Governing Devolution: Understanding the Office of First Ministers in Scotland and Wales

摘要

In 1999, devolution created new political executives alongside legislatures and assemblies. This article uses the UK literature on Prime Ministerial power, cabinet government and core executives to examine the comparative development of the office of the First Minister in Scotland and Wales. It focuses on the construction of core executives in the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government, the development of First Minister’s roles and functions and the resources available to First Ministers in each country. It also examines the political backgrounds and career trajectories of First Ministers as well as the constraints of office in the shape of coalition government.