Composition of the Government
The Government consists of the Prime Minister and other ministers. The Government and the ministers are independent within the framework of their jurisdiction, and responsible to the National Assembly.
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister leads and directs the work of the Government, ensures the unity of its political and administrative direction, co-ordinates the work of the ministries, represents the Government and calls for and presides over its sessions. The Prime Minister can give binding instructions connected to tasks, which are in line with Government policy, but the minister who is of an opinion that the binding instructions of the Prime Minister are not in line with Government policy, can request that the Government discusses the disputed questions.
The Prime Minister can nominate ministers who deputise for him when he is absent or otherwise detained. But they cannot deputise for the Prime Minister when there is a vote of no confidence and they cannot propose the appointment of new ministers or relieve them of their duties.
Ministers
The Government comprises ministers appointed for the following areas:labour, family and social affairs; the finance; economic development and technology; infrastructure and spatial planning; education, science, culture and sport, agriculture and the environment; internal affairs; defence; justice and public administration; health and foreign affairs.
The Government also has a minister without portfolio for relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Autochthonous Slovenian National Community in Neighbouring Countries, and between the Republic of Slovenia and Slovenians Abroad. The Prime Minister may also empower a line minister to assist in coordinating the work of ministers and ministries.
Ministers are responsible for Government decisions and standpoints, and for policy implementation. Each minister leads and represents a ministry in accordance with accepted policies. Each is responsible for decisions relating to the direction of the ministry, as well as for the dropping of measures, which should have been approved.
Each minister, in accordance with accepted policies, leads and represents his or her ministry, sets the political direction for the work of the ministry and the bodies within it, supervises the work of the ministry, issues regulations and other acts within the jurisdiction of the ministry and its bodies, and carries out other tasks within the framework of the ministry which have been determined by law or by some other regulation.
State Secretaries
Each ministry may have up to two state secretaries, who have the status of an official. The state secretary assists the minister in performing the ministerial office, within the scope of powers granted to him by the minister, and during the minister’s absence or incapacity, the state secretary on the basis of written authorisation deputises for the minister in heading and representing the ministry and in proposing material for Government deliberation. By granting such powers, however, the minister does not relinquish responsibility. The minister cannot empower a state secretary or any other person to issue regulations and vote in Government sessions.
The Government may also, on the proposal of the Prime Minister or a minister without portfolio, appoint a state secretary to assist the Prime Minister or minister in performing functions within the scope of granted powers, whereby a minister without portfolio may also have a maximum of one state secretary.
The function of a state secretary ceases through dismissal, upon resignation and automatically upon termination of the function of the person who proposed the appointment of such secretary.
High-Ranking Civil Servants
Administrative and professional work in the comprehensive working area within ministries is headed by director-generals. These are appointed by the Government on the proposal of the competent minister following a previously conducted public competition procedure pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Servants Act.
Ministries may also have a secretary-general, who heads the professional work in the area of managing personnel, financial, information technology and other resources, and assists the minister in coordinating the internal organisational units of the ministry.
Secretary-generals report to their respective minister.
Strategic Councils
The Prime Minister may set up strategic councils. A strategic council’s duties and area of responsibility are set out in the founding act. Within the scope of their area of responsibility, and on the proposal of the Prime Minister, strategic councils address individual issues and advise and draft opinions for the Prime Minister. Members of strategic councils are appointed by the Prime Minister.
Government Offices
The Government sets up Government services for organisational, professional and other assistance in the functioning of the Government and in coordinating the work of ministries. The Prime Minister may also empower a line minister for these duties. Government services are headed by a minister without portfolio, state secretary or director, who reports to the Prime Minister, minister or Government Secretary-General.
The Secretariat-General of the Government also functions as a Government office. It is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed and dismissed by the Government on the proposal of the Prime Minister. Under instruction from the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General attends to the preparation of Government sessions and the implementation of its decisions, and performs other tasks in connection with the organisation of work in the Government and its services. His function ceases through dismissal, resignation or upon termination of the function of the Prime Minister.
The Office of the Prime Minister also functions as a Government office. The Head of the Office of the Prime Minister is appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister; his position ceases through dismissal, resignation or through cessation of the Prime Minister’s function. The provisions of the Civil Servants Act do not apply to the procedure for his selection.