Compare and contrast the factors influencing the selection of cabinet members in the US and British
political systems. (25 marks).
Para Key Points Key Cases/Points
Intro UK cabinet - 20-25 senior politicians appointed by PM. (22 in 2014). PM needs to create an effective team.
Members either from HOC or HOL. Britain - constitutionally free- no formal
Normally 1 party - overall majority forms it by themselves. confirmation checks.
2010 - coalition - cabinet from either party. Politically limited - certain key senior, party figures
16 Tory cabinet ministers + 4 Lib Dems. that can't be excluded.
Two key factors when choosing - Blair - Prescott + Brown.
o Which individuals? Cameron - Hague + Duncan Smith.
o Political balance. DPM - Clegg - Cable.
Para 1 Newly elected US president - no shadow cabinet. All cabinet appointments - confirmed simple
Unlike British parliamentary system - cabinet members are not drawn majority vote in Senate.
from the legislature. Usually a formality.
Cabinet members cannot be currently serving members of Congress - Last time - rejected - 1989 rejected John Tower,
SOP (powers + personnel). G.H.W.Bush's nominee - Defense Department.
1961-2009 - 1 in 5 cabinet officers had experience in Congress. Members - diverse background.
Obama's original 15 in 2009 - 4 had experience + 3 were serving
members who had to resign their seats.
Para 2 Individual considerations - qualities suitable for promotion: Ideological selection - right or left wing e.g. Theresa
o Close ally - relied upon for support - esp. times of crisis e.g. May = Euro-sceptics + right wing press.
Osborne - close friends + godfathers to each other children. Potential rebel - collective responsibility - effectively
o Promotion - reward e.g. Oliver Letwin publicly backed silences them e.g. Clegg bringing Cable.
youngest candidate + eventual winner Cameron after Howard PM foresees individual - effective ministers e.g.
stood down. Owen Patterson + Chris Grayling - "safe pair of
hands".
Para 3 Team consideration: Ideologically united + no major political divisions. PM - social balance, women or members of ethnic
o Politically balanced cabinet - members from different minorities mirror the make-up of British society.
sections. Tony Blair - Paul Boateng in 2002 - first black Cabinet
o Thatcher had "wets + dries" - those against her spending cuts Minister.
+ those for. 2003 - Valerie Amos - first black women to hold
o Major ensured both right wing + moderate sections had position.
representation - struggled to heal division between Baroness Warsi - first female Muslim Cabinet
Europhiles + euro-sceptics. Minister 2010 - chairman of Tory party.
o Blair contended - "old Labour" + "Brownites". Cabinet re-shuffle - 18 months to 2 years - promote
o Cameron - old age Conservatives split over EU integration + rising stars + demote
had traditionalist right winders + own preferred rebranding - underperforming/uncooperative ministers.
focusing on environment - "hug a hoodies", "the big society" Made possible - ministers = policy generalists - rely
- move away from "nasty party". - "Detoxifying" Conservative on civil servants/think tanks expertises.
brand. Bound by collective responsibility + Individual
o Cameron - contend with five Liberal Democrat Ministers Ministerial responsibility.
invested in coalitions P.F.G.
Para 4 US cabinet officers - come from Congress - must be former members Timothy Geithner Treasury - President Federal
e.g. Ray LaHood - S.O. Transportation or willing to resign seats. Reserve Bank of New York 2003-09.
State governors - Janet Napolitano Arizona - S.O.Homeland Security Arne Duncan - education - CEO Chicago Public
2009. Schools 2001-09.
City Mayors - Clinton's S.O.Transportation - Frederico Pena - Mayor of Shaun Donovan- Housing and Urban Development -
Denver. New York Housing Commissioner 2004-09.
Academics - Steven Chu, Obama's Secretary of Energy - professor Likely to balance cabinet - geographic region, race,
Stanford University. gender, ideology + age.
Members - policy specialists: Clinton - "looked like America".
Para 5 Obama included: Conclusion - Desire - cabinets social microcosms -
o Lebanese-American ( Ray LaHood). religion, gender, age, race + religion.
o African-American (Eric Holder). More important Britain - seek re-election unlike
o Chinese-American (Steven Chu). America.
o 2 Japanese-Americans - Gary Locke + Eric Shinseki. How Cameron reconciles goal with 18 millionaires -
o 2 Hispanic - Hilda Solis + Ken Salazar. anyone's guess.
Obama's cabinet - most ethnically diverse to reflect America's Recent reshuffle - Junior Ministers preparing "Tory
population. flat cap" in 2014.
Para 6 More representative - north of England + more humble economic Need for ideological balance - not beyond acute
- Con. backgrounds. insight into policy objectives.
Obama's cabinet - advisory body - doesn't expect/get executive Dissent/splits - British cabinet = damage in election
decision making power + appointed for specialist knowledge - not polls.
political influence. People don't vote - divided parties.
