Cabinet secretary
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A cabinet secretary is usually a senior official (typically a civil servant) who provides services and advice to a
The title of cabinet secretary may also be used as an alternative term for a politically appointed cabinet minister, derived from secretary of state—the formal title for ministers. This naming convention is used in Japan, Kenya, Scotland and the United States.
Parliamentary systems
Australia
In Australia the equivalent position is the
Prime Minister Scott Morrison established a position entitled Cabinet Secretary in August 2019 within the Prime Minister's Office responsible for cabinet operations and appointed a former senior political adviser and intelligence official Andrew Shearer to the role.[1][2]
The
Canada
In Canada the equivalent position is the
- Alberta: Deputy Minister of Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
- British Columbia: Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary
- Manitoba: Clerk of the Executive Council
- New Brunswick: Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
- Nova Scotia: the head of the civil service is the Clerk of the Executive Council, while the Secretary to the Cabinet is a separate position.
- Ontario: Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council
- Prince Edward Island: the head of the civil service is the Clerk of the Executive Council, while the Premier's Principal Secretary advises the Premier and Cabinet on matters of policy and strategy
- Quebec: Secrétaire général du Conseil exécutif (Secretary General of the Executive Council)
- Saskatchewan: Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary
- Northwest Territories: Secretary to the Cabinet
- Nunavut: Secretary to Cabinet
- Yukon: Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Minister of the Executive Council Office
India
The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the
The functions of the Cabinet Secretary in India are:
- Provide assistance to the Council of Ministers
- Act as advisor and conscience keeper of the civil services
- Handle senior appointments
- Prepare the agenda of the Cabinet
- Attend the meetings of the Cabinet
- Ensure that the Cabinet decisions are implemented
- Advise the Prime Minister
- Act as the Chairman of the Committee of Secretaries on Administration
- Act as the Chairman of the Chief Secretaries Committee
- Provide an element of continuity and stability to administration during crises
The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, facilitating smooth transaction of business in Ministries/Departments of the Government by ensuring adherence to these rules. The Secretariat assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/ad hoc Committees of Secretaries. Through this mechanism new policy initiatives are also promoted.
The Cabinet Secretariat ensures that the
The Cabinet Secretary is arguably India's most powerful bureaucrat.
Ireland
In Ireland the position of Cabinet Secretary is officially titled Secretary-General to the Government (previously titled Secretary to the Government), and is concurrently
Israel
In Israel, the Cabinet Secretary heads an office responsible for preparing the agenda of cabinet meetings and facilitating communication between ministers. The secretariat is also responsible for presenting government-initiated bills to the Knesset and for conducting certain press briefings. The secretary is appointed on the recommendation of the prime minister, with the current secretary being Yossi Fuchs.[4]
Japan
In Japan the office of
New Zealand
In New Zealand the Cabinet Secretary is part of the
Pakistan
In Pakistan the
United Kingdom
In the
From 1981
With the retirement of
The responsibilities of the job vary from time to time and depend very much on the personal qualities of both the
The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for overseeing the intelligence services and their relationship to the government, though since 2002 this responsibility has been delegated to a full-time role (initially as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator, now the Head of Intelligence, Security and Resilience working to the National Security Adviser), with the Cabinet Secretary focussing on civil service reforms to help deliver the government's policy programme.
Scotland
Following the
Presidential systems
China
The Secretary-General of the State Council is an executive position within the State Council of the People's Republic of China. It ranks below the Premier and above the Ministers of various ministries and departments. The current secretary general is State Councilor Xiao Jie. The Secretary-General is responsible for the day-to-day work of the State Council and is in charge of the State Council General Office.
Hong Kong, China
In Hong Kong there is a politically appointed
The position of Director was first established in 2002 as part of the 'Principal Officials Accountability System', and it was not clear whether it was a politically appointed or a civil service position. Nevertheless, its salary level was tied to that of permanent secretaries (Point 8 of the Directorate Payscale) instead of that of politically appointed secretaries. The first office holder Lam Woon Kwong was a civil servant who opted for early retirement directly from this position in January 2005; and therefore did not subsequently take up any civil service or politically appointed position. Lam was not the most senior Administrative Officer and the position did not provide him any seniority over other permanent secretaries.
