:''This article discusses the governmental body, for other meanings see Cabinet_(disambiguation)''
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 under the Westminster_system, the cabinet collectively decides the government's policy and tactical direction, especially in regards to legislation passed by the Parliament. In other countries, such as the United_States, the cabinet has little collective power or influence over lawmaking, and instead 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 for the Environment", etc). In a few governments, the title of Secretary is also used for some cabinet members. The day-to-day role of most cabinet members is to serve as the head of one segment of the national Bureaucracy, as the head Civil_servant to which all other employees in that department report.
==Westminster Cabinets==
Under the Westminster system members of the cabinet are collectively seen as responsible for government policy. The ranks of the ministers may be divided into tiers, with some (senior ministers) being members of cabinet (or an "Inner Cabinet"), while others only invited to cabinet meetings to discuss issues relevant to their portfolios. A third category, parliamentary secretaries, similar in function to an assistant minister
minister/premier. A reallocation of these portfolios is a Cabinet_reshuffle. In theory the prime minister/premier is First_among_equals but in practice the power to expel ministers from the Cabinet and determine their portfolios means that the Prime Minister has a high degree of control over cabinet.
Cabinet deliberations are Secret and documents dealt with in cabinet are confidential. Most of the documentation associated with Cabinet deliberations will only be publicly released a considerable period after the particular cabinet disbands; for example, thirty years after they were discussed.
The Shadow_Cabinet, are the leading members, or Frontbenchers, of an Opposition_party, who generally hold critic portfolios "shadowing" cabinet ministers, questioning their decisions and proposing policy alternatives.
==Origins of cabinets==
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 both were non-native English speakers, unfamiliar with British politics, and thus relied heavily on groups of people
==European Union==
In some European countries and in the institutions of the European_Union, a '''cabinet''' (pronounced as in French, i.e. IPA {{IPA|/kabiˈne/}}) carries a different meaning; it refers to the private office of advisors and assistants working directly for a minister or senior executive.
== See also ==
* List_of_cabinets
* Ministerial_responsibility
Category:Institutions_of_government
De:Kabinett
Es:Consejo_de_Ministros
Fi:Hallitus
Id:Kabinet_(pemerintahan)
Ja:内閣
No:Kabinett
Pl:Rada_Ministrów
Sv:Ministär