Executive Council
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An Executive Council in Commonwealth constitutional practice is the top tier of a government in most countries led by a Governor-General, Governor or a Lieutenant-Governor. It is superior to Legislative Councils and Legislative Assemblies and functions as a quasi-Privy Council and therefore by extension is usually the equivalent of the Cabinet. Executive Councils are chaired by a President. It could mean the:
- Executive Council of Australia
- Executive Council of the Irish Free State
- Executive Council of Hong Kong
- Executive Council of New Zealand
At the federal level, Canada does not have an Executive Council but the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom with the Canadian Cabinet technically being a committee of the Privy Council.
A number of US states also have Executive Councils which advise and assist the governor.
Provinces and territories of Canada
Consistent with wider Commonwealth practice, Canadian provinces have Executive Councils which are usually referred to informally as Cabinets and are headed by a provincial Premier. These are the:
- Executive Council of Ontario
- Executive Council of Quebec
- Executive Council of Alberta
- Executive Council of British Columbia
- Executive Council of Saskatchewan
- Executive Council of Manitoba
- Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Executive Council of New Brunswick
- Executive Council of Prince Edward Island
- Executive Council of Nova Scotia
Canadian territories also have councils. These are the:
- Executive Council of Yukon
- Executive Council of the Northwest Territories
- Executive Council of Nunavut
There is, however a Canadian Cabinet at the level of the federal government and not an executive council. Members of the federal Cabinet are also members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.