Ministers and Civil Servants Flashcards

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1
Q

bureaucracy

A

governement by non elected salaried administraive works

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2
Q

civil service

A

a bureaucracy

in departments

headed by ministers

but administed by cilvil service

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3
Q

governement departments

A

led by governement ministers

cover matters that require direct political oversight

executive aagencies are subordinate to these departments and have a degree of autonomy but provide advice/fundingpolicy and strategic policy

non ministerial departments do not require political oversight and are headed by the top civil servants eg charity commissioner

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4
Q

executive agencies

A

carry out some of the administitive tasks of governement previously carried out bu the civil service

aemi-autonomous

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5
Q

backgroun od civil service

A

have to pass an exam-recruited on merit

fancy uni fancy degree v traditional accademics

unrepresentative

lack of experince of the outside world

“cult of the amateur”

trying to move away from posh with illrevevant degrees

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6
Q

role of higher civil servants

A
  • prepare legislation briefing ministers
  • administraion
  • deveop lines of policy
  • policy implementation and management
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7
Q

principle of higher civil servants

A

permances

neutrality

anonymity

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8
Q

1980s

A

outsourcing and privatisation

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9
Q

role of ministers

A

so much work they have jr ministers

normal consituency work

appear before select commmitttees

answer to house of commons

supervise work being done

listen to the advise given to them

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10
Q

limitations on minister

A
  • outnumbered by senior officals
  • lack of permanency
  • non-specialist
  • multiple demands
  • difficult to get key info
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11
Q

traititional minister civil servant relationship

A

minister decides civil servant advise

because minister is ultimatley responsible and accountable

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12
Q

adversarial model

A

soical background and attitude of the civil service means they can use their wiles to fusstrate the minister if they don;t like the policy

could have a seperate agenda

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13
Q

whitehall community model

A

alliance of mutual interest

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14
Q

public choice model

A

tend towards needless growth and inefficientcies

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15
Q

other factors in the ministr civil servant relationship

A

minister decides civil servant advise

minister are transcient

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16
Q

individual minister responsibility

A

answerable to parliament

accountability

resignation has become unusual

only done to protect PM or cabinet

why so unlikey?

  • mps rally behind
  • commentatpors are symphathetioc
  • home office controls
  • media manipulated
17
Q

merits of the doctrine

A
  • ensures someone is accountable
  • keeps civil servants on thier toes
  • facilitates work for oppoisition
18
Q

why do ministers resign

A
  • bad morals
  • political mistake eg peter mandleson
  • policy differnce with gov eg george galloway
19
Q

thatcher’s impact on civil service

A

big governement

privatise

marketise

cut to numbers

if yoyr not one of us go away

outside advisors

20
Q

new labour

A

target driven joined up governement

political advisors

spin