Kabinetet

Kabinetet is the term used in several Nordic and European languages to refer to the cabinet, the collective executive body that runs the government. It typically consists of the head of government (the prime minister or equivalent) and the ministers who head the different government departments. Depending on the country, members may be elected representatives or appointed specialists, and some systems include ministers without portfolio or a deputy prime minister. The cabinet functions as the central decision-making body of the executive branch, setting policy, preparing legislation and budgets, and coordinating administration across ministries.

Cabinet decisions are usually taken in meetings, and ministers are expected to support government policy publicly and privately. This principle, known as collective responsibility, means that if a member cannot defend the policy, they are expected to resign or be dismissed.

The cabinet operates under the constitutional framework of the state. The head of government chairs its meetings; the head of state may perform formal duties such as appointing ministers on the head of government’s advice. In many systems, the cabinet must retain the confidence of the legislature. If the legislature withdraws support, the government may resign or a new cabinet may be formed after elections or coalition negotiations. The cabinet may also organize itself into committees to handle specialized policy areas between full meetings.

Historically, the cabinet originated as a private council of advisers to monarchs and rulers and evolved into the formal executive body of constitutional monarchies and republics.