Ministers and Civil Servants

Question 1

bureaucracy

Answer 1

governement by non elected salaried administraive works

Question 2

civil service

Answer 2

a bureaucracy

in departments

headed by ministers

but administed by cilvil service

Question 3

governement departments

Answer 3

led by governement ministers

cover matters that require direct political oversight

executive aagencies are subordinate to these departments and have a degree of autonomy but provide advice/fundingpolicy and strategic policy

non ministerial departments do not require political oversight and are headed by the top civil servants eg charity commissioner

Question 4

executive agencies

Answer 4

carry out some of the administitive tasks of governement previously carried out bu the civil service

aemi-autonomous

Question 5

backgroun od civil service

Answer 5

have to pass an exam-recruited on merit

fancy uni fancy degree v traditional accademics

unrepresentative

lack of experince of the outside world

“cult of the amateur”

trying to move away from posh with illrevevant degrees

Question 6

role of higher civil servants

Answer 6

• prepare legislation briefing ministers
• administraion
• deveop lines of policy
• policy implementation and management

Question 7

principle of higher civil servants

Answer 7

permances

neutrality

anonymity

Question 8

1980s

Answer 8

outsourcing and privatisation

Question 9

role of ministers

Answer 9

so much work they have jr ministers

normal consituency work

appear before select commmitttees

answer to house of commons

supervise work being done

listen to the advise given to them

Question 10

limitations on minister

Answer 10

• outnumbered by senior officals
• lack of permanency
• non-specialist
• multiple demands
• difficult to get key info

Question 11

traititional minister civil servant relationship

Answer 11

minister decides civil servant advise

because minister is ultimatley responsible and accountable

Question 12

adversarial model

Answer 12

soical background and attitude of the civil service means they can use their wiles to fusstrate the minister if they don;t like the policy

could have a seperate agenda

Question 13

whitehall community model

Answer 13

alliance of mutual interest

Question 14

public choice model

Answer 14

tend towards needless growth and inefficientcies

Question 15

other factors in the ministr civil servant relationship

Answer 15

minister decides civil servant advise

minister are transcient

Question 16

individual minister responsibility

Answer 16

answerable to parliament

accountability

resignation has become unusual

only done to protect PM or cabinet

why so unlikey?

• mps rally behind
• commentatpors are symphathetioc
• home office controls
• media manipulated

Question 17

merits of the doctrine

Answer 17

• ensures someone is accountable
• keeps civil servants on thier toes
• facilitates work for oppoisition

Question 18

why do ministers resign

Answer 18

• bad morals
• political mistake eg peter mandleson
• policy differnce with gov eg george galloway

Question 19

thatcher’s impact on civil service

Answer 19

big governement

privatise

marketise

cut to numbers

if yoyr not one of us go away

outside advisors

Question 20

new labour

Answer 20

target driven joined up governement

political advisors

spin