This document contrasts the roles and functions of the EXOP, PMO, OMB, NSC, and various units within the PMO. The EXOP includes the President's closest advisors and confidants, such as the Press Secretary and Chief of Staff, who provide policy advice, liaison, and administration. The PMO directorates focus on policy, communications and strategy, government and public relations. The OMB helps organize the President's budget and guides it through Congress, also providing financial advice. The NSC advises the President on national security issues. Units within the PMO control information to the PM, manage relations with the public and party, process media questions, and provide policy advice and ensure departments deliver

1. EXOP & PMOEXOP & PMO
Contrasting pointsContrasting points

2. WHOWHO
 Includes President’s closest aides andIncludes President’s closest aides and
confidantsconfidants
 The President’s real advisorsThe President’s real advisors
 Key figures include the Press SecretaryKey figures include the Press Secretary
and Chief of Staffand Chief of Staff
 Roles-policy advice, liason andRoles-policy advice, liason and
administrationadministration

3. PMOPMO
 Policy Directorate- formerly Policy Unit-Policy Directorate- formerly Policy Unit-
Policy and GovtPolicy and Govt
 Communications and Strategy-includesCommunications and Strategy-includes
Press OfficePress Office
 Government and Public RelationsGovernment and Public Relations
Directorate-political unit-party and generalDirectorate-political unit-party and general
publicpublic
 Fusion of PMO and Cabinet Office in 2001Fusion of PMO and Cabinet Office in 2001

4. OMBOMB
 Created in 1970 under the control of OMBCreated in 1970 under the control of OMB
directordirector
 Helps the President organise his annualHelps the President organise his annual
budget and to guide it through Congressbudget and to guide it through Congress
 On tap specialist financial adviceOn tap specialist financial advice
 Oversees departmental and agencyOversees departmental and agency
spendingspending

5. NSCNSC
 Set up in 1947 to advise President onSet up in 1947 to advise President on
issues relating to national security bothissues relating to national security both
domestic and foreigndomestic and foreign
 Headed by NSA and includesHeaded by NSA and includes
President,VP,State, Defence andPresident,VP,State, Defence and
Homeland Security deptsHomeland Security depts

6. Private OfficePrivate Office
 Controls and filters information to PMControls and filters information to PM

7. Govt and Public Relations UnitGovt and Public Relations Unit
 Relations with the wider party and generalRelations with the wider party and general
publicpublic
 Became increasingly important under BlairBecame increasingly important under Blair

8. Communications and StrategyCommunications and Strategy
 Increasingly important in the presentationIncreasingly important in the presentation
of policy mattersof policy matters
 Processes questions submitted to PM,Processes questions submitted to PM,
media, interviews and PM’s ‘audiences’media, interviews and PM’s ‘audiences’
with the mediawith the media

9. Policy DirectoratePolicy Directorate
 Expanded under BlairExpanded under Blair
 Important source of policy advice andImportant source of policy advice and
ideasideas
 Policy developments and monitor progressPolicy developments and monitor progress
of policy in govt depts to ensue that deptsof policy in govt depts to ensue that depts
are aware of PM’s agenda and deliverare aware of PM’s agenda and deliver
policy in line with No 10policy in line with No 10
 Both reactive and proactiveBoth reactive and proactive

10. Policy DirectoratePolicy Directorate
 Expanded under BlairExpanded under Blair
 Important source of policy advice andImportant source of policy advice and
ideasideas
 Policy developments and monitor progressPolicy developments and monitor progress
of policy in govt depts to ensue that deptsof policy in govt depts to ensue that depts
are aware of PM’s agenda and deliverare aware of PM’s agenda and deliver
policy in line with No 10policy in line with No 10
 Both reactive and proactiveBoth reactive and proactive