EXAM PREP Flashcards
Give the Key arguments for the PM being dominant over the cabinet
- Increased use of power and decision making beyond the cabinet- political advisors
- Positive impact of leadership style
- US style leadership image and change
Key arguments against the PM being dominant over the cabinet
Cabinet is still hold an essential role of the foundation and image of government-
- Can force the PM out
- Negative impact of leadership sty;e
Evidence for increased decision making outside the cabinet
- Blair and Brown often held meetings outside the cabinet- this was done for example in the decision to put interest rates into the BOE control
_ the “quad” also met often under Cameron and Blair - Political advisors- access to cabinet papers under Blair, he had 84 of them in a team- the policy was already decided-
- Example of limited policy power of ministers shown when Priti Patel was expelled in meetings without gaining approval
Evidence for the impact of leadership style- positive
- A strong leader can lead to dominance over cabinet-
- We have seen this in a reduction of the number of cabinet meetings a year from around 100 pre thatcher to around 40-
- Blair relied on informal meetings, no minutes were kept so could manpulate
_ They head the meetings- Wilson refused to discuss the devaluation of the pound- little sense of discussion
Evidence for how cabinet still practically matters
- Cabinet still acts as the image of parliament-
- They still meet weekly to discuss policy
- Representative of government of their work
- This is held under cabinet responsibility- Robin cook, Howe, ect
- Cannot bear the grunt of the policy, they still have power in policy making in some practical aspect
- Have some policy making power still- for example
Evidence fo the negative impact of leadership
- Brown was unable to dominate his cabinet on essential issues- he had a lack of strength (never won a general election)
- Major as well- little he could do to stop splits in his cabinet- in a way that Wilson did for example
_ may - With less of a mandate their is less dominance
How has the image of the PM bolstered power and dominance
We are starting to see a more presidential style of leadership- where the PM is the figures of the party
- Saw this hugely in Blairs years, often came into cabinet already having decided
- Media management shows this- TV debates- all entered within this individual
- With this Image of leadership they tend to dominate more, as it is clear they have the leadership
How does the cabinet still show their essential power to force a PM out
- Thatcher- Geoffrey Howe- through his resignation she started to see her power questioned
_ When her cabinet (all but 2) did not have confidence she could beat Heseltine in a second round- she was forced out - They all hold this over their head- the power of resignation threatens their dominance and power-
Evaluate the key arguments for Parliament still being sovereign
Techical
Limitations of judges power
Limitations of EU power
Arguments for parliaments power being questioned
- Political reality, Supreme Court, EU
What is the evidence for the technical argument for parliamentary sovereignty
- We still have a stystem of it
- Government can put in any legislation it wants and cannot be bound by any past
- most other bodies can override them- for example the ECHR ruled that voting for prisoners- they ignored and basically overpowered article 46- that the UK must abide it
- Uk can remove itself via parliament
What is the evidence for the political reality argument
- Unlikey to take away the power of these bodies- Scotland would quickly become independent
- Unlikey to ignore them ruling of judges- cannot look above the law- still rely on peoples support- gina miller
- Referendums are hard to ignore-
_ transferal of sovereignty
How does the Supreme Court challenge the sovereignty of parliament
Power of interpretation
_ judge made law
- Human rights act
- Power of article of 8 over 10- privacy over expression
- Max Mosley- news of the world breached his human rights- power of the courts
- More serious in the Abu Qatada case and Hamza- breached terroism act 2000- but they could not as it breeched their rights
_ this was despite the governments wishes to deport them.
How is the power of the Judges limited
- Judges run on the power parliament gives them- wants to remove HRA
- Lack of impact on rights can be seen in the failure of pressure group liberty to stop snoopers charter
- They could have ignored it
- They can legislate on judge made law
How does the Eu challenge parliamentary sovereignty
Factor tame
_pooled soverignty- trade, immigration ect
- Can override specific things if do not comply
