19.) The Institutional Powers and Resources of the PM Flashcards
What are some institutional powers of the PM?
-Appointing and firing his cabinet
-Chairing cabinet meetings
-Arranging and chairing cabinet committees
-Dictating policy
-Usually controlling Commons majority so able to pass legislation
-Issuing honours
What are some personal powers that may vary with a PM?
-Momentum and mandate from leading party to victory
-Ability to manage and command backbenchers
-Ability to unite party and nation
-Able to manage economy and fight political challenges
What effects the strength of these personal “soft” powers?
-Opinion polls, and the results of “test” elections - by-elections
-Personalities in the cabinet and PM’s party
-Leadership challenges
-Strength of the main oppositiob
Name an example of a PM who used their powers in regards to the cabinet?
-PM May changed 15 ministers when taking over from David Cameron in 2016 - this included chancellor George Osbourne and justice secretary Michael Gove
What must PMs do when picking their cabinet?
Making sure it reflects viewpoints from within the party
Name an example of a cabinet pick to reflect the party
Tony Blair picking John Prescott as his deputy PM due to John Prescott’s working class roots being a direct link to Labour supporters
What needs to be avoided during reshuffles?
-Too many reshuffles: as they make the PM look weak
-Sacking the wrong minister (PM Thatcher demoting Geoffrey Howe)
What is the term used for when all ministers must support cabinet decisions?
Collective responsibility
When a minister can’t agree to a cabinet decision, what are they expected by convention to do?
Resign
Why are cabinet committees created?
To deal with the pressing issues of the day
Why can cabinet committees be ineffective?
If there’s too many committees, and the PM’s style doesn’t work with them - I.E Blair sofa government
What did Theresa May do with the cabinet committees?
Streamline them to 5 main committee and 10 sub committees
When are PMs more easily able to dictate policy?
When they have strong majorities like Thatcher or Blair
Even with a large majority what can restrict a PM?
Manifesto pledges and other developments (referendums etc)
When was the Cabinet office created and why?
1916 - to support the Cabinet, with 2,050 civil servant employees
Name an example of a PM altering the Cabinet Office to respond to current issues?
Creating the Rapid Response Unit to deal with misinfo and covid 19 pandemic
What American government organisation is the Cabinet Office equivalent to?
Executive Office of the President - EXOP
The PM will often enjoy high support and a mandate, but what do they have to be aware of?
Party loyalty - E.G Thatcher being forced out; and shaky no confidence votes I.E May in Dec 2018 (Won: 200-117) but still showed discontent over her performance
Why is dispensing honours an important power of the PM?
It allows them to alter the balance of the House of Lords
What do PMs often do about peerages?
Grant them so it favours their party
Give an example of PMs granting peerages in ways to advantage their party?
Blair and Brown 173 Labour peers to 66 Tory peers
By contrast, what was the breakdown of peerages granted when Tory PMs May and Cameron granted peerages?
136 Tory peers to 59 Labour
What is the criteria for someone to be granted a peerage?
-Good community standing
-Past conduct won’t bring Lords into disrepute
What issues have occurred despite these checks?
-August 2016: PM Cameron criticised for giving 46 aides and ministers peerages when he resigned
-Johnson giving his brother a peerage in 2020
-Can lead to cronyism allegations
