CHAPTER 4 Flashcards
Components of real executive?
PM, Cabinet, junior and assistant,ministers
Define prime minister?
The head of the federal executive (The government). The leader of the majority in the HOR and the leader of the party forming government. Position is entirely governed by convention. Commissioned under s64.
Define ministers?
A member of the executive arm of Government. Ministers have responsibility for a particular area of government activity such as health, or education which are referred to as a ‘portfolio’. s64 requires Ministers to be members of parliament. And
Roles of ministers?
- To manage a portfolio: This means they are responsible for a department of the public service.
- To participate in Cabinet meetings and deliberations of policy development, plan political strategy, deal with crises and help maintain the narrative of the Government.
- Publicly support Cabinet decisions, even when they disagree with them
- Answer to parliament under the conventions of individual ministerial responsibility for personal probity, political integrity and management of portfolio
Define cabinet?
A committee of the executive comprising the Prime Minister and Senior Ministers. I is entirely governed by convention and has no legal or constitutional authority. Despite this, it is the most powerful institution in the system of government.
Formally appointed by GG under s64 but ‘really’ chosen by PM
Define cabinet secrecy?
A Westminster Convention that the deliberations and discussions of cabinet should be out of public view. It allows robust and frank discussion within cabinet. It also allows cabinet to reach a single position and present a united government.
Define cabinet solidarity?
A Westminster Convention that the Cabinet presents a united government. All ministers are bound by the convention to publicly support the cabinet’s position on all issues. If a minister cannot publicly support cabinet they are required, by convention, to resign.
Eg. Barnaby Joyce Minister of agriculture’s failure to support cabinets granting of permission for Shenhua coal mine
Roles of cabinet?
- To develop and communicate the narrative vision of government
- To develop and implement policies
- To coordinate the machinery of government
- To act as an information exchange
Where is formal constitutional executive power vested?
Created by s61. Vests executive power in the Queen and, the Governor-General.
What are cabinet comittees?
Subdivisions of groups of ministers for the purpose os focusing on specific areas of gov activity eg, Abbott cabinet has national security committee focused on major international security issues of importance in Australia
Where is EXCO established?
S62 establishes EXCO. Whoever it is west minister convention that the PM and ministers are given power
Roles of PM?q
-
What is an assistant minister?
A junior executive ministerial position.
- not permanent members of cabinet
- belong to outer ministry
- hold portfolios in less important gov activity and are there to assist senior ministers
Roles of PM?
- Key spokesperson for Australia
- Head of Cabinet
- Leader of the Government
- Governed by constitutional convention
Powers of PM?
- Being responsible for the membership of the Cabinet and Cabinet committees, determines and regulates all Cabinet arrangements.
- Advising the GG on the appointment of ministers (including allocating portfolios) and determines which ministers will form Cabinet.
- Assists with the appointments of Judges, diplomats and public servants
- As chair of the Cabinet, the PM leads and guides discussion to achieve a collective response (PM has finally authority)
