Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-22
Geographic News
Bulletins By the
National Geographic Society
CABINET

ASeAS ~
kings and presidents and emperors,
who change the face OF political
maps and influence economic condi-
tons; moi so frequently does it reck-
on with cabinets which are a grow
ing factor In world affairs.
Before the World War broke up
the autocrats of Europe, france was
the only Republic on the continent
employing the British form of cabi-
net government. Now tie list in
cludes, besides France: Finland,
Esthonia, Latvja, Lithuania, Poland,
Germany. Czechoslovakia and AUS
tria" states a bulletin from the
Washington. u. c., headquartersof
the National Geographic society.
Our Cabinet Different
Recent agitation to permit men,
bers of the United States cabinet to
be present on the floor of the Senate
and House and to take part in de-
bate on matters concerning their de-
partments serves to bring out the
differences between the privileges
and duties Of the cabinet members
OF various countries.
"Tt begin with, the Cabinet Of the
United States is a cabinet in name
only, for the government of the
United States Is in no sense a cab
met government as are the govern
ments of Great Britain and france,
and those of a large number OF ne
other leading countries OF the word.
There is not ever formal sanction
for the existence of our cabinet as
an advisory council to the President.
The members have an undoubted Lee
| gal status as heads of the various ad-
illustrative departments, but the
President need never call them to-
gether. President Washington held
no cabinet meetings at first. and
President Wilson did not call his de-
partment heads together for a period
OF many months. When the Prest-
dent does receive the advice of his
cabinet, he is under no obligation
to follow it.
Britain, "Mother of Cabinets"
Great Britain is the mother of
cabinets as well as the mother of
p~arliaments.' Her cabinet is not OF
a fixed size. and while most MEM
bers are heads of departments, there
may be members without portfolio
who have no special duties. In di-
rect contrast to the situation in the
United States, every member must be
a member of either the lower or up
per house of Parliament. All have
seats in both houses mi therefore
not only have the privilege of debat-
ing but also Of voting. Ut greatest
importance, when an important vote
in the House Of Commons goes
against the cabinet it's members must
resign, so as to permit a new cabinet
usually Of the opposing political
party to be formed.
1.-The Cabinet. under the British
system, is really a committee of the
House of Commons which the party |
in power permits to manage all ex-
ecutive affairs, and to shape and lead
all legislative action. The Cabinet
in action is the real government;
while it functions the PrimeeMinister
is the real ruler, and Parliament is
his instrument. |
Chile Has Real Cabinet
But there are checks and bal
ances. The House of Commons can
force the resignation of the Cabinet
and the Cabinet can force the DISCO
luton of the House. The matter is
thus put squarely up to the people.
who elect another House from the
majority party Of which a new cab
met is chosen.
practically all of the older part
of the Western World is under cabi-
net government. This includes all of
Europe except Russia and Switzer-
land. South Africa and the French
portions Of North Africa. Canada
bring a large part Of North Amer
lea into the cabinet column. In the
East, Australia and New Zealand
have true cabinet governments. jap
an has a slightly modified form n
China a nominal one.
The constitutions of most of tho
countries of the Western Hemis-
phere have been modelled after that
of the United States with an absence
of responsible cabinets. Chile Is the
only republic Of the New World with
a cabinet whose members both sit
in Congress and must resign when
there is a formal vote of lack OF
confidence
Born Of Happy Accidents
1.-THE British Cabinet form OF gov
eminent came into existence by a
series Of happy accidents. Because
the old Privy Council became sucm
a large. unwieldy body. the king fell
into the habit of consulting with
only the few leaders holding a
small council in his cabinet or prl-
vate apartment. Shortly afterward
England had two German kings VINO
could not understand English. n
the Cabinet Council was permitted
to meet without the sovereign. BY
the time all English-speaking king
came to the throne the custom OF
excluding the king from cabinet
meetings had been firmly fixed.
"By degrees the king practicaily
lost his power to dismiss the CABINET
an dit became responsible first TO
| Parliament, and then solely to the
House of Commons