French government ministers
Encyclopedia
The Cabinet of France
is a body of top administration members of the Prime Minister
's Cabinet. In French
, the word gouvernement generally refers to the "Administration", but in a narrower sense to the Cabinet.
The Council is responsible to the French National Assembly. The National Assembly may choose to pass a motion
of censure
forcing the Council of Ministers to resign. This has the effect of forcing the Government to be drawn from the majority political party
in the Assembly or to be allied to the majority in coalition
. Ministers are required to answer written or oral questions put to them by members of Parliament, known as Government questions (questions au gouvernement). In addition, ministers attend sessions of the Parliament Houses when laws concerning their assigned sectors and departmental portfolios are under consideration.
Cabinet ministers cannot propose legislation
without parliamentary approval, though the Prime Minister may under certain limits enact statutory instruments, known as orders-in-council (décret en Conseil des ministres), i.e., government orders with statutory force. Ministers can however propose bills to Parliament and any such legislation is generally very likely to pass. On occasion, the majority opinion in Parliament may differ significantly from those of the executive, resulting in a large number of riders.
Traditionally, Council members are subdivided into three levels:
The Cabinet plays a major role in determining the agenda of the Parliament Houses. It can propose laws and amendments during parliamentary sessions. It also has a number of procedures at its disposal to expedite parliamentary deliberations.
The Council of Ministers usually holds sessions on Wednesday mornings at the Élysée Palace
and is chaired by the French President.
(Premier ministre).
The number and titles held by ministers and the division of duties and purviews between them varies from one Cabinet to the next.
Secretaries of State
and Ministers during the Old Regime
is a body of top administration members of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
's Cabinet. In French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, the word gouvernement generally refers to the "Administration", but in a narrower sense to the Cabinet.
The Council is responsible to the French National Assembly. The National Assembly may choose to pass a motion
Motion (parliamentary procedure)
In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. In a parliament, this is also called a parliamentary motion and includes legislative motions, budgetary motions, supplementary budgetary motions, and petitionary...
of censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
forcing the Council of Ministers to resign. This has the effect of forcing the Government to be drawn from the majority political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Assembly or to be allied to the majority in coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
. Ministers are required to answer written or oral questions put to them by members of Parliament, known as Government questions (questions au gouvernement). In addition, ministers attend sessions of the Parliament Houses when laws concerning their assigned sectors and departmental portfolios are under consideration.
Cabinet ministers cannot propose legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
without parliamentary approval, though the Prime Minister may under certain limits enact statutory instruments, known as orders-in-council (décret en Conseil des ministres), i.e., government orders with statutory force. Ministers can however propose bills to Parliament and any such legislation is generally very likely to pass. On occasion, the majority opinion in Parliament may differ significantly from those of the executive, resulting in a large number of riders.
Traditionally, Council members are subdivided into three levels:
- Ministers—highest-ranking members of the Government
- Deputy ministers (ministres délégués) assist ministers in specialized areas of their portfolio
- Secretaries of StateSecretary of StateSecretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
(secrétaires d'État) assist ministers in less important areas and occasionally attend sessions of the Council of Ministers. - Before the Fifth RepublicFrench Fifth RepublicThe Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, introduced on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the French Fourth Republic, replacing the prior parliamentary government with a semi-presidential system...
was established, some ministers of high political importance were known as Ministers of State (ministres d'État). The title has been continued under the Fifth Republic but is granted in a purely honorific fashion as a point of higher prestige among Council members.
The Cabinet plays a major role in determining the agenda of the Parliament Houses. It can propose laws and amendments during parliamentary sessions. It also has a number of procedures at its disposal to expedite parliamentary deliberations.
The Council of Ministers usually holds sessions on Wednesday mornings at the Élysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
and is chaired by the French President.
List of government ministers
Head of the Administration: the Prime Minister of FrancePrime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
(Premier ministre).
