Governmnet Ministers Flashcards
Approximately how many senior government members
What does this compose of
100
Cabinet ministers
Ministers of state
Parliamentary under-secretaries
Due to the volume of work in departments
What is there
Layers of ministers
- ministers
- junior ministers
- parliamentary private secretaries
What are civil servants
What do they do
They aid ministers
Organise diary, write letters, draft replies to parliamentary questions, offer advice and research issues
What are some of the roles of the minister
- politician with duties in cabinet and parliament
- normal MPs
- speak in HoC debates
- appear before select committees
- question time
- administrator of a large Whitehall department
What are some of the limitations on ministerial power
- They are outnumbered by senior officials (6/7 to 1)
- can lack objectives and priorities
- many demands on their power
- dependant on what their officials tell them or what data they are presented
What are the two main features of the convention which defines the relationship with ministers and their department
1) ministers are responsible to parliament for their policies of their department (must inform, explain and take responsibility)
2) implies that civil servants are responsible to ministers, they should be loyal and supportive of the minister
Describe the crichel down affair (1954)
Political scandal about a patch of land in Dorset
Inquiry over govt conduct was held and the report was damming
Led to them minister of agriculture resigning
Set a precedent on ministerial responsibility
Describe the welfare reforms
Secretary of state for work and pensions brought about large scale welfare reforms
He resigned in March 2016
Couldn’t accept the govts planned cuts to disability benefits
Name a minister who has resisted
Jacqui Smith
Give an example of a minister who resigned
Edwina Currie (salmonella in eggs)
Name a minister who resigned for personal reasons
Ron Davies
Evaluate IMR
It’s a grey area much depends on the ministers popularity with media n the party and the PM
Therefore IMR still exists however most ministers usually resign of personal reasons
What are the two roles of the civil servants
To provide ministers with policy advice
To implement government policy
What do the three principles for civil servants to abide by date back too
The northcote-Trevelyne reforms in the 19th C
What are the civil servants three core principles
Permanence
Neutrality
Anonymity
explain permanence
Civil servants remain in post even though ministers and PMs come and go
Explain neutrality
Civil servants must be loyal and supportive of any minister and any governance
They are politically unbiased
Explain anonymity
Civil servants are nameless
Not public figures and are not accountable to the public for their mistakes
What is the purpose of the three core principles
Designed to improve the efficiency of govt and the effectiveness of policy making
The allows for civil servants to become specialists and provide neutral advice
How are some conservative civil servants biased
Influenced by their class and background
How has civil servants and ministers changed since the 1980s
Reduced the reliance that minister had on civil servants
Provide alternate sources of advice (think tanks, special advisors…)
Encourage recruitment from a diverse range of people
What is the traditional public administration model
Ministers decide on issues based on ADVICE from civil servants
Reinforced by idea of individual ministerial responsibility - minister has lead role
What is the adversarial model
Put forward by Critics on the left
Civil servants are powerful (upper class) who use their connections to challenge ministers
Power struggle
What is the Whitehall community model
Minister/ civil servants is an alliance of mutual interest
Both CO-OPERATE
CS have expertise n connections and Ministers have political judgements etc
What is the public choice model
New right critique of public sector
Beurocracies are innefficient or wasteful
Civil servants main interest is to expand the public sector
