The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-05-11
The British Ministry How il is Composed,
and What are its Functions.

The British Ministry Vow it is Composed
and What arc its Functions
Wha; Is called the Ministry has never been
Recognized ny law, hni grew ont of the Gus
torn Qf a few Of the Privy OF Kings Council
nfeciiuc of the ROYAL Cabinet ard assuming
Ihe FoUer q advising the Crown on important
measures of Government. The real name OF
what We call the Ministry is the Cabinet. or
Catduci Council. IS the history Of its origin
iH'niies The only Council required by law is
rile Frivy Camel. and when official announce
TGeni Is made 81 toe members Of the Cabinet
ihev ara announced simply as members Of
shat Council appointed 10 fll certain Offices.
TIC Fsivy Courcil Of England is coeval with
be Monarchy. but. as tie custom Of confding
advice and counsel 10 the Cabinet has grown,
It- powers have largely diminished, aud the
whole Council has not been convened since
ls8e- The Pnvy Councillors are appointed,
without iiuii 90 their number by the sovereign,
and tlcs nar be dismissed. or the Council
uav De dissolved, az the Royal pleasure No
qualification is necessary except that they be
naiive-ban subjects Of great Britain, and a
disability in THE respect NAV be removed by
90 aci 81 Parliament. as II was in the case Of
Prince Albert and tie King Of the Belgians
TIE Puvy Council consists Of members OF the
Royal family, the Archbishops Of York and
fauicIbrry. the Bishop of London, the Cabinet
Ministers "a oficio. the Lord Chancellor, the
chief officers Of the Royal household, the
Judges &c the Courts Of Equity, the Chief
.usiicos % tie Courts OF Common Law, the
Ecclesiastical aud Admiralty Judges, the
,IudEc-AdvoratC, she Lurd-Lieuienant OF Ire
lani. the Speaker Of the House Of Commons.
ihe Emhass adufs and the chief Ministers
P.rHpoicuiiary, Gle Governors of the chief
culauirs The Commander-in-ci,ief, the Vice
President Of the Committee Of Council for
Education, and such others as the Crown may
airuIut. A Privy Councillor is styled Right
Honorable and takes precedence of all
Bar0ue.s. knights, and younger sons OF Wis
counts ard Baruns IL was IN the reign oil
Hesry VI iilat the Kings Council first as
Imed the name OF Puvy Council, aud it was
aiso during the minority Of that King that
select council gradually emerged from tie
larger body. which ultimately resulted in the
modern .lHIei. lu earlier times it was wholly
sul,servieuI 90 tie will Of the Monarch, and
was often DE instrument Of unconstitutional
aud arbitrary proceedings. Since the Bevo--
LUTON il has lost much Of its dignity, and
iiow she orly relic Of lis authority Ia criminal
uaticrs Is Dts power Of taking examinations
atd issuing commitments for treason. Ii still,
however. continues, 20 exercise an original
jurisdiction in advising the Crown concerning
The grants of charters, and II has assumed
exclusive appellate jurisdiction over the
c,i auies and dependencies Of the Crown.
Theoretically the Pnvy Council retains its
ai-cieut supremacy. and in a constitutional
ro.ut of view Is presumed 10 be the only lugi-
csi and responsible council Of the Crown.
The Ministry proper, or rather those mem
bens II the ffivy Council who are members
,,i ihe Cabinet. constitute the chief members
q. ihe Administration. The practice OF con-
smiling few members of the Prvy Council
bad existed. as has been said, Tor long
period. but the first allusion 70 the Cabinet
Cu,.ucil occurs IN tie reign Of Charles The /.
Il was extremely unpopular at first, and it
Nas uot lill lIs5 that il WAS regulated 10y these
rules which 10 now eulurceS Formerly Tic
hing met with the Ministry; bat at the ac-
r,-sinu oi George J. the FIRST Hanuverian
Tliitce uu lhe ihroue Of England, the practice
WAS discontinued, merely bt cause be WAS I'M
.silc e. sIreak or understand the English Ian
ruare. The. free and unrestrained discussion
,,f measures in his absence proved So bencf-
ciai thar tie cid practice has never been re-
yivea Before that lime the Caldnet was not
necessarily composed 81 men Of similar iuig-
nicut aud principles. and at times there were
30 the same Board Wings and Tories, aud
HIGH Church men aud Dissenters, and it was
NJ uncommon lining for colleagues 10 take up-
n,siie sides IN Parliament. But since 1872 II
has hccn am established principle that al Cab
iuets are 10 be constructed on some basis of
political union agreed upon 10y the members
when they accept Office. IL is also distinctly
understood that members are jointly and per-
sousIlv responsible for each others acts and
t,,st on the resignation of the Prime Minister
Ills colleagues shall resign also 1t is, of
s..nrSe. well known that the Crown in organiz-
iu- Cabit ct, only appoints the Premier, and
flist She other members arc selected by him.
and always, except IN rare cases, without die
taticu from the Crown. The first instance Of
tl,c resignation Of a Prime Minister resulting
from an adverse vote OF the Commons was in
tte case OF Sir Robert Maipole; and the resig-
ns.iuu Of the Ministry Of Lord North, under
Gerrre III was the first instance of stimuli
iaueeus charge ot the Whole Administration
IN drf,reuce TO tie opinion If the Commons
Fr,m shat time, however. change Of Ministry
las been simultaneous and complete.
The number Of those constituting The Cab
Incl i indefinite. The members who ex oifico
runsii,uie the Cabinet are the Prime Minister
Cor first Lord Of the Treasury, the Lord High
Chancellor. the Lord President Of the Council,
tie Lnid Privy Seal, the Chancellor of the
Fxchrluer. the Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
the Secretary Of State Tor the Home Depart
"a cnt. The Secretary If State for the Counics,
the Secretary of State for War, the Secretary of
State Fo. India, tire first Lord Of the Admiralty,
the President Of the Board Of Trade, aud some
tinncs the Chancellor ui the Ducly of Ian
easier. the first Commissioner oil Works, the
President ol tie Lncal Government Board, the
P,,simasier General aud the Chief Secretary
frr Ireland Like the Cabinet, the Office Of
Prime Minister is unknown 10 the law aud
Constituliur He is simply The member Of the
Cabticl no especially possesses the couh
Geucc uf the Crown, aad may be either a Peer
or Co,nmouer. Lord Rockingham. in 1865,
The Dake a Portland in 1882, aud Mr.. Add
Iugton IN sl2 had never held any office when
ihey were appointed Pine Ministers. Lord
Butte became Premier before he had even
si,ok,,, ia Parliament, and Mr.. Pitt was Prime
Minister Al the age Of p. Before lS06 the
Premiership was occasionally held IN cuitnec-
iion with the Office Of the Chancellor Of the
Excbeauer. or Secretary of State, or Lord
Chancellor, but il is now invariably held IN