The number and titles held by ministers and the division of duties and purviews between them varies from one Cabinet to the next.
Current ministerial positions (with their current titles)
- Minister of State, Minister of Foreign and European AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (France)Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
(Ministre d'État, Ministre des Affaires étrangères et européennes) - Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs (Ministre de la Défense et des Anciens combattants)
- Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transportation and HousingMinister of the Environment (France)The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing is an agency of the government of France, centred around a cabinet member who is often referred to as the "Minister of Ecology". This position is occupied by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet...
(Ministre de l'Écologie, du Développement durable, des Transports et du Logement—MEDDTL) - "Keeper of the Seals", Minister of Justice and FreedomMinister of Justice (France)The Ministry of Justice is controlled by the French Minister of Justice , a top-level cabinet position in the French government. The current Minister of Justice is Michel Mercier...
(Garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice et des Libertés) - Minister of the Interior, Overseas, Local Authorities and ImmigrationMinister of the Interior (France)The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental cabinet positions, responsible for the following:* The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes...
(Ministre de l'Intérieur, de l'Outre-mer, des Collectivités territoriales et de l'Immigration) - Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry (Ministre de l'Économie, des Finances et de l'Industrie)
- Minister of Labour, Employment and Health (Ministre du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Santé)
- Minister of National Education, Youth and Community LivingMinister of National Education (France)The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sport , or simply "Minister of National Education," as the title has changed no small number of times in the course of the Fifth Republic) is the French government cabinet member charged with running France's public educational system and with the...
(formerly "Minister of Public Instruction") (Ministre de l'Éducation nationale, de la Jeunesse et de la Vie associative) - Minister of the Budget, Public Accounts, the Civil Service and State Reform, Government spokesperson (Ministre du Budget, des Comptes publics, de la Fonction publique et de la Réforme de l'État, porte-parole du gouvernement)
- Minister of Higher Education and Research (Ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche)
- Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, Rural and Regional PlanningMinister of Agriculture (France)The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing of France is the governmental body charged with regulation and policy, for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food.The department is headquartered in Hotel Villeroy, at No...
(Ministre de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation, de la Pêche, de la Ruralité et de l'Aménagement du territoire—MAAPRA) - Minister of Culture and CommunicationMinister of Culture (France)The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"...
(Ministre de la Culture et de la Communication) - Minister of Solidarity and Social CohesionMinister of Social Affairs (France)The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (French: Ministre des Affaires sociales et de l'emploi is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position was originally known as Minister of Labor...
(formerly "Minister of Social Affairs, Labour, Solidarity and Civil Service") (Ministre des Solidarités et de la Cohésion sociale) - Minister of Town (Ministre de la Ville)
- Minster of Sports (Ministre des Sports)
- Minister of TransportationMinister of Transportation (France)The Minister of Transport is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position was created in 1870 as a modification of that of the Minister of Public Works...
—see Minister of the Environment - Minister of Public WorksMinister of Public Works (France)The Minister of Public Works was a cabinet member in the Government of France. Formerly known as "Ministre des Travaux Publics" , in 1870, it was largely subsumed by the position of Minister of Transportation. Since the 1960s, the positions of Minister of Public Works has reappeared, often...
("Travaux Publics" or "Equipement")—see Minister of the Environment - Minister of the SeaMinister of the Sea (France)The Minister of the Sea is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position has frequently been combined with the positions of Minister of Transportation, Minister of Public Works , Minister of Housing , Minister of Tourism and Minister of Territorial Development .The current position of...
—see Minister of the Environment - Minister of TourismMinister of Tourism (France)The Minister of Tourism is a cabinet member in the Government of France, frequently combined with Minister of Transportation, Minister of Public Works , Minister of Housing , Minister of Territorial Development and Minister of the Sea.The current position of Minister of Transportation, Public...
—see Minister for the Economy - Minister of Health and SportsMinister of Health (France)Minister of Health and Solidarity is currently a cabinet position in the Government of France. The health portfolio oversees the healthcare public services and the health insurance part of the French Social Security...
