College of State (Montecara)
| College of State | |
|---|---|
| Colegio di Stado | |
 Coat of arms of Montecara | |
Incumbent since 5 October 2020 | |
| Style | Excellency |
| Status | Head of state and Head of government |
| Seat | Palaço Pùblico |
| Appointer | Senate |
| Term length | Three years, no term limit |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Montecara |
| Salary | Ł56,437 (€11,066) per month |
| Website | colegio.go.mc |
The College of State (Montecaran: Colegio di Stado) is the collective head of government and executive cabinet of Montecara. It is composed of seven members, each of whom heads an executive department, but makes decisions and implements policies as a whole. Discussions are held in private, and dissensions are not made public. The Secretary of State presides at meetings of the College and is first in its order of precedence, but has no formal power over the other members.
Bodies under the direct and joint control of the College include the national statistics bureau, state legal counsel, and an administrative staff attending to logistics, scheduling, public relations, and various other aspects of day-to-day operations.
Election
Members are elected individually by the Senate from among its members. Each senator may nominate a candidate for each position in the College, after which the Senate uses a form of exhaustive ballot wherein the candidate receiving the fewest votes is eliminated in each round until one candidate secures a majority. Seats on the College are filled sequentially in order of precedence, beginning with the Secretary of State and finishing with the Secretary of Education and Culture.
Members serve three-year terms concurrent with the Senate and are not subject to the body's confidence. There are no term limits, and members are routinely reelected to multiple terms.
Powers
The College of State is vested with both legislative and executive powers. The main legislative responsibility of the College is to propose legislation to the Senate. Because the College practices collective cabinet responsibility, Secretaries are jointly responsible for all proposals they make.
Legislative proposals are prepared by the relevant Secretary and circulated for review among the other Secretaries. Once the College is, as a whole, satisfied with a proposal, it may be submitted to the Senate.
The College is also collectively responsible for heading the executive branch and setting government policy. Each Secretary is responsible for the proper functioning of their respective secretariat.
At least four members must by law be present in Montecara at all times, so travel abroad must be carefully coordinated. Members are legally immune from prosecution or lawsuit for statements made in an official capacity and for most criminal offenses, though they may be prosecuted for crimes after their term in office has ended.
Pay and benefits
Each member collects a salary set by law which cannot be reduced during their time in office. For fiscal year 2020-2021, this amounted to Ł56,437 (€11,066) per month. Additionally, work expenses such as travel, a dedicated and secure cell phone and laptop, and security are paid for by the state.
Unlike many heads of government, members do not have official residences or dedicated government vehicles for their use domestically. They are expected to live in their own homes and commute to work like any other Montecaran. Members are often seen using public transportation and their security detail is usually non-existent, though the gendarmerie can be called upon for protection when required.
Current composition
From 5 October 2020, in order of precedence:
| Portrait | Incumbent | Constituency | Office Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Odeta Luciàn | 21 – Caxalèt | Secretary of State Secretària di stado Secretariat of State |
|
Ansèlma di Meglie | 4 – Fiamìn | Secretary of Finance Secretària da finànsa Secretariat of Finance |
|
Tulio Brucàt | 10 – Prat | Secretary of Defense and Security Secretària da difèsa eia segurèsa Secretariat of Defense and Security |
|
Emilio Grèce | 24 – Nomentà | Secretary of Trade and Industry Secretària di tràfego eia endùstria Secretariat of Trade and Industry |
|
Teodòr Marelucè | 17 – Teràçio | Secretary of Social Protection Secretària da protexòn soçiàl Secretariat of Social Protection |
|
Francesca Zetici | 9 – Bàna | Secretary of Planning and the Environment Secretària da urbanìsma eia anbiènt Secretariat of Planning and the Environment |
|
Gemma Antolìn | 15 – Xiò | Secretary of Education and Culture Secretària da creànça eia cultùra Secretariat of Education and Culture |