The usage of the term "government" in commonwealth countries, following the Westminster System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system), refers more specifically to the executive branch (prime minister and cabinet) currently in power and not the state in general. Since the Prime Minister and his/her cabinet are merely MPs in high positions, the division between executive and legistlative in terms of personnel is not nearly as clear-cut as it is in US politics.
>The usage of the term "government" in commonwealth countries, following the Westminster System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system), refers more specifically to the executive branch (prime minister and cabinet) currently in power and not the state in general.
That's very interesting, I don't think Scottish, English or Welsh people use "government" it that way though FWIW. What word does one use for the government if the word government is co-opted for the Cabinet & PM?
>I don't think Scottish, English or Welsh people use "government" it that way though
Well, you'd be wrong. That's exactly how we use it when we're talking about people. I won't pretend you don't hear the same word used to refer to 'the State' (which is the term we use for the overall apparatus of the State) colloquially, but you can always distinguish from context.
I know it's a single data point but I've lived for several years in each region and worked in government (note I've never been part of the cabinet nor PM, sorry for my apparently uncommon usage).
I'm not arguing that the more intellectual echelons such as political scientists don't use it in the described manner however; don't move in those circles.
I never hear people refer to our country [the UK] as "the state" either. I perceive state as including the people (but ours is a [pseudo] democratic state so I'm coloured by that.
It's strange that I've not heard this usage, isn't it?
I just jumped to the first newspaper I thought of (well the 2nd, but paywall ...) and the first story in the UK Politics section that mentioned government (Ctrl+f search on the UK Pol' page).
"The Government's immigration cap should not affect inter-company transfers for global firms, David Cameron said today. "
Well it's not the "cabinet and prime ministers immigration cap". The immigration cap is that [on some level] agreed in parliament, passed by the Lords and implemented by the relevant civil servants. I'm still not seeing it.
Whereabouts in the UK are you all (upvoters) from, what occupations are you in?
"The Government's immigration cap should not affect inter-company transfers for global firms, David Cameron said today."
That's a really good example. He's defending a policy of the current PM and Cabinet. Of course this has been passed by the parliament - that's how the Westminster system works. If parliament stops passing the policies of the cabinet then the government falls.
"The Government" refers to the Prime Minster and his/her Cabinet. It is supported by other parliamentary members of the ruling parties.
Colloquial usage of the phrase "the government" to refer to the civil service, and to ministries etc (eg, "I work in government" or "you'll need government approval to build that there") is common. As soon as politics is involved, though "The Government" refers to those who actually hold power.
The parliamentary system is rather different from the US political system. Notably, there is "the government" and "the opposition", which are usually (but not necessarily) the two largest parties in the parliament.
(Disclaimer: I'm Canadian. This is how it works in Canada. There are differences between the Canadian and British systems, but they are much smaller than the differences between the American and British systems).
I have no idea how the terminology is applied in the US, but in the UK, it does not include every Tom, Dick or Harry that manages to get themselves a seat in Parliament.
I can somewhat see your point, but the house of lords is primarily aimed at redrafting/refining legislation, and can be overruled under the Parliament Acts[0]. So it is possible to pass legislation without the permission of the House of Lords, but it isn't possible to pass legislation without it passing through the Senate afaik. Obviously legislation thats passed the senate can still be vetoed or stopped by the House, but thats a different thing.
I think despite all the differences between systems I would still call someone who is a member of the legislative body a member of the government in general terms.