3.1 structure role and powers of the executive

Question 1

what are the powers of the exective?

Answer 1

• enact legislation that is listed in the queens speech (whats in the manifesto)
• create legislation is unprecedented circumstances (‘the doctors mandate’)
• create secondary legislation (statutory instruments)
• introduce the budget

Question 2

example of the executive having create legisaltion in response to changing circumstances

Answer 2

• COVID-19 acts

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Question 3

example of SIs used in COVID legisaltion

Answer 3

SI’s are ways in change primary leg without the amendments being debated in the commons

• in the COVID-19 legislation 262 SIs were implemented under the ‘negative procedure’ where the changes have already been signed into law before they are presented to the commons

of these 262 8 were contested and only 1 was debated in the commons

undemocratic giving executive the PM too much power

Question 4

what are the powers of the prime minister

Answer 4

• power of appointment ( life peers, ministers, civil servants)
• legislation (primary and secondary)
• foreign policy (negotiate it and send troops plus power over trident misiles)
• power of royal perogative

Question 5

why does appointing people to the cabinet give the PM power

Answer 5

• can appoint people with the same ideology as them, w cabinet full of ideologically compatable ministers mens the PM will face less scrutiny and will be easier to make decisions
  ex. priti patel is BJ’s right hand women due to her staunch euroscepticism and her very conservative views that allign with johnsons

Question 6

what limits are there on appointing a cabinet

Answer 6

• despite having the power to choose the PM should appoint ministers that refects the ideolgical dfferences in the party.

ex if corbyn was elected he would have had to have a mix of new and old labour, couldnt just be old labout

ex. may had to balence remainers and eurosceptics in her cabinet like gove

Question 7

what positives are there of being able to appoint life peers

Answer 7

• have more ideological support from the lords when trying to pass legislation
• blair appointed 374 labour sympathising lords into the house known as tonies cronies
• life tenure on the lords allows the PM to leave a long lasting stamp on the governance of the UK

Question 8

limits on appointing lords

Answer 8

• their decisions and support doenst holds much weight as their decisons cna simply be ingored due to parlaiemtnary soverignty

Question 9

what does power over legislation depend on

Answer 9

• majoirty governemtns have far more power to pass laws they want due to large support and the use of whips
  johnsons majoirty of 80
• ex the healtha dn social care act 2012 one of the most scrutnised and unpopular peices of legialtion but was still passed through whips