Suchergebnisse

THE POWER TO DISSOLVE, IT IS MAINTAINED, CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT WEAPON IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S ARMORY, CAPABLE OF DEPLOYMENT IN AT LEAST THREE TARGET AREAS: IT ITS A POTENTIAL SANCTION AGAINST DISSIDENTS WITHIN HIS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY; IT ENHANCES HIS PRESTIGE VIS-A-VIS HIS CABINET COLLEAGUES; AND IT SECURES FOR HIM AND HIS PARTY AN ELECTORAL ADVANTAGE OVER OPPOSITION PARTIES.

Ministerial reshuffles are complex exercises requiring careful handling. A frequent occurrence in British government, their significance is usually seen in political terms. Prime Ministers attach great importance to maximizing the political advantages to be gained from them. This factor is the chief determinant of their logistics, the principal characteristics of which are secrecy in advance and the speed with which ministerial changes are executed. These features ‐ as much as the frequency of ministerial changes per se ‐ may disrupt the policy process and have serious implications for minister‐civil servant power relations. Such problems could be alleviated by giving ministers advance notice of changes of post. The institution of a process of ministerial handovers would strengthen the position of incoming ministers by making them less dependent on their officials, upon whom they rely heavily for initial briefing at present.

Factors in prime ministerial judgment which influence cabinet alterations, such as length of ministerial tenure, general elections, and the administrative impact.