10.1b Roles of the Executive

Question 1

Legislation proposals

Answer 1

The executive proposes legislation to be passed by parliament.

The executive sets out its legislative agenda. This includes the policies in its election manifesto.

Government departments develop legislation proposals, and cabinet ministers agree on which legislation they want as part of its legislative programme.

The proposals, called bills, are outlined in the Queen’s Speech before starting the lawmaking process in parliament.

The government proposed a Smart Meters bill to parliament in 2017.

Question 2

Budget

Answer 2

The budget is proposed to parliament by the executive in the Budget Statement, which takes place in March or April each year.

In the budget, the chancellor outlines the executive’s proposed changes to taxation and the state of the nation’s economy.

The budget is the way in which the government raises funds and has approval from parliament to spend money.

Following the chancellor’s speech, the budget will be debated by parliament and then enter the lawmaking process through parliament.

Question 3

2017 Budget

Answer 3

The 2017 Budget delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond outlined policies such as increasing the National Living Wage for workers from £7.50 an hour to £7.83.

Question 4

Policy decisions

Answer 4

The executive implements the laws passed by Parliament in practice.

The executive makes policy decisions which determine how the country is run including how public money should be spent, public services delivered and taxes set.

In 2012 the Conservative government cut the tax rate for people earning over £150,000 a year from 50% to 45% of income.

In 2018 the Conservative government launched the universal credit benefits system to over a million people in order to make claiming benefits easier.