THE CABINET

The Cabinet usually consists of 21 or 22 senior ministers, the majority of whom head the major departments of state (the Home Office, the Foreign Office, the Treasury, etc), though a number may have no departmental responsibility (for example, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster).

Functions of the Cabinet

The Cabinet is the body which takes the most important political decisions:

> the determination of policy to be put before Parliament, as well as the day-to-day business of Parliament itself

> the control of the executive (i.e. the civil service and the departments of state)

> the co-ordination of the different departments of state and the resolution of disputes between departments

> it provides political leadership for the governing party, in Parliament and in the country.


Composition of the Cabinet

The members of the Cabinet and junior ministers are all appointed personally by the Prime Minister. The factors which a PM needs to consider when making such appointments include:

> the political power of the potential minister: some individuals are so strong that they cannot be ignored

> the personal qualities of the individual: competence, debating skills, presentational skills, etc

> the need to create a balance - between different wings of the party, different genders, different regional interests, etc

> whether a potential rebel will be more trouble inside or outside of government.