CHAPTER XIII THE COUNCIL OF STATE, THE GOVERNMENT, THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Article 113
There is a Council of State, whose composition and powers shall be regulated by law. The President is Chairman of the Council of State.

Article 114
On assuming office the members of the Council of State shall take the following oath or make the following promise before the President:

“I swear (promise) that in order to be appointed member of the Council of State, I have not given or promised, nor will I give or promise, anything, directly or indirectly, to anyone whomsoever, under whatsoever name or pretext.
I swear (promise) that in order to do or to refrain from doing anything whatsoever in this office, I will not accept, directly or indirectly, any promises or presents from anyone whomsoever.
I swear (promise) that I will perform my duties and that I will not make public the things of which I have taken cognizance, through my appointment as member of the Council of State, and which are entrusted to me as secret, or of which I should understand the confidential character, except to those persons to whom I am obliged by law ex officio to communicate them.
I swear (promise) obedience to the Constitution and all other rules of law.
I swear (promise) allegiance to the Republic of Suriname. So help me, God Almighty (That I declare and promise).”

POWERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE

1. The Council of State has without prejudice to what is regulated by law the following powers:

   a. To give guidance to the state administration and to supervise the correct execution of the decisions of the National Assembly by the Government;

   b. To suspend the decrees of the Council of Ministers and those of lower organs that do not contain generally binding rules, if they are, in the opinion of the Council of State, in violation of the Constitution, the law and the government programme ;

   c. To advise the President in the execution of his office of Head of State and of head of the Government;

   d. To advise the Government on general policy matters and on the content and the constitutionality of proposals of law as well as agreements under public international law for which the consent of the National Assembly is required;

   e. To advise the Government on proposals of general administrative measures;

   f. To present, if necessary, proposals of law or of general administrative measures to the Government;

   g. To arrange for the mobilization of the people when the national interest demands that;

   h. To pass its own Rules of Order which shall be determined by general administrative measures.

2. If a decree, as mentioned in paragraph (1) under (b), is suspended by the Council of State, the President shall need to decide to ratify or not to ratify that decision within one month after the date of the suspension.

Article 116

1. The President with the Vice-President and the Council of Ministers form the Government. The Vice-President is charged with the day-to-day management of the Council of Ministers and is as such responsible to the President.
2. The Government is responsible to the National Assembly.

Article 118
The manner of promulgation of laws and general administrative measures and the time they shall become binding shall be regulated by law.

Third Section
THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Article 119

1. The Council of Ministers is the highest executive and administrative organ of the Government.
2. The Ministers together form the Council of Ministers, which is presided by the Vice-President.
3. The Council of Ministers has at least one Vice-Chairman.

Article 121
The Council of Ministers is under the obligation to assist in the procurement of information to the Council of State for the execution of its advisory and supervisory task.

TASKS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

a. To execute the policy determined by the Government

b. To prepare legislative acts and administrative regulation;

c. To supervise the correct execution of decrees when their execution is entrusted to it;

d. To prepare and to execute an efficient policy;

e. To give direction to administrative organs and to supervise administrative functions of local organs by means of the suitable ministerial debarments.

TASKS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTER

Fourth Section
UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE

Article 124
The President may appoint to a ministerial department one or more under-secretaries of state who, in cases the Minister deems necessary, may act as Minister in his stead, observant of his directions. The under-secretary of state is on that account responsible to the President, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Minister.

Article 125
On assuming office, the ministers and under-secretaries of state shall take the following oath or make the following promise before the President:

“I swear (promise) that in order to be appointed minister I have not given or promised, nor will I give or promise, anything, directly or indirectly, to anyone whomsoever, under whatsoever name or pretext.
I swear (promise) that in order to do or to refrain from doing anything whatsoever in this office, I will not accept, directly or indirectly, any promises or presents from anyone whomsoever.
I swear (promise) that I will faithfully perform all the duties which the office of a minister lays upon me.
I swear (promise) that I will promote the well=bing of Suriname to the best of my abilities.
I swear (promise) obedience to the Constitution and all other legal rules.
I swear (promise) allegiance to the Republic of Suriname.
So help me, God Almighty (That I declare and promise).”

Article 126
The law regulates the financial provisions for the benefit of the ministers, the under-secretaries of state, and former ministers and former under-secretaries of state and of their surviving relatives.

Article 127
The Rules of Order of the Council of Ministers shall be determined by administrative measure.