Council of State

The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes (arguably erroneously) regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.

Modern

• Belgian Council of State - this is a judicial and advisory body. It assists the executive with legal advice and is the supreme court for administrative justice.
• British Council of State - This body is the group of people who carry out the monarch's functions when the Queen is on a short-term absence, e.g., Commonwealth tours, short-term illness, etc.
• Colombian Council of State
• State Council of the People's Republic of China - The highest administrative body of the People's Republic of China.
• Cuban Council of State
• Danish Council of State - this body is similar to a privy council. Its role is largely ceremonial and includes granting the royal assent and approving King's activities as head of state. It consists of all cabinet ministers and the Crown Prince or Hereditary Princess when he or she is of age.
• Dutch Council of State - this is an advisory body to the government which 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 Dutch cabinet on proposed legislation before a law is submitted to the parliament and also serves as a channel of appeal for citizens against decisions of the executive branch.
• Egyptian Council of State
• Finnish Council of State - this is the Finnish cabinet. It consists of the prime minister and other ministers, and must enjoy the confidence of the Finnish parliament.
• French Council of State - this is a judicial and advisory body. It assists the executive with legal advice and is the supreme court for administrative justice.
• Ghanaian Council of State - this body advises the President of Ghana in the exercise of most of his/her reserve powers.
• Greek Council of State - this is the supreme administrative court of Greece and an administrative organ examining all presidential decrees before their issuing.
• Indian Council of State or "Rajya Sabha" - is the upper house of the Parliament of India
• Irish Council of State - this body advises the President of Ireland in the exercise of most of his/her reserve powers. In practice it meets only rarely. The President is not obliged to heed its advice but must consult the body in certain circumstances.
• Italian Council of State - a legal-administrative consultative body and ensures the legality of public administration.
• Liberian Council of State - interim ruling body in mid 1990s (see President of Liberia)
• Luxembourg Council of State
• Nigerian Council of State
• North Carolina Council of State
• Norwegian Council of State
• Philippine Council of State
• Portuguese Council of State - an advisory body to the President of the Republic in the exercise of most of his/her reserve powers. It is summoned by the President whenever he wishes, and he is obliged to do so in case he dissolves the Assembly of the Republic or in case he declares war or peace. He or she is not bound by it.
• Spanish Council of State - this was the council for foreign affairs from 1522 to 1834; during 19th and 20th centuries and today is the supreme consultative council of the Government.
• Swiss Conseils d'État - In Switzerland a Conseil d'État heads the cantonal government of each French-speaking canton.
• Thai Council of State - a department coming directly under the authority of the Prime Minister of Thailand, having the duty to render legal advices to state agencies and state enterprises as may be required. It formerly acted as the Supreme Administrative Court prior to the establishment of the Administrative Courts in 1999. See English language link www.krisdika.go.th/wps/portal/general/.
• Turkish Council of State

Defunct

• Vietnamese Council of State (1980-1992) - a body whose authority is equal to the modern President of Vietnam and Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam
• English Council of State (1649–1660)
• Poland: Council of State (Kingdom of Poland) (1815-1915) and Polish Council of State (1947–1989)
• Empire of Brazil Council of State (1822-1889)
• Supreme Council of State of Siam (1925-1932)
• Chilean Council of State (1976–1980)
• Israel: Provisional State Council (1948-1949)
• State Council of the German Democratic Republic (1960-1989)
• General Affairs State Council of Manchukuo.

See also

• Council of State Governments
• State Council