Custom of the Constitution, II., Pt. 1, Chaps 1 and
4; Todd, Parliamentary Government in England, I,
Pt. 2; Bagehot, English Constitution, Chaps. 2-3;
H. D. Traill, Central Government, Chap. 1. Mention
may be made of N. Caudel, Le souverain anglais, in
_Annales des Sciences Politiques_, July, 1910, and
J. Bardoux, Le pouvoir politique de la couronne
anglaise, in _Revue des Deux Mondes_, May 15,
1911.]

IV. PRIVY COUNCIL, MINISTRY, AND CABINET

*61. The Privy Council.*--One who would understand the modes by which
the powers of the crown are in practice exercised must begin by fixing
firmly in mind the nature and relations of three distinct but closely
interrelated institutions, the Privy Council, the ministry, and the
cabinet. As has appeared, the Privy Council through a long period of
English history comprised the body of men who advised the crown and
assisted to some extent in the supervision of administration. The
number of councillors from time to time varied widely, but it tended
constantly to be too large to admit of the requisite despatch and
secrecy, and by reason principally of this consideration the crown
fell into the custom of selecting as advisers a group of persons less
numerous, and perhaps more trustworthy, than the whole body of public
functionaries collectively designated as the Privy Council. Thus arose
the cabinet, which throughout its entire history has been only an
inner circle, unknown to the law, of the older and larger body. The
Privy Council survives to-day, and in both law and theory it still is
the advisory body of the crown. A cabinet member possesses authority
and is known to the law only as a privy councillor. In point of fact,
however, the Privy Council, once highly influential in affairs of
state, is now, as such, all but powerless. Such portions of the
dignity of its ancient place in the constitution as remain to it are
of a purely formal and ceremonial nature. It holds no meetings of a
deliberative character, and although legally its action is still
essential to many public measures, as the preparation of proclamations
and of orders in council, this action may be taken by as few as three
persons.[80] All cabinet members are members of the Council, so that
even one-fifth or one-sixth of the cabinet group is competent