Comp2- T7- The Prime Minister and the Executive Flashcards
What are the roles of the Executive?
Develop government policy
Conduct foreign policy, including relations with other states and international bodies
Organising the defence of the country from external and internal threats
Managing the finances of the state
Responding to major problems or crises such as armed conflict, security threats economic difficulties or social disorder
Controlling and managing the forces of law and order, including the police, courts, armed forces and intelligence services
Drafting and securing the passage of legislation
Organising the implementation of legislation
Organising and managing the services provided by the state
What is the structure of the executive?
The PM and his/her close advisors (not elected instead of a team they trust)
The Cabinet- 20-25 senior ministers appointed by the PM
Various bodies feed information and advice into the Cabinet and the PM. Government Departments-the Treasury holds a special place of importance as it controls government finances
The senior Civil Servants who serve government ministers- of these the cabinet secretary is the most senior. The holder of this post serves both the PM personally and the Cabinet collectively
Various advisors and policy-developing bodies (Think Tanks) that serve government departments
What is the Latin phrase for The Prime Minister’s Royal Prerogative?
Primus inter pares
How were arbitrary powers gained by the PM?
The arbitrary powers were formerly enjoyed by the monarch, but gradually transferred to the government and then to the PM during the 18th and 19th centuries.
What are the PM powers today?
Appoint or dismiss all government ministers, whether in or out of the cabinet. Also, has a say in other public appointments eg. the most senior civil servants.
Negotiate foreign treaties, including trade agreements with other states/ international organisations.
The commander-in-chief of the armed forces can commit them to action. However, this power has come under challenge in recent times. Now accepted that the PM should only make major military commitments ‘on the advice and with the sanction of Parliament. Once armed forces have been committed to action, the PM has general control of their actions.
Conducts foreign policy and determines relationships within foreign powers. The PM represents the country internationally.
Heads the cabinet system-chooses its members, sets its agenda, determines what cabinet committees should exist and who should sit on them.
Generally sets the general tone of economic policy.
Usually done alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer, normally a very close colleague.
What is the Cabinet?
The centre of power in the UK political system
The UK system of government used to be described as a ‘Cabinet Government’ – where the main decision-making of government takes place.
Not to say that it is where all important decisions are made. This means that all official government decisions and policies must be cleared by the Cabinet if they are to be considered legitimate.
Policies and decisions must be approved by the Cabinet if they are to be considered official policy.
Often, the Cabinet is described as a mere ‘rubber stamp’.
What is the nature of the Cabinet?
The PM personally appoints and dismisses Cabinet members – he/she is not required to consult anyone else when making appointments or dismissals.
Consists of between 20-25 government ministers.
Most members are senior ministers in charge of a large Government Department.
A few may not have a specific ministerial responsibility but are considered important enough to the party to sit at the centre of power.
All Cabinet ministers must be a member of the Commons (and therefore an MP) or the Lords (as a peer). In practice, most are MPs.
One Civil Servant always attends Cabinet meetings to record what is agreed – this is the Cabinet Secretary.
They are a key adviser to the Cabinet and to the PM personally.
How often does the Cabinet meet?
Normally meets once a week, usually, a Thursday, and rarely lasts more than 2 hours.
What are Emergency Cabinet meetings called for?
Urgent issues that have arisen
Cobra meetings- terrorist attacks.
How chairs the meetings of the cabinet?
The PM chairs the meetings unless abroad or unwell- their deputy may take over though when this occurs the Cabinet may not meet at all.
How long are the discussions kept secret?
What about the decisions made?
The proceedings are secret and will not be revealed for at least 30 years.
Cabinet decisions are released to a strictly limited number of civil servants and ministers. Media releases will also be sent out, but with no details of the discussions.
What happens if a Cabinet minister talks out publicly?
Any member who wishes to disagree publicly will normally be required to resign and leave the Cabinet.
What is the role of the Cabinet?
