Cabinet
1. What factors does a Prime Minister take into account when appointing The cabinet is at the apex of machinery of government as the centralcontrolling body of the executive. It has a dual purpose - it is bothadministrative and a political unit brining together policy formulation andpolicy implementation at the highest level. As the cabinet is comprised of between 20 and 24 senior ministers, who are selected by the Prime Minister,it is imperative that when appointing his cabinet, his decision is governed bypolitical and administrative considerations. Politically the heads of the mainspending departments will be included as they contribute to and implementgovernment policy as it effects their own area. Theoretically a Prime Ministerwill also balance the Cabinet to ensure all shades of party opinion have anoutlet at the highest level. In practice, both Margaret Thatcher after 1983 andJohn Major from 1995 tended to balance their cabinets to the right and center
By including opposition, the Prime Minister isable to maintain authority. CabinetCommittees provide a framework for collective consideration of and decisionson, major policy issues and issues of significant public interest. Cabinet Committees relieve the pressure on Cabinet itself by settlingbusiness in a smaller forum or at a lower level. Inclusion ofopposing ministers is also considered as in cabinet they are unable topublicly voice disagreement as a result of collective responsibility. Some Cabinet Committees have Sub-Committees. Non-contentious issues can generally be agreed in correspondence. Finally there are alsoconsultative committees where matters are discussed with others outside theUK Government. Committees enable decisionsto be fully considered by those Ministers most closely concerned in a waythat ensures that Government as a whole can be expected to acceptresponsibility for them. Groups, normally set upto carry out a particular task, or through ad hoc meetings, which are generallyinformal groups that cannot make binding decisions. Loyalty and therefore close allies of the Prime Minister are likelycandidates of the cabinet as the Prime Minister must seem invariably 'onmessage' and in agreement with decisions, views and policy in order tomaintain collective responsibility and a defiant public image. These tend to focus on a narrower range of issues than the full committee,taking forward work on key areas. the chancellor, as the economicdominion is frequently inclusive in much of the policy decision makingprocess.
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