Wikipedia
A Council of State is the name of a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet, or it may refer to a non-executives advisory body associated with a head of state. In some countries it also has a function as a supreme administrative court. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.
The Council of State is a body established by the Constitution of Ireland to advise the President of Ireland in the exercise of many of his or her discretionary, reserve powers. It also has authority to provide for the temporary exercise of the duties of the president in the event that these cannot be exercised by either the president or the Presidential Commission (an eventuality that is very unlikely to occur).
The Council of State has been likened to a privy council, although Jim Duffy calls this "more apparent than real" as it has no legislative or judicial functions. Gemma Hussey, who was a member of the Council of State in 1989–90, described it as "largely a symbolic body".
In the Netherlands, the Council of State ( Dutch: ) is a constitutionally established advisory body to the Dutch Government and States General that consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic or military experience. The Council of State must be consulted by the cabinet on proposed legislation before a law is submitted to parliament. The Council of State Administrative Law division also serves as one of the four highest courts of appeal in administrative matters. The King is president of the Council of State but he seldom chairs meetings. The Vice-President of the Council of State chairs meetings in their absence. Under Dutch constitutional law, the Vice-President of the Council is acting head of state when there is no monarch such as if the royal family were to become extinct. It was founded in 1531.
The Council of State of Cuba is a 31-member body of the government of Cuba, elected by the National Assembly of People's Power. It has the authority to exercise most legislative power between sessions of the National Assembly of People’s Power, subject to its approval, and to call the National Assembly of People’s Power into session between its scheduled twice yearly sessions. The membership consists of a President, a Secretary, a First Vice President, five Vice Presidents, and 27 additional members. The President, the Secretary, the First Vice President, and the five Vice Presidents are also members of the Council of Ministers.
In Greece, the Council of State (sometimes Counsel of State or State Council, ) is the Supreme Administrative Court of Greece.
Council of State ( Dutch: , , ), in Belgium, is an organ of the Belgian government: it is the Supreme Administrative Court of Belgium. Its functions include assisting the executive with legal advice and being the supreme court for administrative justice. Its members are (for the most part) high level jurists.
Council of State of Congress Kingdom of Poland was an important state institution of Poland that existed in the 18th century. It was also known as Council of State of Kingdom of Poland (Rada Stanu Królestwa Polskiego).
There were three different Councils of State throughout that period in the Kingdom of Poland. The first was created by the Constitution of Kingdom of Poland. The constitution divided the Council of State into General Assembly of Council of State (Ogólne Zgromadzenie Rady Stanu) and Administrative Council (Rada Administracyjna). In time the General Assembly became habitually referred to as 'Council of State'. The Council of State was composed of 5 ministers, 9 ordinary councilors and changing numbers of extraordinary councilors (created by the monarch) as well as referendaries of state. The Council could prepare projects of legislation for Sejm and monarch's decrees, put governmental officials on trial for administrative misconduct and act as a court in competency and administration cases. This first Council was dissolved during the November Uprising.
The second Council of State was created by the Organic Statue of the Kingdom of Poland.
The third Council of State was created after the January Uprising.
The Nigerian Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian Government. Its functions include advising the executive on policy making.
The Council of State of Colombia (Consejo de Estado de Colombia) is the supreme tribunal with jurisdiction over administrative issues in Colombia.
The Council of State in Ghana is a small body of prominent citizens, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the President on national issues.
The Council of State was established by Articles 89 to 92 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana: "There shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions."
The Council of State was the upper house of the legislature for British India (the Imperial Legislative Council) created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the old Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms. The Central Legislative Assembly was the lower house.
As a result of Indian independence, the Council of State was dissolved on 14 August 1947 and its place taken by the Constituent Assembly of India and the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
The Council of State used to meet at the Metcalfe House. The Viceroy or Governor-General was its ex officio President.
Usage examples of "council of state".
The proposal of the French was first debated by the six sages who had been recently appointed to control the administration of the doge: it was next disclosed to the forty members of the council of state.
As a council of state, and as a court of justice, the senate possessed very considerable prerogatives.
The tribunes must not make their power pervade everything, so as to render the existence of a council of State impossible.
A council of state was held in the beginning of May, at which Law, D'Argenson (his colleague in the administration of the finances), and all the ministers were present.
Being part of the Council of State at home made it easy for me to see where the power lay here.
The duc d'Ayen said, that he never should be in trouble about the council of state, for in case of need, it might be found and replenished from the house of the lieutenant of police.