Conseil des ministres
In France , the Conseil des ministres ( German Council of Ministers ) is the only collegial body of the executive with a government function provided for in the constitution . This is an expression of 'limited collegiality' ( collégialité limitée ) . It includes the ministers, but also state secretaries. The Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister form the government.
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers rests with the President of the Republic , or if he is prevented from doing so, or with the Prime Minister if he is deputy. In this way, the French Prime Minister is not literally Prime Minister .
As a result of the peculiar duality of the French government with President and Prime Minister, the French Council of Ministers has no equivalent in other parliamentary systems.
If the parliamentary majority agrees with the president's color, he has the upper hand and is de facto head of government; in the opposite case, cohabitation , the prime minister heads the government.
Procedure
The meetings of the Council of Ministers usually take place on Wednesdays at noon in the Salon Murat of the Elysée Palace . In August, the Council of Ministers has a three-week vacation.
It is customary for the Prime Minister to sit across from the President of the Republic.
Traditionally, the Foreign Minister gives a short lecture on current international events. The President then gives the floor to various ministers whose portfolios are affected by the agenda or any proposed legislation, and can direct the negotiations on specific topics. The President signs the acts negotiated in the Council of Ministers. A communiqué is drawn up on the topics covered and commented on by the minister responsible.