Activity 1: Create flow-charts outlining the organization of two government departments

 

Learning objective: To understand how government departments are organized and reflect on what this says about the nature of the UK government

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3
• An A3 piece of paper or access to a presentation programme such as Microsoft PowerPoint

Outline of activity:

Create a flow-chart outlining the organization of a government department. Choose two departments from the list in section 3.2.1.

Make sure to include details of:

• Ministers within the department
• Members of the Departmental Board
• Agencies, Public Bodies, Public Corporations, and High Profile Groups that the department deals with

Need some help? Why not refer to section 3.2.1 of the book? The websites of government departments and the Institute for Government (IfG) are also good source to use.

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• How do the organizational structures of the departments you have chosen compare? Are the departments similar to one another? In what ways are they different?
• What does this say about the nature of UK government? For example, do you think it lends to efficient or inefficient government? Do you think it lends to effective or ineffective government? Is the organization of UK government fit for purpose?
• Do the departments you have chosen have non-executive members on their boards? If so, what is their background?
• What might be the impact of having non-executive directors on department boards?

 

 

Activity 2: Create an interview with a Government Minister and Civil Servant

 

Learning objective: To remember the different types of ministers and civil servants, to understand their responsibilities, and to analyse relations between civil servants and ministers

Suitable for: Individual or paired work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3
• Access to word-processing software

Outline of activity:

Pretend you are doing an interview with a Government Minister and a senior Civil Servant. Pose questions and think up answers (no more than two pages) based on what you know about their roles.

Your interviews should cover themes such as: how they are appointed; where they are appointed from; what behaviour is expected of them in their role; what their responsibilities are; how much and what type of power they feel they have; how they feel about working with ministers/civil servants.

If working in a pair, take it in turns to respond to questions. If you wish, you could record each other’s answers as well as write them down.

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What is expected of Government Ministers and Civil Servants? How might this influence their behaviour? Will they behave differently from one another?
• In what ways is their behaviour regulated?
• What responsibilities do they have? How might these influence the way they approach working with a minister/civil servant?

 

 

 

Activity 3: Create an essay plan for the question: “How have reforms altered the balance of power within UK government?”

 

Learning objective: To enhance the consequences of government and Civil Service reform

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3
• Access to word-processing software

Outline of activity:

Write the outline of an essay plan to answer the question ‘How have reforms altered the balance of power within UK government?’

Make notes on what you would include in each paragraph of your essay, making sure to include all sides of the argument.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.3.3 of the book?

Answer guidance: Some questions to consider:

• What reforms to the UK government have taken place in recent decades?
• What have been their consequences for the balance of power within UK government? Have they changed the role of Ministers and the Civil Service?
• Have the reforms empowered Ministers? Or have they empowered the Civil Service?
• Where does power now lie within the UK government?
• To what extent have these reforms made the UK government more effective?

 

 

Activity 4: Debate the question: “Which statement best applies? The Civil Service obstructs Ministers from getting things done or the Civil Service enables Ministers to get things done.”

 

Learning objective: To analyse and evaluate relations between Civil Servants and Government Ministers

Suitable for: Pair or group work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3

 

Outline of activity:

With a partner or in a group, hold a debate regarding the question: “Which statement best applies? The Civil Service obstructs Ministers from getting things done or the Civil Service enables Ministers to get things done”.

One side should argue the case that the Civil Service obstructs Ministers from getting things done. The other side should argue the Civil Service enables Ministers to get things done.

Take 10-15 minutes to make notes in support of your case. Each side then has up to five minutes to outline their case before the other responds.

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What are the primary characteristics of the UK Civil Service?
• In what ways might these enable Ministers to get things (e.g. policy-making) done? In what ways might these obstruct Ministers from getting things done?
• What is the contemporary balance of power between Ministers and Civil Servants? How has this changed over time? Who, if anyone, has gained power from Civil Service reform?

 

 

Activity 5: Create an essay plan for the question: “The advantages of having a more politicized Civil Service outweigh the disadvantages. Discuss.”

 

Learning objective: To evaluate the concept of Civil Service impartiality and create an argument about the effectiveness of the civil service

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3

Outline of activity:

Write the outline of an essay plan to answer the question ‘The advantages of having a more politicized Civil Service outweigh the disadvantages. Discuss.’

Make notes on what you would include in each paragraph of your essay, making sure to include all sides of the argument.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, and 3.3.4 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What are the consequences of requiring civil service impartiality? Are these positive or negative?
• What have been the consequences of the growing number of special advisers to the government? Have these been positive or negative?
• What would be the advantages of having a more politicized civil service?
• What would be the disadvantages of having a more politicized civil service?