Cabinet|How it work|United Kingdom (UK)|Sania Akhtar

# Cabinet

#How it work

#United Kingdom (UK)

#Sania Akhtar

 A council of ministers is called Cabinet.

The Cabinet is the main part of the executive. It is the cabinet that runs the government and controls the administration. 

 The UK Cabinet is “Privy Council or Private Council”. The UK’s Cabinet is the formal body of advisors (almost 20 to 25 members) of His Majesty’s Government (government that is centered by the King) that are chosen by the Prime Minister. It consists of the Prime Minister and senior Ministers (Secretaries of the state). 

Transformation of Cabinet to Modern UK Cabinet: 

The root of the cabinet can be traced back to the 12th century when the royal officer performed their roles for administration. In the 16th century, the Privy Council term was given to the Cabinet. This idea had given the concept of cabinet as a council of advisor given advice in a private room. 

In the 20th century, the concept of modern UK Cabinet term was introduced by the Prime Minister David Lylon Geroge that explained that the formal proceeding of the cabinet would not be published. The cabinet office was set up during this period. 

The Monarch (King/Queen) is not the member of the cabinet. During the era of King George-I, the cabinet was the principle executive group. The King George-I and George-II were unable to speak English hence they relied on the selected group of the advisors(cabinet). 

The power of Prime Minister to choose the ministers of his/her cabinet, was introduced in the “1937 Ministers of the Crown Act”. 

The total number of members of the cabinet ministers is between 20 to 25. The very first cabinet of the UK consisted of only seven ministers. The number of memberships has changed from time to time. Now the recent cabinet of Rishi Sunak that was made in October 2022, consists of 22 members. 

How does the Cabinet exercise its power in the UK? 

 The UK Cabinet has the royal prerogative powers that include the declaration of War, signing treaties across the world, pass an act in case emergency as the cabinet is responsible to maintain peace. During World War most of the powers were delegated to the Cabinet. 

The UK Cabinet has also the power to make legislation as the Act or bill required the sign of the cabinet for its approval hence the cabinet can easily make acts but the House of Common has also the power to veto the proposed legislation of the Cabinet. 

The UK cabinet has the power to exercise the secondary legislation which means that the changes made by cabinet to the Act of Parliament (The bill passed by the Parliament). For instance, in the 1970 Act of energy, the cabinet used the power of secondary legislation and add new energy sources. 

The most important power of the cabinet is to prepare the draft of budget that is done by the Ex-checker who is the member of the cabinet. This means that the financial bill truly depends upon the policies of the cabinet. 

Reasons behind the central authority of cabinet (Cabinet’s dictatorship) in UK: 

Initially the UK Cabinet performed the advisory functions and proposed legislation but now it controls the government in the UK. The dictatorship of the cabinet is because of the modern cabinet. 

The Prime Ministers chose the ministers that are the member of their party in this way the minister become unable to oppose the policies of the cabinet incase if they oppose it, they will have to lose their ministership. 

The cabinet has the strength to dissolve the House of Commons and request the Monarch for new election. In this way cabinet exert the pressure on Parliament in order to retain its dictatorship.  

The two-party system is an important reason for the dictatorship of the cabinet in the UK. If a minister opposes the policy of the cabinet and joins the opposition then there will be the chance that the public may not vote for him because he was not loyal to his party. 

Conclusion: 

As the Cabinet is the “Child of the Parliament” and enjoys the support of the majority of the Parliament but once it comes to power, it controls the government by exerting pressure on the Parliament. 

At present, there need improvement of British Cabinet. The cabinet’s expertise has less experience and knowledge to perform its task. It depends upon the civil servants. Moreover, the meeting time period of the cabinet is too short to discuss the matters. To conclude with the statement that the cabinet is the child of Parliament, but it acts like the “Grandfather of the Parliament”. 

#( Cabinet|How it work|United Kingdom (UK)

Written By Sania Akhtar