POLI 11 Chapter 8: CH8(pt 8)
Document Summary
A minister has many roles ( executive branch) Selecting among alternatives brought forward from within the department. Responsible for actions taken by thousands of civil servants nominally acting on the ministers behalf including agencies to which. A minister is a departments ambasssador to the world outside, including downing street, parliament, mass media, and interest groups. Individuals with ambititons to rise ahead in politics. The few hundred higher civil servants who advise ministers and oversee the work of their department. Expected to be able to think like politicians in order to anticipate what their minister may want and how the opposition party and media will react. The appointment of political advisors from outside whitehall has caused difficulties with civil servants because advisors are loyal to their minister and governing party; also have a lack of whitehall experience.
