THE MONARCHY 37

1923 Mr. Bonar Law, the Prime Minister and leader of the
Conservative Party, retired owing to ill-health. Since the
Conservatives held a majority, the King had to send for one of
them, but it was not clear whether Mr. Baldwin or Lord Curzon
was to be their leader. The King settled the matter by sending
for Mr. Baldwin. In 1931 Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, finding that
his Labour Government could no longer rely on its Labour-
Liberal majority, resigned. The King might have sent for Mr.
Baldwin, as the leader of the next largest party; he did in fact
send for Mr. MacDonald and ask him to form a new Government,
containing members of all parties. This new Government
did not survive simply because the King had suggested it, but
because a majority in Parliament approved, and because it won
the next election.

The Prime Minister, thus chosen, must get the King's approval
for the list of Ministers. Here again the King may exercise personal
choice; he may say, "I do not want such and such a man among
my Ministers." The Prime Minister can give way, or, if he prefers,
offer to resign; but if he is the only person who can get a majority,
then the King must give way. Queen Victoria had a strong
objection to Henry Labouchere, who frequently opposed grants
of money for the Royal Family; and her objection kept him out
of office. It would not have done, ha4 the Prime Minister been as
determined to get him in as the Queen was to keep him out.

Political parties to-day are highly organised, and most people
know who are the leaders and chief figures in them. So, when any
Party has .won an election, it is clear who is going to be Prime
Minister, and shrewd guesses can be made as to who will fill the
other posts. In the i8th century, when Party organisation was
not so developed, the King's own wishes were more likely to be
fulfilled

The Ministers have the task of carrying out the law, and
framing new laws to submit to Parliament. Throughout this
process, there will be many documents for the King to sign. If
he wishes, he can become a " rubber stamp King", signing as