The Lord Chancellor is the government minister with responsibility for the administration of justice including the administration of the court system. Historically, this office carried a wide portfolio of responsibilities. However, under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the role was reorganised to remove overlaps with the legislative and judicial functions. In particular, the Lord Chancellor ceased to be the Speaker or President of the House of Lords in May 2006. In April 2006 he also ceased to be the head of the Judiciary in England and Wales and surrendered his powers of judicial appointment to the Judicial Appointments Commission.