A Model of the Cabinet System: the Dimensions of Cabinet Decision-Making Processes

Abstract

The general category of cabinet government is heterogeneous. There are variations among the countries in which cabinet government exists; there are also variations from cabinet to cabinet within each of these countries. National variations are often described and are generally better documented than cross-national ones, since cross-national studies on the subject are rare, while national studies have become numerous.¹ Yet general remarks are not sufficient: we need to go further and attempt to assessthe extent to which cabinets differ from one another. Such an endeavour is likely to be difficult and imprecise, however, for at least two reasons. First, it involves an assessment of the relative part played by the members of a cabinet: this amounts to a judgement on the relativepower or influence of these cabinet members and precise judgements on power and influence have so far eluded political scientists despite the efforts undertaken in this field.² Second, the concept of ‘cabinet government’ is in common use, yet few attempts have been made to define it in such a way that it can be operationalised for further research. It is this second problem that this chapter seeks to remedy: its purpose is to determine the parameters of the general framework within which decision-making processes in cabinets take place and to undertake a preliminary categorisation of cabinets on this basis.