming decisions. Legally, under both types of system, the parliamentary system and the presidential system, the Cabinet "advises" the Head of State: the difference is that, in a parliamentary system, the monarch or leader will almost always follow this advice, whereas, in a presidential system, a president who is also head of government and political leader may depart from the Cabinet's advice if they do not agree with it.
In many cases on EarthMC, a Cabinet is not in place in a traditional sense, and the power traditionally given to a cabinet are either jointly exercised with the Legislature or solely vested into the Head of State or Head of Government. The composition of Cabinets often differ from nation to nation, whether it be the precense of Advisors or Ministers without Portfolio; or whether they are elected by the people, elected by the parliament, or appointed by a leader.
In many systems, cabinet officials administer executive branches, government agencies, or departments, most notably in Cascadia. Cabinets are also important originators for legislation. Cabinets and ministers are usually in charge of the preparation of proposed legislation in the ministries before it is passed to the parliament. Thus, often the majority of new legislation actually originates from the cabinet and its ministries.
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 Economy", etc.). In a few governments, as in the case of Cascadia for example, the title of Secretary is also used for Cabinet members ("Secretary of Development", "Secretary of Defense", etc). In some countries, the Cabinet is known by names such as "Secretariat" (as in Salish), "Council of Ministers" (as in Brazil), or just simply by the terms "Council" or "Government".
List of National Cabinets
- Cabinet of Québec
- His Majesty's Government (Britain)
- Government of Nubia
- Privy Council of Cuba
- Government of Spain
- Cabinet of Illinois
- Cabinet of Japan
- Council of Ministers of the Brazilian Republic
- Imperial College of Rome
- Cabinet of the United States
- The Jefferson Council Legislature-Cabinet Hybrid
- Israeli Cabinet
- Cabinet of KAPSK
- Cabinet of the French Republic
- Government of Alberta
- Cabinet Office of the Dominion of Kong Kong