The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-22
THE BRITISH MINISTRY.
Formation of Cabinet and the Duties and
Responsibilities of the Premier.

Formation ola Cabinet and the Duties and
Responsibilities of the Premier.
Formerly in the British Government
the King chose a certain number of adj
visers with whom lie conferred on all
matters of State. This constituted the
Priyy Council. Its number was at first
twelve. but this gradually increased
until it became inconveniently large,
and Charles III. cut the number down
to thirty. But the Cabinet, as now
known, dates from the year 1893, in the
reign of William. This sovereign dis
covered and adopted two important
principles in his government; first, that
the Ministry should be made up of
statesmen holding the same political
views, and secondly, that it must COM
mand the majority of votes in the Legis-
lature. The working of these princi-
pies was attended with much hindrance
and difficulty at first, but has now ar
rived at degree of exceptional per-
lection. The necessity for the resigna-
ton of the Premier and the Cabinet,
therefore, is founded on precedent, and
this precedent has for its foundation
the important constitutional principle
which demands harmony between the
legislative and executive branches of
the Government. The Cabinet of Great
Britain stands between the sovereign
and Parliament-it is directly respon-
sible to the former for it's management
of executive business, and also respon-
sible to Parliament for it's executive con-
duct and its Legislative measures. All
important measures which engage the
attention of the Government. and IA.
plans of action must be proposed and
considered by the Cabinet. In its ac-
ton it must be united, for when differ
ences arise between its members the
Cabinet is thereby dissolved; and it's
measures must meet the approval and
adoption of Parliament, otherwise the
Cabinet must give way to those who
can secure the support of the popular
Representatives When Cabinet is to
be formed, the sovereign entrusts its
formation to a leading statesman. He
selects certain number of prominent
members of both houses who hold his
political views. He usually places
himself at the head of the Cabinet as
First Lord of the Treasury, and is pop
ularly known as the Premier, or Prime
Minister. The other members are
chosen from the Government officers,
who receive their official appointments
from the sovereign, with the approval
of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet
always includes the Lord Chancellor,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Secretaries of State for Home, Foreign,
Colonial and Indian Affairs, the Secre-
tary of War, and the Lord President of
the Council, and with them are asso-
ciated certain other heads of depart
ments, generally the First Lord of the
Admiralty. the Presidents of the Local
Government Board and of the Board of
Trade, the Postmaster General, and
sometimes one or more of the chief
officers for Ireland. The Cabinet need
not always include the same list Of Of
ficials, and sometimes a person who
has no Government Office has seat in
the Cabinet because of his political in
fluence. All the members of the Cab
met, however, must have seats in one
of the Houses of Parliament, as that
body has the power at any time to call
in question any act of the Cabinet and
demand its explanation and justifca-
ton Chicago Inter Ocean.