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Paper Two Politics > 4. Prime Minister and the Executive > Flashcards

4. Prime Minister and the Executive Flashcards

1
Q

What is the executive?

A

The decision making branch of government

PM and Cabinet

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2
Q

Explain the structure of the executive

A

Prime Minister

Cabinet

Government Departments

Executive Agencies

Junior Ministers

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3
Q

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

A

Head of the executive
Chairs Cabinet
Appoints ministers
Leads government

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4
Q

What is the role of the Cabinet?

A

20-23 senior ministers
Help to deliver policy
Each in charge of a government department

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5
Q

What is the role of government departments?

A

Responsible for different areas of policy, each headed by a Cabinet minister

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6
Q

What is the role of executive agencies?

A

Semi-independent bodies that carry out some functions of government departments
DVLA = Department for Transport

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7
Q

What are the main roles of the executive?

A

Proposes legislation
Proposes the budget
Makes policy decisions
Represents UK on a global level

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8
Q

Proposing Legislation

A

Introduces proposals for laws or amendments
Announces a programme in the Queen’s Speech
Introduce legislation to contend with emergencies

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9
Q

2015 Queen’s Speech

A

Conservative Government would hold an EU Referendum, legislate to protect essential public services against strikes and make sure the devolved nations and England agree on legislation together.

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10
Q

Proposing the Budget

A

Raise revenue in order to fund public services

Chancellor of the Exchequer - annual statement of the government’s plans for taxation and spending

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11
Q

Making Policy Decisions

A

Decide how to give effect to its aims for the future of the country

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12
Q

Royal Prerogative Powers

A

Royal Prerogative Powers historically belong to the monarch
PM exercises them on their behalf
Conventions
Declare war and authorise use of armed forces, sign treaties, issue passports, legal pardons, appoint ministers, award honours and act in emergencies

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13
Q

Examples of abolished Royal Prerogative Powers

A

2011 Fixed Term Parliaments act removed the right of the PM to determine the date of general elections

Governments accepted that military action requires prior parliamentary approval

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14
Q

Power of Patronage

Power and Limits

A

Appoint ministers and reshuffle cabinet

Needs to be an ideological balance and done carefully

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15
Q

Authority in the Cabinet System

Powers and Limits

A

Chair cabinet meetings and manage the agenda

Requires cabinet support on major issues

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16
Q

Party Leadership

Powers and Limits

A

Authority as leader of a political party

Support of party is not unconditional with backbench rebellions possibility

17
Q

Prime Minister

Powers and Limits

A

Unpopularity with the electorate undermines authority

18
Q

Policy Making Powers of the PM

A 
Digest government policy 
Set agenda 
Takes key role in times of crisis 
Introduces proposals 
Proposes budget
19
Q

Limitations on powers of the PM

A 
Small parliament majority possibly 
Loss of party support
Cabinet opposition 
Cabinet splits 
House of Lords
Opposition 
Lack of media and cabinet support
20
Q

How is legislation initiated?

A

Executive controls most of the parliamentary timetable

Government majority allows for the whipping system and patronage to push through its programme effectively

21
Q

What is known as the ‘guillotine’ in initiating legislation?

A

Allocation of time motion
1887
Procedure that allows the government to curtail debate on the individual cases of a bill
APPLIES ONLY TO THE HOC

22
Q

What is secondary legislation?

A

Power to change or amend the laws
Statutory instruments - modify or repeal existing legislation every time the government needs to amend without a new bill

23
Q

Example of statutory instruments

A

2016 used to abolish maintenance grants for university students and to allow fracking in national world

24
Q

How does the PM gain powers?

A

Popular mandate

Popular support

25
Q

What is the cabinet?

A

Represents collective identity of the government
Makes all important decisions
Resolves disputes

26
Q

Functions of the Cabinet

A

Present policy proposals
Resolves disputes
Sets agenda
Makes decisions

27
Q

How is Cabinet formed?

A

Possibly need a balance d cabinet
Include the big party rivals
Political allies for support

28
Q

Weakness of the Cabinet

A

PM is now dominant in it
Decisions mostly come from committees
Meetings are shorter and stage managed

29
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

A

Ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments
Form of accountability

30
Q

Examples of IMR in action

A

Amber Rudd
Resigned as Home Secretary in 2018 following the Windrush Scandal and the failure of her government department

2019 Secretary of Transport Chris Grayling refused to resign despite criticism
Ferry contract awarded to a company with no ferries

31
Q

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

A

Convention by which ministers must support all decisions of the government in public. They are responsible as a group to Parliament and thus to the people
United front presented

32
Q

Examples of CMR in action

A

2016 - Ian Duncan Smith resigned as DWP Secretary as he did not support cuts to disability benefits

2019 Women and Equalities Minister Amber Rudd resigned as she did not agree with Boris Johnson and his policy on Brexit

33
Q

Exceptions to CMR

A

Modified in allowing a free vote in:

  1. Liberal Democrats not bound by CMR in 2010-2015
  2. 2011 AV Referendum
  3. 2016 EU Referendum
34
Q

What constrains the PM Power?

A 
Cabinet 
Media 
Pressure of events 
Parliamentary majority 
PM's style of governance
35
Q

What determines how much power the PM can exercise?

A 
Devolution 
EU 
NATO 
Cabinet Control 
Events

Paper Two Politics (5 decks)

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