Definitions (Ch 7+8)

Question 1

Collective government

Answer 1

Legislature is decided by a group (the cabinet)

Question 2

Features of Westminster Model

Answer 2

Parliamentary sovereignty, uncodified constitution, cabinet government, FPTP electoral system and two party system

Question 3

Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 3

Parliament is the supreme law making body

Question 4

Public Bill Committee

Answer 4

A group of backbench MPs who analyse and scrutinise a public bill

Question 5

Private Member’s Bill

Answer 5

A bill sponsored by a backbench MP

Question 6

Public Bill

Answer 6

Any bill that affects society in general

Question 7

Private Bill

Answer 7

Bills that have an impact on private organisations/ businesses

Question 8

Accountability

Answer 8

Principle that an MP should face a vote, where their record is taken into account

Question 9

Legislature

Answer 9

The branch of government responsible for passing laws

Question 10

Select Committee

Answer 10

Cross-party panel of backbench MPs who scrutinise a specific department’s operations eg Home Affairs SC and Home Office

Question 11

Coalition government

Answer 11

When two or more parties join to form a government as the biggest party doesn’t have a seat majority

Question 12

Positive aspects of parliament scrutiny

Answer 12

More control of timetable for scrutinisers, greater check on government policy, no majority party in HofL, Select Committees more influential

Question 13

Negative aspects of parliament scrutiny

Answer 13

Government defeats are rare, Commons can bypass Lords, Select Committees have little power, Select Committees are proportional to Commons

Question 14

Executive

Answer 14

The branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation

Question 15

Cabinet

Answer 15

Committees of senior ministers that act as the main decision making body of the government

Question 16

Select Committee

Answer 16

A panel of backbench cross-party MPs who scrutinise a certain department’s actions eg Home Office and Home Affairs Select Committee

Question 17

Executive

Answer 17

Branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation

Question 18

Cabinet

Answer 18

Panel of senior ministers, led by PM, who are the main collective decision-making body of the government

Question 19

Majority government

Answer 19

When one party has over half the seats in the commons, so can form a single-party government

Question 20

Minority government

Answer 20

No party has an overall majority, but the largest party forms a government anyway. Relies on other parties’ support

Question 21

Coalition government

Answer 21

When two or more parties join in a formal agreement to make up a collective majority

Question 22

Patronage

Answer 22

The power of an individual to appoint someone to an important position

Question 23

Cabinet Reshuffle

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Cabinet government

Answer 24

Executive power is vested in a group of senior ministers who exercise collective responsibility

Question 25

Prime Ministerial government

Answer 25

The cabinet acts as an advisory body for the PM, who makes the ultimate policy decisions

Question 26

Core executive

Answer 26

Heart of government - consisting of everyone in every department. Relies on dependence between departments/ ministers

Question 27

Cabinet Committees

Answer 27

Appointed by PM to consider aspects of government business

Question 28

Inner Cabinet

Answer 28

An informal group of PM’s senior ministerial colleagues

Question 29

Cabinet Office

Answer 29

Responsible for supporting cabinet system. Manages civil service

Question 30

Collective Responsibility

Answer 30

All members of government are responsible for policy as a group. Ministers cannot publicly criticise policy (without resigning)

Question 31

Individual Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 31

Ministers are accountable to Parliament for their actions and policies they pursue

Question 32

Civil Servant

Answer 32

A politically neutral official who is responsible for policy advice and implementation

Question 33

Bureaucracy

Answer 33

A large organisation that enacts policy and operates according to a clear set of rules and procedures

Question 34

Marketisation

Answer 34

Extension of market mechanisms into government and public sector. Services contracted out to Private Sector