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Politics > Core Executive 2 > Flashcards

Core Executive 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Who is the prime minister and what are the requirements?

A

The head of government.

They must be a member of parliament and be leader of the largest party or the governing party in the commons

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2
Q

Majority government?

A

One party has an absolute majority of the seats in the commons

All ministers are the same party

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3
Q

Minority government?

A

No party has absolute majority but the largest forms a government
They have to secure support from other members on key measures
All ministers are the same party

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4
Q

Coalition government?

A

No party has absolute majority
Two or more parties agree to form a government and negotiate policy
Ministers are shared

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5
Q

What are the 7 roles if the PM?

A 
Political leadership
National leadership 
Appointing the government 
Chairing the cabinet 
Managing the executive 
Managing relations in parliament 
Representing the UK internationally
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6
Q

Who is the cabinet?

A

The committee of senior ministers that is the main decision-making body in government

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7
Q

What is a bilateral?

A

A meeting between the PM and a department minister where a policy would be agreed

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8
Q

What are the 6 powers of the prime minister?

A 
Patronage 
Authority within cabinet 
Party leadership 
Public standing 
Policy making role
The prime ministers office
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9
Q

What is patronage?

A

The power to appoint someone to an important position

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10
Q

What is an example of the PMs patronage powers?

A

The appointment of life peers: brown and head of the CBI however there is now an appointment committee

Also senior judges, used to have a lot more power but now is just given a name by JAC and The Lord chancellor

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11
Q

How did the cabinet agreement change the PM patronage?

A

Cameron was limited- agreed amount of cabinet seats to libdems- cannot dismiss without cleggs approval

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12
Q

What example of how the PMs power to appoint cabinet ministers are limited?

A
  • sometime appointment of leadership competition.
  • Brown said he wouldn’t stand as long as Blair appointed him chancellor if the exchequer
  • Coalition agreement
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13
Q

What is a cabinet reshuffle?

A

A series of changes to the members of cabinet and the positions they occupy

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14
Q

What was the “night of the long knives”?

A

Harold Macmillan’s reshuffle in 1962 because he sacked 7 cabinet ministers

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15
Q

How are reshuffles used to the parties advantage?

A

They can chose the timing so it reflect on the party well- normally just before an election

They can change up unpopular ministers

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16
Q

What is the executive?

A

The branch of government responsible for policy making and implementation

Is consists of the prime minister and the cabinet

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17
Q

What are the powers of the PM in cabinet? 7

A 
Chairs meetings
Decides agenda and time spent 
Sums up discussions 
Appoints members 
Holds bilateral meetings 
Organises the structure of the government
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18
Q

How does the PM control agenda of cabinet meetings?

A

Decides what information is shared by choosing the topic

Keeps potentially difficult issues out if cabinet meeting and discuses them in bilateral meetings with ministers more involved

19
Q

What can the executive use to control the legislative process?

A

The whip system and parliamentary timetable

20
Q

What is an example of party rebellion which limits the party leadership of the PM?

A

Blairs decision on Iraq and tuition fees

The abandonment of the reform of the House of Lords after conservative rebellion which cause the lindem support for constituency changes to stop=tension!

21
Q

What does public standing mean?

A

The opinion of the public on a prime minister- this has shown more prominence as media attention rises

22
Q

Does a PMs public standing make a difference to their leadership?

A

Blair had high poll ratings in his first term with reforms but low after Iraq making him seem weaker and less re electable

23
Q

What is the prime ministers office?

A

The group of senior civil servants and special advisers who provide assistance and support to the PM- mainly on communications within government and with the media

24
Q

What was Blair like as a PM?

A

“Presidential” took little support from cabinet and instead had informal inner circle meetings “sofa government” this meant some thought he made deductions without full information (Iraq). He also extended the prime ministers office and gave huge amounts of powers to brown unusually

25
Q

Is the coalition a constraint on the PM power? Yes

A
  • not full power over cabinet, set libdem ministers
  • more collective style of government
  • they have to manage the tension between the two parties
26
Q

Is the coalition a constraint on the PM power? No

A
  • Still has some patronage powers in appointments
  • key decisions are made with clegg or the “quad” which have quite good relations
  • Cameron still has the majority
27
Q

Cabinet government?

A

A system of government in which the cabinet has executive power and the PM is a first among equals

28
Q

Prime ministerial government?

A

The prime minister is dominant in the executive and makes all major decisions- the cabinet only advises.

29
Q

What is the core executive?

A

The core executive is made up of the cabinet, PM, cabinet committees, bilateral meetings, PMs office ect- the model claims the system of governing is based on interdependence between these groups

30
Q

The cabinet?

A

The meeting of senior ministers and department heads. It is the key decision making body in government

31
Q

Cabinet system

A

The and it’s allocated body including committees and office

32
Q

Cabinet committees?

A

Appointed by the PM to consider aspects of government business

33
Q

Cabinet office?

A

A government department responsible for managing the civil service

34
Q

Inner cabinet/ kitchen cabinet?

A

Smaller groups of ministers and advisers who join to make policy

35
Q

What is the role of cabinet?

A

Settling disputes in government departments

Receiving reports and determining government business

Discussing major issues

36
Q

What are some of the cabinet committees?

A

Ministerial standing committee- permanent for the PMs time in office

37
Q

What are the 4 roles of ministers?

A

Policy leadership
Representing a department
Department management
Relations with parliament

38
Q

What elements maintain cabinet as a collective responsibility?

A

Secrecy: keep the discussions secret to show a united body

Binding decisions: once a decision is made all members must accept other wise they are dismissed eg Nigel lawson

Confidence Vote: the entire government has to resign under a motion of no confidence including the cabinet

39
Q

What 5 things cause collective responsibility to be under threat?

A 
Temporary Suspension 
Leaks 
Dissent 
PM dominance 
Coalition
40
Q

What is an example of a leak about ministers?

A

When majors government were having divisions one Europe: the media used this to make the government seem weak and they lost support

41
Q

How does PM dominance effect the collective responsibility of ministers?

A

Mo Mowlam said that Blairs said that Blairs involvement with cabinet caused divides

42
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

A

That MPs are accountable to parliament for their personal conduct and the general conduct of their department

43
Q

What are the 4 main reasons a minister should resign individually?

A

Mistakes in department
Policy failure
Personal misconduct
Political pressure

44
Q

What is an example of personal misconduct which ended in a resignation?

A

Chris Huhne after his wife took penalty points on her licence for him.

Politics (9 decks)

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