EXTRA-Relationship of ministers and civil servants Flashcards
(29 cards)
Who has developed 4 models of the relationship between minsters and civil servants?
Kevin Theakston 1999
What are Kevin Theakstons 1999’s 4 models?
- The traditional, public administration model
- The adversarial model
- The Whitehall Community Model
- The public choice model
Briefly what is the traditional, public administration model?
this is the idea that ministers decide issues in the light of the advice they are given by their civil servants
What is the catchphrase under the traditional public administration model?
civi servants advise, ministers decide
Under the traditional, public administration model, what role do officials have?
they play a passive, neutral role loyally setting out to serve their ministers wishes and implement decisions made
What is the traditional public administration model reinforced by?
the convention of individual ministerial responsibility
Under the traditional public administration model, who takes blame?
the minster
Briefly, what is the adversarial model?
this has been adopted by critics on the Left and concentrates on the social background and attitudes of powerful civil servants who use their establishment connections and their files to frustrate left wing ministers
Under the adversarial model, why would the established officials use their connections to frustrate left wing ministers?
as left wing ministers usually want to change the status quo
What destine adversarial model see?
a power struggle based on the separate agendas of ministers and their officials
How might elected politicians (ministers) suffer under the adversarial model?
as they are frustrated by a departmental view
In what country was the Whitehall Community model first developed?
in the US
Briefly what is the Whitehall Community model?
this sees the minister/official relationship as being more of an alliance of mutual interest.
Under which model to civil servants favour strong rather than weak ministers?
the Whitehall Community model
Under the Whitehall Community model, why do officials favour strong rather than weak ministers?
as they recognise that within a department they have common interests with the elected politicians
Under the Whitehall Community model how do the civil servants and ministers both offer a crucial role in the department?
civil servants have expertise and links to organised group interests while ministers contribute their political judgment and ideological commitment in arguing the departmental case with their Cabinet colleagues
What kind of relationship do ministers and civil servants have under the Whitehall Community model?
a cooperative rather than a conflictual relationship
Briefly, what is the public choice model?
this is apart of the general New Right critique of public sector provision and suggests that bureaucrats tend towards inefficiency and needless growth based on empire building.
Under the public choice model, what are civil servants perceived as having a vested interest in?
in the expansion of public services and ministers connive with them in support of this agenda
What does it mean by “Ministers decide, civil servants advise”?
They are there to serve any government, offering advice and suggestions but allowing minsters to make the decisions
What does it mean by ministers are transient?(short time)
They come and go, perhaps serving for a full administration, but most usually after 2 years
What is an advantage for officials from working in the department for a long time?
Their considerable expertise means that they have become familiar with the realistic image of policy choices available.
What would a good period in office allow a minister?
the ability to shape rather than preside over departmental policy
From 1945-2004 how many ministers of industry have there been and how many civil servant heads have there been?
33
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