Core Executive (Revision Guide) Flashcards
How did R.A.W. Rhodes describe the term “core executive”?
Refers to all those organisations and procedures which coordinate central government policies and act as final arbiters of conflict between different parts of the government machine.
Who is regarded as the first prime minister?
Robert Walpole (1841-46)
What is royal prerogative?
The powers once held by the monarch in common law. Through parliamentary statute as well as new emergence of new conventions, powers have been passed to prime minister
Examples of royal prerogatives?
- Control armed forces
- Declare war
- Make treaties
- Exercise patronage
- Control workings of civil service
How are the concepts of convention and prerogative powers linked?
It is by convention rather than statute that many prerogative powers have passed into the hands of the premier
What is the last source of prime ministerial power and what does this mean?
Leader of the majority party in HOC
-PM’s power and authority rests upon the confidence of the commons
Why is there no list stating all of PM’s powers?
Absence of codified constitution
What are the roles of a modern PM?
- Chief Executive
- Chief Legislator
- Chief Diplomat
- Public relations chief
- Party Chief
What do the PM’s powers of patronage allow him to do?
- Appoint and dismiss ministers at cabinet level and below
- Appoint senior civil servants (inclu. senior diplomats, members of quangos and special advisers, heads of nationalised industries)
- Appoint bishops in the Church of England
- Create peers
- Appoint senior judges (prior to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005)
- Nominate individuals for honours list
What determines PM’s power over cabinet?
- ability to promote or demote political allies and potential rival
What powers does the PM have over cabinet?
- Number, timing and duration of cabinet meetings
- Cabinet agendas and minutes
- Conduct of meetings and who will speak and when
- Structure and composition of cabinet committees
- Makeup and organisation of the government in a broader sense
- Appointments to and the operation of the higher levels of the civil service
What powers does the PM have over parliament?
- Control parliamentary timetable
- Impose government’s agenda
- Control key appointments within the party as well as within government
- PM can rely on a degree of party loyalty
What power does the PM have over the agenda?
Responsible for the Queen’s speech and measures outlined at the state opening of parliament
What powers does PM have on the world stage?
- make war
- Conclude treaties
How is the PM limited by cabinet?
- Seniority of colleagues within one’s party might demand their inclusion in cabinet (Jack Straw 1997/ William Hague 2010)
- PM excluding or leaving out key figures can cause the figures to become key enemies (Michael Heseltine under Thatcher)
- Abuse in PM’s powers can bring criticism (Mo Mowlam )
- Cabinet can resign
How is PM limited by parliament?
- Can cause embarrassment through PMQs, debates and motions
- Commons can force the government to back down (Brown’s concessions over the removal of the 10% tax in 2008)
How is the PM limited by party?
- Failing backbench confidence (Thatcher led to Anthony Meyer’s ‘stalking horse’ leadership challenge in 1989)
- Tony Blair and top-up fees caused him to pre-announce his departure from office
How is the PM limited by public opinion?
- Accountable through elections
How is the PM limited by their own abilities and circumstances?
- Size of commons majority
- Economic situation
= Unexpected events
Herbert Asquith famous quote
“the office of the PM is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it”
Harold Macmillan
“Events, dear boy. Events”
Cabinet originated in 1668 under Charles II reign
C-lifford A-rlington B-uckingham A-shley L-auderdale
How many paid members in cabinet?
23
Who chairs cabinet committees?
PM or senior cabinet colleagues determined by the PM and the rest drawn from cabinet as appropriate
How many members are in the cabinet office and who does this include?
- 2,000 staff include CO minister, cabinet secretary, four secretariats- Economic, Domestic, Defence, European)
Primus Inter Pares
First Among Equals
What is cabinet and what does it exercise?
Collective decision making body which operates under a doctrine of collective responsibility
Cabinet and decision making
Bagehot described cabinet as “efficient secret” of British Government but now the increase of PM powers has meant that decisions made elsewhere and cabinet merely rubber stamps
Cabinet as a coordinating department
Individuals report on their activities and bring colleagues up to speed on what is still crucial