HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT - body of ministers responsible for national affair

1. The Prime Minister - leader of the party that won election

2. Departmental Ministers (responsible for departments). They can have different titles.

• Secretary of State

• Minister of (Foreign Affairs), The Chancellor of the Exchequer (responsible for finances)

• About 15 people are most important. Ministers can be from both houses (but DEPARTMENTAL ministers only from House of Commons, only Lord Chancellor is from House of Lords)

• Ministers can speak ONLY in their houses, Lords in Waiting.

3. Non-departmental Ministers

• Some archaic titles:

• The Lord President of the Council (Privy Council)

• The Lord Privy Seal

• The Paymaster General

• Ministers without portfolio (they don't have one department, they are available for Prime Minister when he needs them) - polish: minister bez teki.

4. Junior ministers - every minister from Departmental ministers has minimum 5 people who helps him -> those are Junior Ministers. About 15.

• Ministers of State

• Parliamentary Secretaries

• Parliamentary Under-Secretaries

• About 10 of them may be from House of Lords

ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

1. 18^th century tradition: dragging to the chair - informs monarch about the work of the government

2. Presides over Cabinet (group of most important ministers) - usually PM takes decision with them or informs them about the decision

3. Gives functions to ministers (officially Queen does it)

4. Recommends appointments (officially Queen)

5. Lord Lieuntenant - Queen's representative in dependent territories

6. Represents (the country) nation in political matters

7. Present Prime Minister: David Cameron

THE PRIVY COUNCIL

In 18^th century - most important kind of body connected with executive forces - decisions were taken by them. This is a very big group - about 400 people (officially formed by the Queen).

All members of Cabinet are members of Privy Council - so decisions taken by them are official, in spite of the fact that Cabinet is informal meeting. In cabinet there are ONLY current ministers.

Privy council as a whole don't meet regularly. Still they have official right to take decisions - Cabinet not.

Officially:

1. Advises to approve orders of the Council

2. Advises to issue Royal Proclamations (open and closes parliament)

3. 5 people from Privy Council can make a decision

COMMITTEES OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL (people who do some work)

Judicial Committee - Final Court of Appeal for dependent territories.

Legislative Committee - some laws about dependent territories.

IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES:

Member of Privy Council tells something in front of the Queen, Queen says “approved” and it becomes law. Meetings of Privy Council are STANDING.

CABINET

18^th century - politically active part of Privy Council. They are not official meetings.

1. Main decisions about policy

2. To some extend they control of the government (Supreme control)

3. Coordination of government departments

Some ministers are ALWAYS in Cabinet (most important):

1. Chancellor of the Exchequer

2. Home Secretary (MSW)

3. Ministers of Foreign Affairs

4. Minister of Defence

Rest -> chosen by Prime Ministers.

CABINET SESSIONS

In Prime Minister's House (10 Downing Street) - every week, informal. During the meetings are not allowed to reveal information discussed. Meetings are confidential.

KULTURA - WYKŁAD - 15.11.2011

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