<P> Political parties first appeared during the Exclusion Crisis of 1678--1681 . The Whigs, who believed in limited monarchy, wanted to exclude James Stuart from succeeding to the throne because he was a Catholic . The Tories, who believed in the "Divine Right of Kings", defended James' hereditary claim . </P> <P> Political parties were not well organised or disciplined in the 17th century . They were more like factions with "members" drifting in and out, collaborating temporarily on issues when it was to their advantage, then disbanding when it was not . A major deterrent to the development of opposing parties was the idea that there could only be one "King's Party" and to oppose it would be disloyal or even treasonous . This idea lingered throughout the 18th century . Nevertheless it became possible at the end of the 17th century to identify Parliaments and Ministries as being either "Whig" or "Tory" in composition . </P> <P> The modern Prime Minister is also the leader of the Cabinet . A convention of the constitution, the modern Cabinet is a group of ministers who formulate policies . As the political heads of government departments Cabinet Ministers ensure that policies are carried out by permanent civil servants . Although the modern Prime Minister selects Ministers, appointment still rests with the Sovereign . With the Prime Minister as its leader, the Cabinet forms the executive branch of government . </P> <P> The term "Cabinet" first appears after the Revolutionary Settlement to describe those ministers who conferred privately with the Sovereign . The growth of the Cabinet met with widespread complaint and opposition because its meetings were often held in secret and it excluded the ancient Privy Council (of which the Cabinet is formally a committee) from the Sovereign's circle of advisers, reducing it to an honorary body . The early Cabinet, like that of today, included the Treasurer and other department heads who sat on the Treasury bench . However, it might also include individuals who were not members of Parliament such as household officers (e.g. the Master of the Horse) and members of the royal family . The exclusion of non-members of Parliament from the Cabinet was essential to the development of ministerial accountability and responsibility . </P>

Who appoints the prime minister and cabinet minister