In class notes 2/21/12
The Cabinet and Bureaucracy
Back bencher
* new members elected, young, inexperienced.
* If enough back benchers they can join against the gov’t.
Back bencher dissent
* a vote of no confidence,
* vote against the party.
* Very Rare
* Would kill their political career
Order from Liberal to Conservative
Traditional Labour-Liberal Democrats-Labour-Conservative
The Bureaucracy
* Two Heads of each Department
* Every member of Cabinet is head of Department
Permanent Secretary
* they advise and give information to the cabinet minister
* supposed to be apolitical
* civil servant-work for gov’t
* not elected
Cabinet Minister
* Head of a department
* Can be appointed with no knowledge of subject
Potential for conflict in the British System
Permanent Secretary
-disagreement in policy, they have a bias, try to influence.
-Gridlock, slow down policy if they don’t like it.
House of Commons (most important, overtime power has switched from House of Lords to Commons)
Purpose:
1. To pass laws
2. To provide finances by authorizing taxation
3. Review and scrutinize public administration.
Reforms:
* Redistricting districts to equal represent
* 50 less seats 2015
General Information:
* 650 seats
* The legislative and elected body
* Chaired by nonpartisan Speaker (give up party affiliation)
* Whips serve similar role as in US(prevent back bench, make sure of attendance)
* Policy agenda dictated from Whitehall (building where cabinet meets)
* Potential for backbench dissent (rare)
House of Lords (Peers)
Purpose: Went from amending and delaying legislation to serving as a chamber of revision/ redrafting legislation. Current example: Nationality, Immigration and Aslum Bill was too harsh so the House of Lords battled until legislation was revised.
Reforms:
House of Lords Act of 1999- Reduced hereditary members to 92 (some didn’t...
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