abinet. A few are
in it as a rule, though not invariably. A few, still less important,
may be, but are not likely to be, admitted to it. And, finally, a
large number of parliamentary under-secretaries, party "whips," and
officers of the royal household are certain not to be admitted.[83]

[Footnote 83: On the relations of cabinet and
ministry see Lowell, Government of England, I.,
Chap. 3.]

V. THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

In respect to both origin and legal status the executive departments
of the central government of Great Britain exhibit little of the
conformity to type which characterizes their counterparts in the
logical and self-consistent governmental systems of the majority of
continental countries. Under the pressure, however, of custom and (p. 062)
of parliamentary control, they have been reduced to essentially a
common style of organization and a common mode of administrative
procedure. In virtually every instance the department is presided over
by a single responsible minister, assisted as a rule by one or more
parliamentary under-secretaries and, more remotely, by a greater or
lesser body of non-political officials who carry on the actual work of
the department and whose tenure is not affected by the political
fortunes of their chiefs.

*63. The Treasury.*--Among the numerous departments, some represent
survivals of great offices of state of an earlier period, some are
offshoots of the ancient secretariat, and some comprise boards and
commissions established in days comparatively recent. In the first
group fall the offices of the Lord High Treasurer, the Lord High
Chancellor, and the Lord High Admiral. From the early sixteenth
century to the death of Queen Anne the principal official of the
Treasury was the Lord High Treasurer. Since 1714, however, the office
has been regularly in commission. The duties connected with it have
been intrusted to a board composed of certain Lords of the Treasury,
and no individual to-day bears the Lord High Treasurer's title. When a
ministry is made up the group of Treasury Lords is renewed, and as a
rule the post of First Lord is assumed by the premier. In point of
fact, however, the board is never called together, some of its members
have no actual connection whatsoever with the Treasury, and the
functions of this most important of all departments are in practice
exercised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assi