—see Minister of Labour - Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidary Development—see Minister of the Interior
- Minister of Countryside and PlanningMinister of Territorial Development (France)The Minister of Rural Areas and Spatial Planning is a cabinet member in the Government of France....
—see Minister of Agriculture
Ministerial positions which no longer exist
- Minister of WorshipMinister of Worship (France)The Minister of Worship is a cabinet member in the Government of France responsible for overseeing the French government's relationship with religions...
(Ministre des cultes) - Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and TelephonesMinister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones (France)The Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, to which was later added the charge of Telephones , was, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of the French Postal Service and development of the national telecommunication system.The position was occasionally combined with Minister of...
- Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions—see "Minister of Employment"
- Minister of War—see "Minister of Defence"
- Minister of the Marine—formerly "Minister of Marine and Colonies"
- Minister of the Merchant Marine
- Minister of National Economy (e.g. under the Popular FrontPopular Front (France)The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
—merged with Minister of Finance) - Minister of the Blockade ("Ministre du Blocus")—during World War I
- Minister of AirMinister of Air (France)From 1928-1947, the Minister of Air was, in the Government of France , the cabinet member in charge of the French Air Force...
—merged into Minister of Defense - Minister of InformationMinister of Information (France)The Minister of Information was a cabinet member in the Government of France from 1938 to 1974. The position no longer exists.-Ministers of Information:*Ludovic-Oscar Frossard 13 March 1938 - 10 April 1938...
—formerly Minister of Propaganda - Minister of Pensions—merged into Minister of the Economy
- Minister of Commerce and IndustryMinister of Commerce and Industry (France)The Minister of Commerce and Industry was a cabinet member in the Government of France.The position was sometimes combined with Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones...
—merged into Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry - Minister of Police (1796–1818, 1852–53)—merged into Minister of the Interior
- Minister of Cooperation (1959–1999)—merged into Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
- Minister for Women's AffairsMinister for Women's AffairsThe Minister for Women's Affairs has been a post in all New Zealand Governments since 1984. The Minister leads the Ministry of Women's Affairs- List of Ministers :...
(Secrétaire d’État aux Droits des femmes) 1998–2002
- Post-War Ministerial positions:
- Minister of Reconstruction and Town Planning
- Minister of Veterans and War Victims
- Minister of Housing and Town PlanningMinister of Housing (France)The Minister of Housing is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position has frequently been linked to Minister of Public Works and Minister of Territorial Development ....
Secretaries of State
Secretary of State (Ancien Régime)
The Secretary of State was the name of several official governmental positions – supervising war, foreign affairs, the navy, the king's household, the clergy, Paris, and Protestant affairs – during the Ancien Régime in France, roughly equivalent to the positions of governmental...
and Ministers during the Old Regime
- First Minister—see Prime Minister of FrancePrime Minister of FranceThe Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
- Comptroller-GeneralController-General of FinancesThe Controller-General of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1661 to 1791. The position replaced the former position of Superintendent of Finances , which was abolished with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet.- History :The term "contrôleur général" in...
- Lord Chancellor of France
- High Constable of FranceConstable of FranceThe Constable of France , as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King...
- Secretary of State for WarSecretary of State for War (France)The Secretary of State for War was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The position was responsible for the Army and for overseeing French border provinces...
- Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (France)The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs became a Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1791.-See also:...
- Secretary of State for the Royal HouseholdSecretary of State of the Maison du RoiThe Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of the Département de la Maison du Roi...
—also oversaw Religious Affairs, the Buildings of the King, and administration of Paris and the provinces. - Secretary of State for the NavySecretary of State of the Navy (France)The Secretary of State of the Navy was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. This Secretary of State was responsible for the French navy and for French colonies...
- Secretary of State for Protestant AffairsSecretary of State for Protestant AffairsThe Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs , was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of overseeing French Protestant affairs...