The role of the Cabinet is changeable and unclear
Similar to the role of the PM, its existence is merely an unwritten constitutional convention
To some extent what it does varies from one PM to another
It may also depend on the political circumstances
PM’s position in the Cabinet
The PM, with the help of advisers, will develop proposals of their own
It is extremely rare for a Cabinet to question seriously PM initiative
Role of the Cabinet Committees
The most detailed policy is worked out in small committees of Cabinet members and other junior ministers
Most of these Cabinet Committees are chaired by the PM or a very senior minister such as the Chancellor
The committee present their proposals to the full Cabinet and are usually accepted
Role of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Almost always supported by the PM, economic and financial policy is presented to the Cabinet by the Chancellor
The Annual Autumn Statement (November) and the Budget (March) are usually only revealed to the Cabinet the evening before their presentation in Parliament
Role of Individual Ministers
Policies involving a government department specifically, but will require wider approval, are presented to Cabinet by the relevant minister, aide by their civil servants
It is here where disagreements are most likely- though if a minister is backed by the PM, they are in a good position to secure approval
Role of Groups of Ministers
Policies are often developed by various advisers, policy units, and think tanks
These may be adopted by various ministers who then bring the ideas to Cabinet, usually after securing the approval of the PM and Chancellor
If other ministers have problems with such proposals, they are usually voiced well in advance
What are the functions of government?
Develop policy, guided by the policies of the ruling party and its leaders.
Draft legislation needed to implement policy. Includes major primary legislation and more detailed secondary legislation which sets out specific regulations and principles governing the operations of the state.
Manage the passage of legislation.
Negotiate with and regulate relations with external organisations and states.
Manage the operations of the state, including education, health, the welfare state, armed forces, the law enforcement establishment etc.
Define political
Concerns about the development of policy.
Although advice from unelected advisers may be taken, the final decisions are made by ministers as they alone are publicly accountable.
Define administrative
Includes the implementation of policy and organisation of the state, which can be undertaken by unelected officials. Even so, ministers remain accountable for the quality of administration.
What is collective responsibility?
Ministers are collectively responsible for all government policies.
All ministers must publicly support all government policies, even if they disagree privately with them.
If a minister wishes to dissent publicly from government policy, they are expected to resign first.
If a minister dissents without resigning, they can expect to be dismissed by the PM.
As Cabinet meetings are secret, any dissent within the government is hidden.
Why is collective responsibility important?
The principle is a great support to the Prime Ministerial power.
A PM’s authority is enhanced as they will not experience open dissent from within the government.
Important that the government presents a united front to the outside world, including Parliament and the media.
The government know they can rely upon the votes of all ministers in any close division in the Commons – this is known as the payroll vote
Reduces the possibility of open dissent.
What do critics say about collective responsibility?
Critics say that it ‘gags’ ministers and prevents them from expressing their own opinions.
What do supporters of collective responsibility say?
The secrecy of the system means that ministers can express their views honestly within Cabinet, knowing that their disagreement is unlikely to be public
What are the positives of collective responsibility?
Creates a government that is united, strong and decisive.
The public, Parliament and the media are presented with a clear, single vision of government policy.
Though ministers cannot dissent publicly, the confidentiality of the Cabinet means that ministers can engage in frank discussions in private
What are the negatives of collective responsibility?
Some argue it puts too much power into the hands of the PM.
Ministers cannot be openly honest about their view on policies- may stifle debate within government
Resignations are dramatic events that may seriously undermine the government
The nature of individual responsibility
Ministers must be prepared to be accountable to Parliament for the policies and decisions made by their department- means answering questions in the House, facing interrogation by Select Committees and justifying their actions in debate.
If a minister makes a serious error of judgement, they should be required to resign.
If a serious error is made by the minister’s department, whether or not the minister was involved in the cause of the error, the minister is honour-bound to resign.
If the conduct of a minister falls below the standards required of someone in public office, they should leave office and may face dismissal by the PM.
What is the 1st principle of individual responsibility?
Ministers must offer themselves to be accountable to Parliament – certainly operate successfully and is a key principle of the UK Government.
What has happened to the 2nd and 3rd principles?
