Cabinet facts for kids
A Cabinet is a team of important people who help run a country's government. They are often called 'ministers'. Each minister usually has a special job, like looking after schools, hospitals, or the environment. This group is also known as the Council of Ministers. They are part of the executive branch of government, which is the part that carries out laws.
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What is a Cabinet?
In many countries, the Cabinet makes big decisions about how the government will run things. This is common in countries with a parliamentary system, like the UK. In these systems, the Cabinet usually decides the government's main plans and policies.
Cabinet Roles Around the World
In other countries, like the United States, the Cabinet works a bit differently. There, the Cabinet members mostly give advice to the country's leader, like the President. They don't always have as much power to make big decisions on their own.
Sometimes, people become Cabinet members because they are chosen by others who are already part of the government.
A Bit of History
A long time ago, these groups were called Privy Councils. The idea of a modern Cabinet, as we know it today, started when Kings George I and George II ruled England.
Cabinet Assistants
In some countries in Europe, the word "cabinet" can also mean the assistants who help an important politician with their daily work.
The Shadow Cabinet
In the UK and some other Commonwealth countries, there's also something called a Shadow Cabinet. This is a group of leaders from the main opposition party. Their job is to keep an eye on the government's Cabinet and offer different ideas.
Images for kids
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Episcopal Summer Palace, the seat of the government of Slovakia in Bratislava.
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Queen Victoria convened her first Privy Council on the day of her accession in 1837.
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Countries with prime ministers (blue) and those that formerly had that position (dark red).
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Former President Barack Obama's Cabinet, 2009
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