This paper entails an empirical research that aims to explore how policy making considerations could affect ministerial and junior ministerial selection. We analyze eighteen Portuguese cabinets (1976-2011) with the focus on the finding of ministerial composition patterns. In fact, our quantitative data, supported by interviews, confirm that when a Minister and Junior Ministers are chosen, the selector(s) bear in mind the equilibrium between non-partisans and partisans in order to guarantee that each department get adequate policy-making and political coordination capabilities. Our preliminary data on departmental behavior also reveals the difference of roles, attitudes and beliefs in office. Nonetheless, we have discerned a lasting growing number of non-partisan Ministers and Junior Ministers and therefore we discuss the effects of this phenomena on the policy making and political coordination processes.
