Cabinet of Sivad (Classic Journeys Era)

The Cabinet of Sivad is a group of approximately ten ministers whose primary function is to make major policy decisions which will be carried through by the government departments.

Cabinet meetings
The Cabinet meets in private and its proceedings are secret, except for the rare occasions on which a meeting has been open to the public or media. The members of the Cabinet are bound by their oaths as Councillors, as well as by the Official Secrets Acts, to not disclose any of the information discussed in meetings.

Normally the cabinet will meet regularly during each Council sitting, and more sporadically when there is no legislative business. To reduce workload, matters are sometimes referred to a committee, or to specific ministers, for later consideration by the full Cabinet.

The Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is under the control of the Secretary of the Cabinet, who is a civil servant and head of the Home Civil Service, answerable to the First Councillor. The Cabinet Office serves the Minister's collectively in the conduct of cabinet business.

Ministerial responsibility
Ministers are responsible both collectively for government policy and actions, and individualy for the conduct of their individual portfolios.

Collective responsibility means that the Cabinet acts unanimously even when the individual members disagree on a specific subject. Individual Ministries must have internal positions consistant with that of the Government. Once a policy is decided by the Cabinet by majority or concensus, each minister is expected to support the Government's policy or resign. On extremely rare occasions, the First Councillor has allowed a free vote by the cabinet on matters of principle.

Ministers are also individually responsible to the Council for their department's activities. They bear the consequences of failure in administration or controversial or ill-wrought policy. Because most Ministers are members of the Council of Equals, they must answer questions and protect themselves from criticism in person. Those who are not members must be defended by another on their behalf, usually either a Junior Minister or another member of the Government.

On assuming office, Minister's must make a full disclosure of their interests in any and all business ventures, and must insure that there is no conflict of interest between public and private duties.