The Efficient Secret
The Cabinet and the Development of Political Parties in Victorian England

A rational choice model analyses the problems of voter choice, the emergence of partly loyalty and cabinet government in Victorian England.

Gary W. Cox (Author)

9780521019019, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 September 2005

204 pages
22.9 x 15.4 x 1.3 cm, 0.317 kg

The Efficient Secret is an analysis of the institutional changes in parliamentary government in nineteenth-century England, concentrating on the years between the first and third Reform Acts. Professor Gary W. Cox employs a rational choice model to analyze the problems of voter choice and to examine the emergence of party loyalty in the electorate, the development of cabinet government, and their legislative consequences. The introductory chapters provide the historical setting for this study and briefly survey nineteenth-century political and economic events. Professor Cox then focuses on the increases in party voting in Parliament and in the electorate. To support his argument concerning these parallel developments, he uses statistical evidence drawn from poll books and newspapers.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction and outline
2. The historical setting
Part II. The Development of Disciplined Parliamentary Parties: 3. The measurement and theory of party cohesion
4. The Peelites and the disruption of the party system
5. The caucus
6. The origin of the efficient secret
7. The electoral connection and ministerial ambition
8. The Cabinet's strength: threats of resignation and dissolution
Part III. The Electorate: 9. The development of a party-oriented electorate
10. The causes of a party-oriented electorate
11. The legislative consequences of a party-oriented electorate
12. The influence of constituents in Victorian England
Part IV. Conclusion: 13. The history of party voting
Appendix
References
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Political parties [JPL]