Chapter 8: The government
‘the government’= all the politicians who run the government departments or
other special responsibilities, such as managing the activities of the Parliament
Ministers: members of the government
‘single-party-government’: all members of the government belong to the same
political party (in Britain)
‘coalition government’: involves several parties (like in Belgium)
‘minority government’: when no political party has a majority of seats in
Parliament, when no coalition can be formed.
Collective responsibility: every member of the government shares responsibility
for every policy of the government.
Secretary of State: the title that most heads of the government have
Foreign Secretary: the one in charge of Britain’s relations with the outside
world
Home Secretary: the one in charge of public safety inside the country
They are called ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’ and ‘The Home
Office’
Chancellor of the Exchequer: the head of the Treasury (Minister of Finance)
The cabinet
The cabinet: consists of the leading politicians in the governing party, they are
tied to government policy.
The cabinet office: it runs a busy communications network, keeping ministers in
touch with each other and drawing up the agenda for cabinet meetings + it does
the same for the many cabinet committees.
Cabinet committees: they are appointed by the cabinet and they look into various
matters in more detail than the cabinet has the time (or knowledge) for. They are
not necessarily politicians.
Privy Council: a body of hundred or more people who reported directly to the
monarch. Over the years, the cabinet took over their power and the Council is
now merely a ceremonial body. It includes all the present and most important
past ministers.
Inner cabinets: real decisions are made here by the Prime Minister and a few
other important ministers.
‘the government’= all the politicians who run the government departments or
other special responsibilities, such as managing the activities of the Parliament
Ministers: members of the government
‘single-party-government’: all members of the government belong to the same
political party (in Britain)
‘coalition government’: involves several parties (like in Belgium)
‘minority government’: when no political party has a majority of seats in
Parliament, when no coalition can be formed.
Collective responsibility: every member of the government shares responsibility
for every policy of the government.
Secretary of State: the title that most heads of the government have
Foreign Secretary: the one in charge of Britain’s relations with the outside
world
Home Secretary: the one in charge of public safety inside the country
They are called ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’ and ‘The Home
Office’
Chancellor of the Exchequer: the head of the Treasury (Minister of Finance)
The cabinet
The cabinet: consists of the leading politicians in the governing party, they are
tied to government policy.
The cabinet office: it runs a busy communications network, keeping ministers in
touch with each other and drawing up the agenda for cabinet meetings + it does
the same for the many cabinet committees.
Cabinet committees: they are appointed by the cabinet and they look into various
matters in more detail than the cabinet has the time (or knowledge) for. They are
not necessarily politicians.
Privy Council: a body of hundred or more people who reported directly to the
monarch. Over the years, the cabinet took over their power and the Council is
now merely a ceremonial body. It includes all the present and most important
past ministers.
Inner cabinets: real decisions are made here by the Prime Minister and a few
other important ministers.
