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C. Northcote Parkinson, in his book "Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress", discussed the evolution of the British cabinet. Don't remember the details but
by JJMcJ 5y ago
C. Northcote Parkinson, in his book "Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress", discussed the evolution of the British cabinet. Don't remember the details but each institution that served as a Cabinet inexorably expanded and was replaced by a smaller one that the King, and later the Prime Minister, used as the inner circle. And five was about the right size for that inner circle.
Here in the United States, the official cabinet has over 20 members, obviously too big to serve as such an inner circle.
- Infernal 5y agoThis is an interesting observation - I decided to look it up, and indeed the first presidential cabinet (including the president) had five members: the others were the Secretaries of State, War, and Treasury, and the Attorney General. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_the_United_States#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_the_United_States#H...
- JJMcJ 5y agoThose are more or less the functions that Parkinson described as who needs to be in the inner circle. Parkinson's book is really brilliant observation, with a humorous overlay.