Cabinet Significance & Case Studies

Question 1

Presidential Government

Answer 1

or prime-ministerial gov
cabinet/ gov dominated by one individual

Question 2

Prime-Ministerial Government

Answer 2

or presidential gov
prime minister is dominant

Question 3

Cabinet Government

Answer 3

cabinet should be “the most powerful body in the state”
prime minister is first among equal

Question 4

Cabinet Gov Functions

Answer 4

policy legitimised by the cabinet
a determined cabinet can overrule the PM
cabinet committees to consider policy
PM consults cabinet regularly, can’t risk a cabinet revolt

Question 5

How does a Cabinet Gov Happen?

Answer 5

if the PM lacks a parliamentary majority
May in 2016

Question 6

Prime Ministerial Gov Functions

Answer 6

PM dominates (Tony Blair)
PM has lots of prerogative powers
dominated foreign policy
CMR gives PM more authority

Question 7

Tony Blair’s Changes in PM Gov

Answer 7

introduced lots of initiatives to control more
- “Tony Wants”
PM Strategy Unit & PM Delivery Unit
- set targets and monitor performance
Special advisers (SPADS) consulted over cabinet to develop policy with shared ideology
- BJ with David Cummings

Question 8

BJ & Committees

Answer 8

PM choses members
way to control and increase dominance
they make decisions away from the whole cabinet
He chaired 11 of them, while others by allies