3.2 Ministerial Responsibility

Question 1

What is Individual Ministerial Responsibility?

Answer 1

The idea that ministers are individually responsible for their individual department

Question 2

Has Individual Ministerial Responsibility declined or improved in recent years?

Answer 2

Declined

Question 3

What are the 4 features on Individual Ministerial Responsibility?

Answer 3

• ministers should be prepared to be accountable to Parliament
• if one makes a serious error, they should resign
• if an error by a minsters department is made, they should resign
• if the conduct of the minster falls below expectation, they should expect dismissal by the PM

Question 4

Why has Individual Ministerial Responsibility eroded over time?

Answer 4

There is no way Parliament can force a minister to resign, this is only in the hands of the Prime Minister

Question 5

What are the 3 factors affecting the fate of a minister?

Answer 5

• seriousness of the situation
• level of criticism from the media and parliament
• attitude of the PM