Largely fallen into disuse.
Erosion of ministerial responsibility
No specific way in which Parliament can remove an individual minister.
Parliament and its Select Committees can criticise a minister and call for their resignation, but whether or not they go is entirely up to the PM.
What has happened to the 4th principle?
Personal conduct – has not been eroded.
What is The Opposition?
The largest party in the HOC that is not the government
What is Opposition?
The parties, MPs and Peers who are not members of the governing party
Parliamentary Questions
Government ministers face questions from MP’s on the floor of the House
The Parliamentary timetable includes question time sessions for ministers from each government department
The most high profile event is Prime Minister’s Question Time- each Wednesday at noon for half an hour
Provides an opportunity for the leader of the opposition, the leader of the 3rd largest party and backbenchers to question the Prime Minister
Many government backbenchers ask questions raised by the whips
The leaders of the opposition may try to shape an agenda or highlight policy failure
The Speaker of the House has sought, with limited success, to reduce noise levels in the chamber
Overall, PMQs provides parliamentary theatre rather than effective scrutiny
Two different types of questioning
Oral questions make up an important part of business in the HOC
Most parliamentary questions take the form of written questions to ministers requesting information on issues of public policy
What are the 2 tasks the Opposition are meant to do?
Should oppose many of the government’s legislative proposals and harry the government by tabling amendments and forcing votes
Appear as an alternative ‘government-in-waiting’. It will need to develop its own policies and may support government measures that it agrees with
Special privileges for the Leader of the Opposition
An additional salary
The right to respond first to the PM on major statements
The right to ask 6 questions at PMQs
The only MP permitted to respond to the PM with further questions
He/She appoints a show cabinet to follow the work of government departments
How are the government-funded compared to the opposition?
The government enjoys significant institutional advantages in parliament
It can draw upon the expertise of the civil service
The opposition relies on limited state funding known as ‘Short Money’
What is Short money?
Introduced in 1975, this is available to opposition parties that secured a seat and over 150,000 votes at the last general election
The funding is used to assist parties in carrying out their parliamentary business and cover travel expenses
Opposition circumstances
A party that has just lost a general election cannot convincingly claim a mandate for its policies
It may also be divided
Opposition opportunities
Limited opportunities to set the agenda in parliament
Opposition parties are permitted to choose the topic for debate on 20 days in the parliamentary year- these are called Opposition Days
17/20 days are allocated to the official opposition, the other 3 to other parties
This gives them an opportunity to advance their agenda or expose government failings
How should the effectiveness of the UK Parliament be measured?
Holds government to account properly
Provides democratic legitimacy for government initiatives.
Scrutinises legislation thoroughly and seeks to improve it.
Prevents the government from exercising power beyond its electoral mandate.
Effective vehicle for the representation of constituencies.
Represents the interests of various sections of society.
Represents the national interests.
Acts as a recruiting ground for potential ministers.
Minority Government
Must consider the situation we are in after the 2017 election when a government was elected with no parliamentary majority.
The last time such a minority government existed was in the 1970s.
An agreement with the Northern Irish DUP in June 2017 guaranteed a small government majority on votes of no confidence.
This means the small party (DUP) suddenly has a lot of power.
The government must build support for every measure, both with its own party and among opposition parties
The government must fight for every vote in the House.
How well are different regions and localities of the UK represented?
The representation of constituencies is strong. Every constituency (650) has its own MP whose duty is to represent the interests of the locality – irrespective of which party the MP belongs to. MPs also have a regional outlook – they see themselves as representing a specific part of the country such as - depressed industrial areas, rural farming regions or places of special natural beauty. Strength of Parliament
How well are various sections of society represented?
In the Lords, the representation of interests is given great importance.
When scrutinising legislative proposals, the Lords can take into account the interests of groups such as – the professions, industrial and business groups, groups of workers in an industry, welfare recipients of various kinds, the elderly or the young, members of the public services such as the police or the armed forces, as well as refugees or asylum seekers.
In the Commons the power of the party whips often holds sway.
Strength of Parliament
