What drives machinery of government change? Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, 1950-1997

Machinery of government arrangements attract a diverse and detailed literat ure, but surprisingly little comparative research. This article provides a graphically presented indication of functional changes in the architecture of national government in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom between 1950 and 1997. An analysis finds interesting national differences, with sha rp changes in practice in Australia and Canada, but more gradual incrementa l adjustment in the United Kingdom. The correlation between parties and mac hinery change is weak for Canada and the United Kingdom, but all countries demonstrate stronger Links between elections, new prime ministers and machi nery of government changes. Further, all tend to oscillate between many spe cialist departments and fewer, broader agencies. The explanation for such m achinery change, we argue, is found in the political, policy and administra tive calculations made by prime ministers in Westminster-style parliamentar y systems.