It was until January 2006, that the appointment of John Tsang to the position confirmed the position as a politically appointed office. Prior to his appointment, John Tsang was a politically appointed secretary, as the
The position of Permanent Secretary was first created as a non-permanent position supernumerary post from August 2005 to January 2006, while the position of the Director was left vacant. The salary level was set as the same as other Permanent Secretaries, i.e. Point 8 of the Directorate Pay Scale, aka the D8 rank. From February 2006 onwards, the post became permanent but the salary level was changed to D6, which is lower than Permanent Secretaries in the then 11 bureaux.[10][11][12] The office is never filled by the most senior administrative officer as in other countries.
Unlike other countries, the Clerk of the
Indonesia
The Cabinet Secretary is called Sekretaris Kabinet in Indonesian language, usually act as one of the President's spokesperson.
Kenya
Secretary to the Cabinet The office of Secretary the Cabinet was established in 1963. The officer was in charge of the Cabinet Office and assisted the Prime Minister in managing cabinet affairs. The Secretary to the Cabinet was appointee of the Governor General, in consultation with the Public Service Commission and the Prime Minister at the time. The position was retained after Kenya became a republic and elevated to Secretary to the cabinet and Head of Public Service, appointed by the President. The officer would be the senior most civil servant, in charge of the Civil Service and the Cabinet Office. Under the 2010 constitution, the Secretary to the Cabinet is defined as in charge of cabinet office and is appointed by the president subject to parliamentary approval upon vetting. The current holder of the office is Ms.Mercy Wanjau
Philippines
In the Philippines the Cabinet Secretary was a cabinet-level rank of the Cabinet. Under the present constitution and the initial implementing guidelines pursuant to Executive Order No. 237, series of 1987, the primary mandate was to provide technical support to the Cabinet, primary advisory counsel to the President, as well as the following:
- Assist in providing timely and organized information to the Cabinet on issues and problems submitted for decision and action.
- Provide conference and administrative support services to the Cabinet, the Cabinet Clusters, the Cabinet Assistance System and other committees created by the Cabinet.
- Conduct technical research and special studies on specific policy issues.
- Maintain an efficient records-management system, including a Cabinet Archives and a library.
- Certify Cabinet resolutions that indicate agreements and actions reached during Cabinet meetings.
- Exercise such other functions and powers as may be provided by law or as directed by the President.[13]
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka the Cabinet Secretary is the head of the
United States
![]() | This article needs to be updated.(August 2020) |
In the United States there is an official called the Cabinet Secretary within the
However, the term "Cabinet Secretary" is also sometimes used in a generic sense to refer to one of the members of the
See also
References
- ^ Top spook to be next cabinet secretary Phillip Coorey Australian Financial Review, 7 August 2019
- ^ Intelligence expert to take cabinet secretary position Shannon Jenkins The Mandarin 8 August 2019
- ^ "New federal ministers officially sworn in". Sky News. Australia. Australian Associated Press. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ "Cabinet Secretariat". GOV.IL.
- ^ "No 10 official chosen to be head of UK civil service". Financial Times. 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ISBN 0-340-20964-X.
- Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (15 June 2005). "Sir Gus O'Donnell". Downing Street Says (unofficial record). Archived from the originalon 13 July 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ HM Government (11 October 2011). "Cabinet Secretary announces retirement". Number 10 website. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ Civil Service Live Network. "Kerslake to head the civil service with promise of 'visible leadership'". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ a b 行政長官辦公室現有組織圖
- ^ a b 行政長官辦公室主任
- ^ a b 行政長官辦公室重組架構
- ^ Government of the Philippines- Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. "Office of the Cabinet Secretary". Official Gazette. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ISBN 9781426206764.
External links
- Mongolia: "Cabinet Office of the Government of Mongolia". Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2013.