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Appointed by Her Majesty's
Government, the governor presides
over The Cabinet, whose advice must
be taken except in matters of
defense, external affairs, internal
security, the police and the civil
service. The governor may also go
against Cabinet's advice if he or
she considers it against the
public's interest. In cases of
urgency this may be done without
prior approval from London, but such
action must be immediately reported
to the secretary of state. The
governor is also not required to
consult on matters too unimportant
to require this, or if it would be
prejudicial to the national
interest, though such actions must
be reported to Cabinet. The governor
also appoints some members of the
judiciary and oversees. he Cabinet
is composed of three official
members and five elected members,
called ministers. The official
members are the chief secretary, the
attorney general and the financial
secretary. They are appointed by the
governor in accordance with Her
Majesty's instructions and have
seats in the Legislative Assembly.
The five ministers are voted into
office by the 15 elected members of
the Legislative Assembly. Each
member of The Cabinet is allocated a
portfolio of responsibilities by the
governor. Under the principle of
collective responsibility, all
Cabinet members and ministers are
obliged to support in the Assembly
any measures approved by Cabinet
unless the governor has given prior
approval to act otherwise. Almost 50
departments, sections and units
carry out the business of
government, joined by a number of
statutory boards and authorities set
up for specific purposes, such as
the Port Authority, the Civil
Aviation Authority, the Immigration
Board, the Water Authority, the
Community College Board of
Governors, the National Pensions
Board, and the Health Insurance
Commission. The 15 elected members
of the Assembly represent the
Islands' six districts, four each
from George Town and West Bay, three
from Bodden Town, two from Cayman
Brac and Little Cayman, and one each
from North Side and East End. The
Governor must dissolve the Assembly
four years after its first meeting,
unless it has been dissolved sooner,
and a general election must be held
within two months of dissolution.
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