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revolution becomes inevitable. The British
times to become the subject of a debate and
prefer the evolutionary processes of democratic
a vote, sometimes merely that the House and
government, and SO habituated are they by
the country may be informed. Since in the
centuries of experience to the working of such
normal course of events the Prime Minister
government that their "unwritten" constitu-
and Cabinet have a safe majority in Commons,
tion is respected almost as a part of the order
their announcements and proposals are vir-
of nature. In the nice adjustment of func-
tually always carried through. It is thus the
tions and powers to customs, conventions,
Cabinet, and not the House of Commons, which
habits, and the character of the people, the
governs the country.
British system of government is unparalleled
The real function of the House of Commons
in the world, and its imitation by other coun-
in modern times is to serve as a forum where
tries has in most cases proved impossible.
the actions and policies of the government
a. The House of Commons.
are closely examined, attacked by the Opposi-
The House of Commons now has 640 mem-
tion, defended and explained by the majority
bers; effective when the next general election
party, and exposed to public scrutiny. It is
is held, in 1950 or sooner, the number of seats
the function of the government to govern; to
will be 625. By law there must be a general
do this it must retain the support of its Par-
election at least every five years; Parliament
liamentary majority, which may require an
may be dissolved at any time, however, by
occasional adjustment of policy after effective
the King, who does so upon the advice of the
criticism in Commons, or a housecleaning in
Prime Minister. An election is generally held,
some department of administration where
therefore, at the moment considered by the
shortcomings have been dragged into the light
Prime Minister most advantageous for his
of day. It also requires the occasional ap-
party, or (nowadays rarely) at such time as
plication of strict party discipline to ensure
an adverse vote in Commons has defeated the
that the government's supporters do not
ministry and forced it to choose between resig-
waver, or at least do not desert the cause with-
nation and dissolution.
out realizing that they may in consequence
The present House was elected in July 1945;
have to undergo the risk and expense of a new
since that time there have been 51 by-elections
election. It is the function of the Opposition
to fill vacancies resulting from resignations
to oppose, to endeavor to turn the opinion of
and deaths. It is now composed of 389 Labor-
the country away from the party in power
ites, 193 Conservatives, 11 Liberals, 2 Com-
and towards itself; to undermine the solidity
munists, and 45 other members. Of the last
of the government's majority in the House of
number some are Ulster Unionists from North-
Commons; to provide effective criticism; to ex-
ern Ireland, others are National Liberals, who
pose every weakness and shortcoming of the
have not returned to the orthodox Liberal fold
administration, and to be ready at any moment
since they deserted it to join the Nationalist
to go into office and conduct a government
coalition in 1931, and fifteen are Independents,
itself.
owing allegiance to no party. Five members
Debates are held upon the passage of bills
are known as Independent Laborites; they
submitted by the government, and also upon
have been excluded from the Labor Party for
questions of public policy; if for instance the
excessive leftward deviation.
conduct of foreign affairs has reached a critical
Although it is at present beyond question
stage the government may announce a debate
that the House of Commons is the ultimate
on the subject, or the Opposition may request
legislative authority, nevertheless laws are
such a debate, and the government, which con-
almost never originated in the House; they are
trols the allotment of time in the House, will
proposed by the Cabinet and presented to the
set a day. Apart from these full dress occa-
legislators for debate and approval, often after
sions, moreover, matters of general import are
minor amendments. Policies are formulated
frequently discussed during debates on rou-
by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet col-
tine motions for adjournment. Finally, each
leagues and announced to the House, some-
day an hour is set aside during which Ministers
SECRET
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"ocrText": "12\nSECRET\nrevolution becomes inevitable. The British\ntimes to become the subject of a debate and\nprefer the evolutionary processes of democratic\na vote, sometimes merely that the House and\ngovernment, and SO habituated are they by\nthe country may be informed. Since in the\ncenturies of experience to the working of such\nnormal course of events the Prime Minister\ngovernment that their \"unwritten\" constitu-\nand Cabinet have a safe majority in Commons,\ntion is respected almost as a part of the order\ntheir announcements and proposals are vir-\nof nature. In the nice adjustment of func-\ntually always carried through. It is thus the\ntions and powers to customs, conventions,\nCabinet, and not the House of Commons, which\nhabits, and the character of the people, the\ngoverns the country.\nBritish system of government is unparalleled\nThe real function of the House of Commons\nin the world, and its imitation by other coun-\nin modern times is to serve as a forum where\ntries has in most cases proved impossible.\nthe actions and policies of the government\na. The House of Commons.\nare closely examined, attacked by the Opposi-\nThe House of Commons now has 640 mem-\ntion, defended and explained by the majority\nbers; effective when the next general election\nparty, and exposed to public scrutiny. It is\nis held, in 1950 or sooner, the number of seats\nthe function of the government to govern; to\nwill be 625. By law there must be a general\ndo this it must retain the support of its Par-\nelection at least every five years; Parliament\nliamentary majority, which may require an\nmay be dissolved at any time, however, by\noccasional adjustment of policy after effective\nthe King, who does so upon the advice of the\ncriticism in Commons, or a housecleaning in\nPrime Minister. An election is generally held,\nsome department of administration where\ntherefore, at the moment considered by the\nshortcomings have been dragged into the light\nPrime Minister most advantageous for his\nof day. It also requires the occasional ap-\nparty, or (nowadays rarely) at such time as\nplication of strict party discipline to ensure\nan adverse vote in Commons has defeated the\nthat the government's supporters do not\nministry and forced it to choose between resig-\nwaver, or at least do not desert the cause with-\nnation and dissolution.\nout realizing that they may in consequence\nThe present House was elected in July 1945;\nhave to undergo the risk and expense of a new\nsince that time there have been 51 by-elections\nelection. It is the function of the Opposition\nto fill vacancies resulting from resignations\nto oppose, to endeavor to turn the opinion of\nand deaths. It is now composed of 389 Labor-\nthe country away from the party in power\nites, 193 Conservatives, 11 Liberals, 2 Com-\nand towards itself; to undermine the solidity\nmunists, and 45 other members. Of the last\nof the government's majority in the House of\nnumber some are Ulster Unionists from North-\nCommons; to provide effective criticism; to ex-\nern Ireland, others are National Liberals, who\npose every weakness and shortcoming of the\nhave not returned to the orthodox Liberal fold\nadministration, and to be ready at any moment\nsince they deserted it to join the Nationalist\nto go into office and conduct a government\ncoalition in 1931, and fifteen are Independents,\nitself.\nowing allegiance to no party. Five members\nDebates are held upon the passage of bills\nare known as Independent Laborites; they\nsubmitted by the government, and also upon\nhave been excluded from the Labor Party for\nquestions of public policy; if for instance the\nexcessive leftward deviation.\nconduct of foreign affairs has reached a critical\nAlthough it is at present beyond question\nstage the government may announce a debate\nthat the House of Commons is the ultimate\non the subject, or the Opposition may request\nlegislative authority, nevertheless laws are\nsuch a debate, and the government, which con-\nalmost never originated in the House; they are\ntrols the allotment of time in the House, will\nproposed by the Cabinet and presented to the\nset a day. Apart from these full dress occa-\nlegislators for debate and approval, often after\nsions, moreover, matters of general import are\nminor amendments. Policies are formulated\nfrequently discussed during debates on rou-\nby the Prime Minister and his Cabinet col-\ntine motions for adjournment. Finally, each\nleagues and announced to the House, some-\nday an hour is set aside during which Ministers\nSECRET"
}