The Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, as representative of the King in Right of New Brunswick, appoints the Premier and the Executive Council of whichever party forms government in a given legislature, which exists to advise them on the governance of the Province.

Government departments will often bring proposals to Cabinet for direction or approval (for example, to draft a Bill or enter into an agreement), on which Cabinet will issue a decision and, where applicable, provide a recommendation to the Lieutenant-Governor for issuing an Order-in-Council.

There are currently two committees within the Cabinet: Policy and Priorities Board, which studies strategic and policy matters and is chaired by the Premier, and Treasury Board, which studies financial and administrative matters and is chaired by the Minister of Finance.

There was previously a COVID-19 Cabinet Committee, which, uniquely, included members from all parties in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.

[2] However, in late 2021, committee members from the Green and Liberal parties quit the committee over a controversy in which the provincial government had issued an emergency order forcing striking healthcare workers back to work.