The Cabinet of Spain is a collegiate body composed of the President of the Government

Prime Minister of Spain

The President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...

 (Prime Minister), Vice Presidents

First Vice President of the Government (Spain)

The First Vice President of the Government of Spain , usually known in English as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, is the second in command to the Prime Minister of Spain, filling in for him when he is absent or incapable of exercising his power. The person for the post is usually...

 when existing and the Ministers, and any other member required by law, and in some cases Secretaries of State (Junior Ministers). It is regulated by Article 98 of the Spanish Constitution

Spanish Constitution of 1978

-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...

.

Origins

After the experience during the Trienio Liberal the Council of Ministers was formally created by King Ferdinand VII, who ordered by Royal Decree of 19 November 1823 that his Secretaries of State (Secretarios de Estado y del Despacho) should gather to form a body, which was to be called Council of Ministers. In the meetings of this Council all matters of common interest would be discussed, and every Secretary would report about affairs under his responsibility and receive instructions from the King. The Secretary of State would act as Chief Minister and preside over the meetings when the King was absent.

The Council of Ministers during the Second Spanish Republic

The Council of Ministers in the Spanish Constitution of 1978

The Council of Ministers meets on weekly basis, usually Fridays in the morning at Moncloa Palace

Palacio de la Moncloa

The Palace of Moncloa or Moncloa Palace , located in the Ciudad Universitaria ward of Madrid , has been the official residence for the Prime Minister of Spain since 1977, when Adolfo Suárez moved the residence from the Villamejor Palace on the Paseo de la Castellana...

, but exceptionally, it may meet in any other city of Spain. The meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister, though, in his absence, Vice Presidents take the responsibility to chair over the cabinet. Also on exceptional occasions, the cabinet can be chaired by the King of Spain: inthen, the meeting is solely consultative.

External links

• Website of the Government of Spain