The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-11-03
THE BRITISH nIxssrnx.
Why the Premier Resigns When He
Loses n Majority in the Commons.

!
Loses a Majority I'm the Commons.
Formerly iu the British Government the
King chose certain number of advisers,
with whom he conferred on all matters of
State. This constituted the privy council.
Its number was at first twelve, but this
gradually increased until it became ineon-
veniently large and Charles II. cut the
number down to thirty. But the Cabinet,
as now known, dates form the year 1898,
in the reign of William. This sovereign
discovered and adopted two important
principles in his government, FIRST that the
ministry should be made up of statesmen
holding the same political views; and sec
ondly, that 1t must command the majority
of votes in the Legislature. The working
of these principles was attended with much
hindrance and difficulty at first, but has
now arrived at degree of exceptional per-
lection. The necessity for the resignation
of the Premier and the Cabinet, therefore,
is founded on precedent, and this proceed
ent has for its foundation the important
constitutional principle which demands
harmony between the legislative and exc
cutive branches of the government. The
Cabinet of Great Britain stands between the
sovereign and Parliament-it is directly re-
sponsible to the former for its management
of executive business, and also responsible
to Parliament for its executive conduct and
its Legislative measures. All important
measures which engage the attention of the
government and all plans of action must be
proposed and considered by the Cabinet.
In its action is must be united for when
differences arise between its members the
Cabinet is thereby dissolved and its meas
ures must meet the approval and adoption
of Parliament, otherwise the Cabinet must
give way TO those who can secure the sup.
port of the popular representatives. When
Cabinet is to be formed the sovereign en-.
trusts its formation to leading statesman.
He selects certain number of prominent
members of both houses who hold his po-
litical views He usually places himself at
the head of the Cabinet as First Lord of the
Treasury, and is popularity known as the
Premier or Prime Minister. The other
members are chosen from the government
pluNetHy VIII TtCSlNd tuelI OiuClhl appoint.
ments from the Sovereign, with the approx
al of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet al
ways includes the Lord Chancellor, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer the Secre.
taries of State for Home, Foreign, Colonial
and Indian Affairs, the Secretary of War
and the Lord President of the Council, and
with them are associated certain other heads
of departments, generally the First Lord of
the Admiralty, the Presidents of the Local
Government Board and of the Board of
Trade, the Postmaster General, and some.
times one or moro of the chief officers fol
Ireland. The Cabinet need not always in
clude the same list of officials, and some
times a person who has no government
Office has a scat in the Cabinet because of
his political influence. All the members of
the Cabinet, however, must havs seats in
one of the houses of Parliament, as that
body has the power at any time to call in
ca tlle N1irlteK and de-
mand its explanation and justification.