Chapter 19

Chapter Summary

Ministers of the Crown head government departments. Those departments are extensive and complex bodies. Ministers enjoy substantial formal as well as political powers. The extent to which they can utilise those powers will depend upon the purpose and skill of the individual minister as well as the power situation, the climate of expectation and international developments. Ministers face considerable constraints, especially in recent years as the domain in which they operate has been constricted.

Ministers operate in a complex political environment. Different models seek to locate the place of ministers in that environment. The principal–agent model contends that minis-ters are agents of the Prime Minister or of civil servants. The power-dependency model posits an environment in which ministers have to negotiate with other actors in order to achieve desired outcomes. The baronial model posits that ministers have their own policy territory, castles and courtiers and fight or build alliances in order to get their way. The last two models suggest that ministers enjoy a greater role in policy making than is generally realised in the literature on British politics.

Learning Objectives

• To promote an understanding of the place and significance of government departments in British government.
• To identify the role and political impact of ministers in policy making.
• To assess the relationship between ministers and civil servants.
• To summarise and assess competing models of policy making.

Quizzes

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Discussion Questions

1. Some argue that civil servants play a dominant role in shaping policy, while others believe ministers remain the key decision-makers. To what extent do civil servants influence government policy, and should their role be more or less significant?
2. The doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility suggests that ministers are accountable for everything that happens in their department. In reality, how often are ministers truly held accountable for failures, and should the system be reformed to improve accountability?

Weblinks

Cabinet Ministers List – A government directory listing current cabinet members. (https://members.parliament.uk/government/cabinet)

Ministerial Code – The ethical guidelines and rules governing ministers. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-code)

Civil Service Code – The principles that civil servants must follow. (www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil-service-code)

First Division Association (FDA) – A union representing senior civil servants. (www.fda.org.uk)

Civil Service Learning – A resource for professional development of civil servants. (www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-learning)

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee – A committee overseeing public administration and civil service conduct. (https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional affairs/)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.

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