The functions and powers of the Council of Ministers in Tamil Nadu:
- The Council of Ministers maintains law and order and the security of life and property of the people in the state.
- It formulates and decides the policies of the state and implements them effectively.
- It decides the legislative programmes of the Legislative Assembly and sponsors all important bills.
- It controls the financial policy and decides the tax structure for the public welfare of the state.
- It chalks out programmes and schemes for the socioeconomic changes so that the state makes headway in various inter-related fields.
- It makes the important appointments of the Heads of Departments.
- It discusses and takes efforts on the dispute with other states
- It advises the Governor on the appointment of Judges of the subordinate courts. It considers the state’s share of work in the Five Year Plans and determines its obligations.
- It frames the proposal for incurring expenditure out of state reserves.
- It decides all the bills whether ordinary bills or money bills to be introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
- Each minister of the Council of Ministers supervises, controls and coordinates the department concerned; and
- The annual Financial Statement called as the Budget is finalised by the Council of Ministers.
- With regard to an appraisal, the Council of Ministers is the guide and master of the legislature especially the Legislative Assembly in the state.
- Besides, the ministers are the formulators and executors of the public policies of the state.