The Government Secretariat is responsible for preparing the meetings and assisting during the Government meetings, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s directives and as detailed in the “Statute of Government Operation”. As part of its activities in preparing and assisting in the meetings, the Secretariat implements the following tasks:
• Preparing the agenda for the Government meeting.
• Summoning experts and other participants whose presence is needed while discussing certain issues.
• Preparing background information and additional information required for the meetings.
• Coordinating proposals for Government Resolutions as submitted by the ministers.
• Transcribing the meeting.
• Editing the summaries of the deliberations, including drafting and writing Government Resolutions, as well as recording them in the Government protocol.
• Providing secretarial services to Government members and the Government during the Government meetings.
Ministerial Committees
Similar to its activities for Government meetings, the Government Secretariat is also responsible for the Ministerial Committees which convene in the offices of the Government Secretariat. The Secretariat appoints a secretary for each Committee from among its staff, to be responsible for that committee in the following fields and in accordance with the directives of the Chairman of the Committee:
• Arranging committee meetings.
• Preparing the agenda and relevant material.
• Providing secretarial services to the members of the Ministerial Committee and the Committees themselves during sessions.
• Editing the summaries of the deliberations, including drafting the Ministerial Committee’s Resolutions, as well as recording them in the protocol.
• Transcribing the meeting.
For an explanation regarding the duties of the Ministerial Committees and to view a list of the Ministerial Committees and their members, press here.
Liaison between the Government and the Knesset
The Government Secretariat, along with the Minister Responsible for the Liaison Between the Government and the Knesset, is responsible for the liaison between the Government and the Knesset.
In the framework of fulfilling this responsibility, the Government Secretariat fills the following tasks:
• The Government Secretariat passes on to the Knesset the proposed legislation submitted by the Government, and receives from the Knesset the proposed legislation submitted by members of Knesset.
• The Secretariat liaises between the Government and the Knesset with regard to determining the Government’s stance on privately proposed legislation.
• The Government Secretariat, along with the Minister Responsible for the Liaison Between the Government and the Knesset, represents the Government in the Knesset Presidency sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays in which the Knesset’s agenda is set for that same week.
• The Government Secretariat is responsible for notifying the Knesset Secretariat which of the Ministers will reply to the agenda proposals of the Knesset, as well as who will represent the Government’s stance in regard to privately proposed legislation raised during discussions in the Knesset.
Liaison between the Government and the President
According to the “Basic Law: President of the State”, the Government Secretary serves as a liaison between the Government and the President of the State.
Accordingly, the Government Secretary briefs the President, at least once a week, on all Resolutions approved by the Government and its Committees.
Government Spokesperson
The Government Secretary acts as the Government Spokesperson, and is accordingly responsible for briefing media representatives at the end of the weekly Government meetings. The Government Secretary’s briefings to the press can be read at the link “Government Secretary’s Announcements to the Press”.
Other Special Functions
The Government Secretariat fills other functions, including:
• The Government Secretariat is responsible for ensuring the participation of Government representatives at funerals of civilians who were victims of terrorist attacks.
• The Government Secretariat is responsible for sending Government representatives to official events hosted by Ambassadors in honor of their country’s National Day.
• The Government Secretariat has a computerized database with all the Government Resolutions since the founding of the State. The Government Resolutions from 2004 onwards are available to the general public on the Prime Minister’s Office website.