19.) The Institutional Powers and Resources of the PM

Question 1

What are some institutional powers of the PM?

Answer 1

-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

Question 2

What are some personal powers that may vary with a PM?

Answer 2

-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

Question 3

What effects the strength of these personal “soft” powers?

Answer 3

-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

Question 4

Name an example of a PM who used their powers in regards to the cabinet?

Answer 4

-PM May changed 15 ministers when taking over from David Cameron in 2016 - this included chancellor George Osbourne and justice secretary Michael Gove

Question 5

What must PMs do when picking their cabinet?

Answer 5

Making sure it reflects viewpoints from within the party

Question 6

Name an example of a cabinet pick to reflect the party

Answer 6

Tony Blair picking John Prescott as his deputy PM due to John Prescott’s working class roots being a direct link to Labour supporters

Question 7

What needs to be avoided during reshuffles?

Answer 7

-Too many reshuffles: as they make the PM look weak
-Sacking the wrong minister (PM Thatcher demoting Geoffrey Howe)

Question 8

What is the term used for when all ministers must support cabinet decisions?

Answer 8

Collective responsibility

Question 9

When a minister can’t agree to a cabinet decision, what are they expected by convention to do?

Answer 9

Resign

Question 10

Why are cabinet committees created?

Answer 10

To deal with the pressing issues of the day

Question 11

Why can cabinet committees be ineffective?

Answer 11

If there’s too many committees, and the PM’s style doesn’t work with them - I.E Blair sofa government

Question 12

What did Theresa May do with the cabinet committees?

Answer 12

Streamline them to 5 main committee and 10 sub committees

Question 13

When are PMs more easily able to dictate policy?

Answer 13

When they have strong majorities like Thatcher or Blair

Question 14

Even with a large majority what can restrict a PM?

Answer 14

Manifesto pledges and other developments (referendums etc)

Question 15

When was the Cabinet office created and why?

Answer 15

1916 - to support the Cabinet, with 2,050 civil servant employees

Question 16

Name an example of a PM altering the Cabinet Office to respond to current issues?

Answer 16

Creating the Rapid Response Unit to deal with misinfo and covid 19 pandemic

Question 17

What American government organisation is the Cabinet Office equivalent to?

Answer 17

Executive Office of the President - EXOP

Question 18

The PM will often enjoy high support and a mandate, but what do they have to be aware of?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Why is dispensing honours an important power of the PM?

Answer 19

It allows them to alter the balance of the House of Lords

Question 20

What do PMs often do about peerages?

Answer 20

Grant them so it favours their party

Question 21

Give an example of PMs granting peerages in ways to advantage their party?

Answer 21

Blair and Brown 173 Labour peers to 66 Tory peers

Question 22

By contrast, what was the breakdown of peerages granted when Tory PMs May and Cameron granted peerages?

Answer 22

136 Tory peers to 59 Labour

Question 23

What is the criteria for someone to be granted a peerage?

Answer 23

-Good community standing
-Past conduct won’t bring Lords into disrepute

Question 24

What issues have occurred despite these checks?

Answer 24

-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