iderations of practical politics
leave, as a rule, no room whatsoever for the exercise of discretion.
The crown sends as a matter of course for the statesman who is able to
command the support of the majority in the House of Commons. If the
retiring ministry has "fallen," i.e., has lost its parliamentary
majority, the new premier is certain to be the recognized leader of
the party which formerly has played the role of opposition. If there
has not occurred a shift in party status, the premiership will be
bestowed upon some one of the colleagues, at least upon one of the
fellow-partisans, of the retiring premier, nominated, if need be, by
the chiefs of the party. Thus, when in 1894 Gladstone retired from
office by reason of physical infirmity, the Liberal leaders in the two
houses conferred upon the question as to whether he should be succeeded
by Sir William Vernon-Harcourt or by Lord Rosebery. They (p. 067)
recommended Lord Rosebery, who was forthwith appointed by the Queen.
If, by any circumstance, the premiership should fall to the Opposition
at a moment when the leadership of this element is in doubt, the crown
would be guided, similarly, by the informally expressed will of the
more influential party members. While, therefore, the appointment of
the prime minister remains the sole important governmental act which
is performed directly by the sovereign, even here the substance of
power has been lost and only the form survives.

*70. Selection of Other Members.*--The remaining members of the cabinet
are selected by the premier, in consultation, as a rule, with leading
members of the party. Technically, what happens is that the first
minister places in the hands of the sovereign a list of the men whom
he recommends for appointment to the principal offices of state. The
crown accepts the list and there appears forthwith in the London
Gazette an announcement to the effect that the persons named have been
chosen by the crown to preside over the several departments.
Officially, there is no mention of the "cabinet." In the selection of
his colleagues the premier theoretically has a free hand. Practically
he is bound by the necessity of complying with numerous principles and
of observing various precedents and practical conditions. Two
principles, in particular, must be adhered to in determining the
structure of every cabinet. All of the members must have seats in one
or the other of the two houses of Parliament, an