The General Secretariat of the Government

The French Cabinet secretariat, pivot of executive and legislative powers, and therefore being a necessary administrative organ to the operating of any modern State, is still one of the lesser known French administrative structure.

Having existed in varied forms in all countries, the Cabinet secretariat appeared in France the same time as the French Revolution in 1789. It was created by the Comité de Salut public and its creation was insured by the Directoire. The Cabinet secretariat lasted until today almost without interruption, playing a role which's importance increased as political instability increased.  Under the 4th Republic, the Cabinet secretariat secured the continuity of the State, through the balancing of chronic political instability.

Its ties to the Prime minister raises the question of its true nature, be it political or administrative. In fact, from the 1st Empire to the Front Populaire, the choice was not always made to appoint an administrator who would have been fully neutral and uninvolved to the political power.

In its current form, the Cabinet secretariat is well an administrative body, that became progressively supported by a small, stable, but high-leveled administration. The extraordinary permanence of the Cabinet secretariat illustrates it perfectly.

Under the 5th Republic, the steadiness of political power did not weaken the Cabinet secretariat. Its function as an organiser of the Council of the ministers even strengthened its role. Beyond its responsibility of coordinating the governmental work, it has been charged with new duties, like the defense of a law before the Conseil constitutionnel, the inspection of the questions of constitutional validity,or the monitoring of the application of laws. Besides, the Cabinet secretariat developed its function of a go-between between the Parliament and the Government, without even infringing upon the role of the minister in charge with the relations with the Parliament.