Role of the Cabinet

Role of the Cabinet

• Symbol of collective government

• Presentation of policy

• Formal policy approval

• Policy coordination

• Resolution of disputes

• Debate major issues of the day and domestic emergencies

• Party management

• Constraining the PM

Cabinet Committees

• Cabinet committees have taken over from full cabinet with regards to policy and decision

• Decisions often made with automatic approval

• Committees can be temporary or permanent and sometimes led to sub-committees for even more specialised meetings

Weaknesses of the Cabinet

• PMs patronage means they are dominant - as most posts are determined by the PM minister’s need to stay loyal

• Most decisions made in committee

• Meeting are shorter and state managed. They can be as little as 45 minutes long. This doesn’t lend itself to getting a great amount of work done in a meeting

• Large departments have become more independent, which can lead to a lack of cohesion in Government

• More decisions are made in bilateral meetings

• Much decision making has moved to the 10 Downing Street organisation

the PM

Status

• Elected MP and party leader of the largest party on the House of Commons

Role

• Chief Policy maker

• Head of Government and chair of Cabinet

• Chief government spokesperson (PMQs) and media figure head

• Parliamentary leader

• Chief foreign policy maker (representing the country)

• Commander in chief of armed forces

Powers

• Lead ruling party

• Appoint, dismiss and organise government ministers

• To direct government policy

• To represent the country externally

• Propose legislation

Cabinet Ministers

Status

• Elected MPs or Lords who have been appointed by the PM to serve in the cabinet and given a brief for a particular department/policy area

Role

• Approve policy

• Symbol of collective responsibility

• Debate and co-ordinate policy

• Hold individual responsibility for particular policy area

• Resolve disputes and manage the ruling party

Powers

• Opportunity to sit around table where decisions are approved

• Opportunity to shape a policy area with the approval of cabinet and support of civil servants and research

• To propose Primary Legislation and approve secondary legislation

• The support, research and advice from civil servants

• Co-ordination of junior ministers

Junior ministers

Status

• Elected MPs who have been appointed by the PM to develop the brief for a specific policy area

Role

• Develop policy to be approved by cabinet

• Work with civil servants

• Symbol of collective responsibility (voting with the government)

• Hold individual responsibility for a specific policy area

Powers

• Opportunity to shape a policy area with the approval of cabinet

• Get the support, research and advice from civil servants

• Approve some secondary legislation

Treasury

Status

• Chancellor of the Exchequer

• Junior Ministers

• Civil Servants

Role

• With approval of the PM and Cabinet to set the budget and manage the government’s finances

• To present in some form on most committees and sub-committees

Powers

• Strong overview of the government because decisions affect every other brief

• Produce budgets and statements setting the tone of parliament

Cabinet Committees

Status

• Sub-committees of the cabinet appointed by the PM

Role

• Consider and propose policy for specific aspects of government business

Powers

• They can develop policy outside of cabinet including only those ministers and department involved passing recommendations onto full cabinet

• Can draw in junior ministers with particular experience

Civil servants and Government departments

Status

• Public sector unelected officials who are appointed and promoted within the civil service through competitive interview based on expertise

Role

• Developing, implementing and monitoring policy

• To be a-political and support all parties when in governments

Powers

• Largely anonymous and removed from individual scrutiny to focus on policy

• Security of tenure as do not have to be elected

• Experience the length of time within a department