12. The executive

This chapter discusses the executive, the administrative branch of government which creates and executes policy, and implements laws. It specifically focuses on the organisation of central government in the UK. Central government in the UK carries out day-to-day administration in relation to England and the whole of the UK on non-devolved matters. Its functions include the conduct of foreign affairs, defence, national security, and oversight of the Civil Service and government agencies. Central government essentially consists of the government and Civil Service but modern government is extensive, multi-layered, and complex. The chapter then studies the sources of ministerial power. Ministers’ legal authority to act can derive from statute, common law, or royal prerogative. The royal prerogative is a source of power which is ‘only available for a case not covered by statute’.

Prime Ministerial powers of patronage: Ideology and Cabinet selection under Margaret Thatcher 1979–1990

This article will examine how Margaret Thatcher utilised the Prime Ministerial power of Cabinet ministerial appointment between 1979 and 1990. The article will utilise the Norton taxonomy on the Parliamentary Conservative Party (PCP) to determine the ideological disposition (non-Thatcherite versus Thatcherite) of her Cabinet members across her eleven years in office. It will assess the ideological trends in terms of appointments, promotions and departures from Cabinet and it will use archival evidence to explore the advice given to Thatcher to assist her decision-making. Through this process the article will demonstrate how Thatcher was more ideologically balanced than academics have traditionally acknowledged when discussing her Cabinet selections. Moreover, the article will also demonstrate the significance attached to media presentation skills to her decision-making, thus challenging the emphasis on ideology as a dominant determinant of Cabinet selection.

Appraising the Interpretation of the Word ‘Scientist’ under the Special Residence Requirements for Australian Citizenship

The article examines the interpretation of the word ‘scientist’ under Instrument IMMI 13/056 made pursuant to section 22B(1) of the Citizenship Act. The article considers the literal interpretation of the word scientist and the objective of the Instrument. The article provides a critique of the cases that have gone to the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal and argues that the interpretation favoured by the Tribunal is misconceived. The article contends that the Tribunal seems to be giving undue support to an arbitrary or haphazardly serendipitous exercise of ministerial power under the special residence framework in a manner that runs afoul of the tenour of section 22B(1) of the Citizenship Act.

Measuring Presidential and Prime Ministerial Power

The power of the executive is central to any understanding of politics. For those working in the tradition of comparative politics, the successful measurement of executive power is necessary to test our theories and push the discipline forward. Yet no clear consensus exists as to exactly how we should measure executive power. The purpose of this chapter is to provide some synthesis to the large amount of work that measures either presidential or prime ministerial power. After discussing the importance of executive power and considering the conceptual clarity of such measures, the chapter surveys existing measures of executive power from presidents to prime ministers. It highlights the divergence between measures of executive power in presidential systems in comparison to measures of executive power in parliamentary systems. Part of this divergence stems from the different sources of executive power for presidents, where power is rooted in constitutions, compared with prime ministers, where power is largely relational. There is also disagreement about the nature of power within regime types however. The chapter concludes by considering the future research agenda.

MENDESAIN HUBUNGAN KABINET DENGAN GUBERNUR DALAM SISTEM PRESIDENSIAL INDONESIA

Article 4 paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution concerning the President of the Republic of Indonesia holds governmental authority under the Constitution. However, Governor elected sometimes set up policies ultra viresfor they thought that they held legitimacy to exercise the power from their consituents. Poor coordination between Cabinet and the Governor and program mismatched implicated in bad development program and public service in the region. President, in the context of presidentialism, is the apex of hierarchy. The Cabinet must be loyal to the president not to other patrons. Proposal to grant a ministerial power level of position and role to the Governor or to provide seats for Governor and Deputy Governor at the cabinet meeting is worth a consideration. In addition to lessen the miscommunication with the Cabinet, it is also to ease the works of the Cabinet in the regions. Governor and the Cabinet would have a good relationship whenever the program and policy of the Cabinet are transparently conveyed to all governors and when people are also informed. Participation should be developed on the ground of freedom of speech. Therefore, the decision-making process in the Cabinet that was formerly hierarchical will shift to the process involving the entire people of Indonesia. Certainly, the mechanism of this participation would be easier if the representative of the governor or the Governer seats in the Cabinet and vice versa

12. The executive

This chapter discusses the executive, the administrative branch of government which creates and executes policy, and implements laws. It specifically focuses on the organisation of central government in the UK. Central government in the UK carries out day-to-day administration in relation to England and the whole of the UK on non-devolved matters. Its functions include the conduct of foreign affairs, defence, national security, and oversight of the Civil Service and government agencies. Central government essentially consists of the government and Civil Service but modern government is extensive, multi-layered, and complex. The chapter then studies the sources of ministerial power. Ministers' legal authority to act can derive from statute, common law, or royal prerogative. The royal prerogative is a source of power which is ‘only available for a case not covered by statute’.