ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the anatomy of policy and policy-making in central government. The public’s role in policy-making is usually limited to voting for a particular policy package at general elections. Both the Labour and Conservative extra-parliamentary parties find it easier to influence their respective leaders in opposition than in government. The concept of policy networks is useful in analysing policy-making. Extra-parliamentary parties and think tanks can have considerable influence, depending on the issue and the situation. Departments regularly establish their own inquiries, often employing outside experts from the private sector, which go on to make important policy recommendations. The basic idea of the core executive is that decision-making takes place at the highest level, constituted by a body of leading figures drawn, depending on the issue, from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet and Cabinet Office plus the head officials of the departments concerned with the particular issue.