Need balance - right - carry majority on votes on
bills.
political systems. (25 marks).
Para Key Points Key Cases/Points
Intro UK cabinet - 20-25 senior politicians appointed by PM. (22 in 2014). PM needs to create an effective team.
Members either from HOC or HOL. Britain - constitutionally free- no formal
Normally 1 party - overall majority forms it by themselves. confirmation checks.
2010 - coalition - cabinet from either party. Politically limited - certain key senior, party figures
16 Tory cabinet ministers + 4 Lib Dems. that can't be excluded.
Two key factors when choosing - Blair - Prescott + Brown.
o Which individuals? Cameron - Hague + Duncan Smith.
o Political balance. DPM - Clegg - Cable.
Para 1 Newly elected US president - no shadow cabinet. All cabinet appointments - confirmed simple
Unlike British parliamentary system - cabinet members are not drawn majority vote in Senate.
from the legislature. Usually a formality.
Cabinet members cannot be currently serving members of Congress - Last time - rejected - 1989 rejected John Tower,
SOP (powers + personnel). G.H.W.Bush's nominee - Defense Department.
1961-2009 - 1 in 5 cabinet officers had experience in Congress. Members - diverse background.
Obama's original 15 in 2009 - 4 had experience + 3 were serving
members who had to resign their seats.
Para 2 Individual considerations - qualities suitable for promotion: Ideological selection - right or left wing e.g. Theresa
o Close ally - relied upon for support - esp. times of crisis e.g. May = Euro-sceptics + right wing press.
Osborne - close friends + godfathers to each other children. Potential rebel - collective responsibility - effectively
o Promotion - reward e.g. Oliver Letwin publicly backed silences them e.g. Clegg bringing Cable.
youngest candidate + eventual winner Cameron after Howard PM foresees individual - effective ministers e.g.
stood down. Owen Patterson + Chris Grayling - "safe pair of
hands".
Para 3 Team consideration: Ideologically united + no major political divisions. PM - social balance, women or members of ethnic
o Politically balanced cabinet - members from different minorities mirror the make-up of British society.
sections. Tony Blair - Paul Boateng in 2002 - first black Cabinet
o Thatcher had "wets + dries" - those against her spending cuts Minister.
+ those for. 2003 - Valerie Amos - first black women to hold
o Major ensured both right wing + moderate sections had position.
representation - struggled to heal division between Baroness Warsi - first female Muslim Cabinet
Europhiles + euro-sceptics. Minister 2010 - chairman of Tory party.
o Blair contended - "old Labour" + "Brownites". Cabinet re-shuffle - 18 months to 2 years - promote
o Cameron - old age Conservatives split over EU integration + rising stars + demote
had traditionalist right winders + own preferred rebranding - underperforming/uncooperative ministers.
focusing on environment - "hug a hoodies", "the big society" Made possible - ministers = policy generalists - rely
- move away from "nasty party". - "Detoxifying" Conservative on civil servants/think tanks expertises.
brand. Bound by collective responsibility + Individual
o Cameron - contend with five Liberal Democrat Ministers Ministerial responsibility.
invested in coalitions P.F.G.
Para 4 US cabinet officers - come from Congress - must be former members Timothy Geithner Treasury - President Federal
e.g. Ray LaHood - S.O. Transportation or willing to resign seats. Reserve Bank of New York 2003-09.
State governors - Janet Napolitano Arizona - S.O.Homeland Security Arne Duncan - education - CEO Chicago Public
2009. Schools 2001-09.
City Mayors - Clinton's S.O.Transportation - Frederico Pena - Mayor of Shaun Donovan- Housing and Urban Development -
Denver. New York Housing Commissioner 2004-09.
Academics - Steven Chu, Obama's Secretary of Energy - professor Likely to balance cabinet - geographic region, race,
Stanford University. gender, ideology + age.
Members - policy specialists: Clinton - "looked like America".
Para 5 Obama included: Conclusion - Desire - cabinets social microcosms -
o Lebanese-American ( Ray LaHood). religion, gender, age, race + religion.
o African-American (Eric Holder). More important Britain - seek re-election unlike
o Chinese-American (Steven Chu). America.
o 2 Japanese-Americans - Gary Locke + Eric Shinseki. How Cameron reconciles goal with 18 millionaires -
o 2 Hispanic - Hilda Solis + Ken Salazar. anyone's guess.
Obama's cabinet - most ethnically diverse to reflect America's Recent reshuffle - Junior Ministers preparing "Tory
population. flat cap" in 2014.
Para 6 More representative - north of England + more humble economic Need for ideological balance - not beyond acute
- Con. backgrounds. insight into policy objectives.
Obama's cabinet - advisory body - doesn't expect/get executive Dissent/splits - British cabinet = damage in election
decision making power + appointed for specialist knowledge - not polls.
political influence. People don't vote - divided parties.
Need balance - right - carry majority on votes on
bills.
