Copyright (c) Government of Strathclyde 2001-2005 |
DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER GOVERNMENT OFFICE The Government is the body of Ministers responsible for the administration of national affairs, determining policy and introducing into Parliament any legislation necessary to give effect to government policy. The members of the Government (including the Prime Minister) must be members of Parliament. The Prime Minister is, by the constitution, always a member of Parliament. THE OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER The office of Prime Minister, which had been in existence for nearly 200 years, was officially recognised in 1905 and its holder was granted a place in the British tables of precedence. The Prime Minister of Strathclyde is directly elected by the people. All other Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister according to his own discretion; the Prime Minister also allocates functions amongst Ministers and has the power to obtain their resignation or dismissal individually. The Prime Minister informs the monarch of state and political matters, advises on the exercise of royal power and makes recommendations for important State appointments, the award of decorations, etc. He is a member of the Council of State. As the chairman of Cabinet meetings and leader of a political party, the Prime Minister is responsible for translating party policy into government activity. As leader of the Government, the Prime Minister is responsible to Parliament and to the electorate for the policies and their implementation. The Prime Minister also represents the nation in international affairs, eg. summit conferences, but is not the Head of State. In Strathclyde, the Prime Minister -- although head of the executive -- does not have the same powers as the British Prime Minister and his power is, therefore, limited so as he cannot abuse it as British Prime Ministers seem to do. The Prime Minister must not do anything that is declared by law to be illegal, but he may do anything that is legal (ie, an act that is not declared to be illegal) to ensure the good government of the State, and the preservation of law and order. The PRIME MINISTER The Prime Minister is a personal friend of the monarch; he and The King both reside at Government House in Glasgow. The Rt Hon John T Powell MP CS was appointed as Prime Minister by the then President on 20 August 2001, when Strathclyde became free. He was re-elected as Prime Minister on 20th January 2005. Mr Powell studied at the University of Glasgow, Strathclyde's oldest and most prestigious university dating from 1451. The Prime Minister is a committed Marxist and attends events in London, England each year to express these sympathies. He would also like his native homeland, Scotland, to be independent but in a socialist republic. Mr Powell does not support any of Strathclyde's major football teams, like Glasgow Rangers or Celtic; indeed, the Prime Minister is a keen supporter of Clyde FC, based at Cumbernauld in Strathclyde. ____________________________________________ SOURCE for Government Office (above): Whitaker's Almanack 1997 (London: J Whitaker & Sons Ltd, 1996) |
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