Just for fun

Politicians in Britain do not have a good reputation. To describe someone who is not a professional politician as ‘a politician’ means to criticize him or her suggesting a lack of trustworthiness. It is not that people hate their politicians. They regard them with a high degree of suspicion. Here is a satirical description of a ‘model’ top-rank politician: “A candidate for a Prime Minister must have the following qualities: he must be malleable, flexible, likeable, have no firm opinions, no bright ideas, not be intellectually committed, and be without the strength of purpose to change anything. Moreover, he must be someone who can be professionally guided, and who is willing to leave the business of government in the hands of experts.

2. Think and make your own list of qualities for a ‘model’ prime minister.

3. Discussion.

1. Should Great Britain have a Prime Minister or a president to run the country?

2. What are the main governmental institutions in your country? How do they operate?

Lord Chancellor and Law Officers

The Lord Chancellor holds a special position, as both a minister with departmental function and the head of the judiciary. The three Law Officers of the Crown advising the UK Government are the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General (for England and Wales) and the Advocate-General for Scotland.

The Cabinet

About 20 ministers (the number can vary) chosen by the Prime Minister sit in the Cabinet; these may include both departmental and non-departmental ministers. The Cabinet balances ministers' individual duties with their collective responsibility as members of the Government and takes the final decisions on all government policy.

Cabinet Meetings

The Cabinet meets in private and its business is confidential. Normally the Cabinet meets weekly when Parliament is sitting, and less often when it is not. Cabinet Committees take some of the pressure off the full Cabinet by settling issues among smaller groups of people or at a lower level, or at least by clarifying them and defining points of disagreement. Committees let those ministers most closely concerned the Government as a whole accept full responsibility for them. This delegated responsibility means that Cabinet Committee decisions have the same formal status as those taken by the full Cabinet.

Cabinet Committees include those dealing with defence and overseas policy, economic policy, home and social affairs, the environment, and local government. The membership and terms of reference of all ministerial Cabinet Committees are published. Where appropriate, the Secretary of the Cabinet and other senior Cabinet Office officials go to meetings of the Cabinet and its Committees.

1. Complete the sentences.

1. The Cabinet is made up of __________.

2. The Cabinet usually meets __________.

3. The Cabinet Committee helps __________.

4. They deal with __________.

2. Answer the questions.

1. Do Cabinet proceedings confidential?

2. What officials attend the meetings of the Cabinet?

3. How does committee system ease the workload of the Cabinet?

3. Think of a story that might combine the following phrases and tell it to your partner.

Hold a position; advise the government; guarantee confidentiality;

to carry out work through; ultimate power; take the final decision.