Among the most powerful positions in government, Prime Minister is a position with many duties. The position is held by the leader of the party that wins most seats at a general election, and they choose other members of the cabinet. They also have their own residence at 10 Downing Street. They are called on to lead their country in times of crisis, and they are a representative of the Government to the main institutions, notably the United Nations, the European Union, the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth countries and other international organisations.
The prime minister must communicate the policy of his or her party to the public and media, and he or she must ensure that Parliament will pass the government’s laws into law. Prime Ministers are responsible for organising the cabinet and must be able to hold their colleagues to account over their decisions, even if they disagree with them. Normally the prime minister is consulted on major government decisions and must be available to answer questions in the House of Commons.
A successful prime minister has a team of advisers to help him or her manage policy areas and meet with diverse groups of people across the country. They may work with non-governmental agencies as well. During the First World War Lloyd George introduced a series of innovations to help win the war, including a team that took notes on cabinet discussions, because prior to 1916 there were no written records of what was said. The prime minister is chair of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and, on the non-binding advice of the cabinet Secretary of India led Senior Selection Board, decides the postings of top civil servants and military officers.
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