Executive Flashcards
How has the PMs power expanded?
- Media portrayal
- Commander in chief so PM attends international summits so is figurehead
- PM takes advice from advisors not Ministers like Dom Cummings
what are the core roles of the executive
Introduce legislation based on manifesto
Issue legislation based on Doctors’ Mandate
Introduce an Autumn budget
introduce secondary legislation
Pros and cons of doctors’ mandate?
+flexibility
- public don’t vote on this
- rushed through
What is the PM’s role?
Oversee policy
Oversee operations of civil service and government agencies
Appoint government
Principle figure in HoC
Give speeches and announcements in crises
Accountable to citizens and laison committee
commander in chief
What is PM’s power over patronage?
Appointing and dismissing Ministers
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over patronage?
Senior colleagues must be included in Cabinet
Labour PM must appoint first Cabinet from elected shadow cabinet
ideological balance to appease backbenchers
if a pm sacks a minister, they become a rival
What is PM’s power over authority in Cabinet?
Chair cabinet meetings and determines outcome
Hold bilateral and informal meetings with ministers known as sofa politics
appoint cabinet committees
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over authority in cabinet?
Needs his cabinets support over controversial issues
Ministers can challenge
Senior Ministers may feel ignored
Not involved in policy making of Cabinet Committees
What is Pm’s power over party leadership
Leader of party
Elected by party
Majority in HoC
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over party leadership
Support is conditional backbench rebellion (e.g. EU Arrest Warrant_
What is pm’s power over public standing
Communicator in chief
leader in crisis (COVID 2020)
Representative in international affairs
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over public standing
Underpopularity media criticism (Boris parties)
pm’s power over making policy
Set agenda
Involved in area of choice
role in crisis
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over policy making
Limited in time and knowledge
Lack resources provided by government departments
Difficult to get success
What is pm’s power over his office
Provides advice
diret policy
appoint special advisors and reorganise gov (Dom Cummings)
10 downing street is a Bully Pulpit
What are the limitations over the PM’s power over his office
Limited in funding and staff
Rely on power of treasury
What are powers of exec
Appt life peers Appt ministers Grant pardons Grant passports - not withdraw Declare War Launch trident
Royal prerogative?
\+flexible \+can be changed -not clearly defined -difficult to understand -overrule with statute -knee jerk reactions
where has PM’s power increased
1939: Chaimberlain declares War on Germany without consulting Parliament
1982: Thatcher sends troops to Falklands through prerogative witrhout Parliament
April 2018: May joined US military strikes on Syria without Parliament
2022: Boris threatens Russia away from invading Ukraine without consulting Parliament, and has used Twitter for this
Where has PM’s power decreased
2003 vote on Iraq War
2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act
2013 Cameron got a vote for air strikes in Syria which failed
What is individual misisterial responsibility
Ministers take responsibility for their dept
Where has there been IMR
S2018: Amber Rudd resigns over misleading Parliament over deportation of illegal immigrants
2017: Michael Fallon resigns for his behaviour towards women
2021: Matt Hancock resigns from Health Secretary
What is collective responsibility
Support government or resign!
Show unity in public
Examples of CR
Dominic Cummings after driving to Barnards Castle
Partygate: 5 of his aides have resigned, like Elena Narozanski. Others have defended Boris
Robin Cook, leader of House of Commons, resigned over Iraq War in 2003
Geoffrey Howe resigned in November 1990 when he couldnt support her euroscepticism
When was CR discarded
EEC Vote
Brexit
2010-2015 Coalition
Why has CR declined
Media means more MPs are inclined to speak their thoughts
Politicians want to become their own figure
-> Boris called out Trump for inciting violence. Priti Patel did not do the same
How does Cabinet work?
Adjourns weekly Summoned in crises Intense debates Often disagree No voting on decisions COVID: Boris made more decisions out of Cabinet with people like Chris Whitty
What are Cabinet’s functions/
Legitimise gov decisions
Decide key policy -> 1976: Callaghan let Cabinet choice whether to accept loan form IMF, they never did
Discuss their schedule
Who should be on the frontbench on which day
Cabinet Committees, decisions carry legitimacy of Cabinet -> May took chair of European Exit and Trade Committee, 2016
When a Cabinet turns against a PM, they will fail!
why are cabinet members appointed
Experience (e.g. Ben Wallace is Secretary of State for Defence - he also attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before he was commissioned in 1991 into Scots Guards)
Maintaining balance between factions (Theresa May has include Brexiteers (Boris Johnson, Liam Fox) and remainers (Philip Hammond and Amber Rudd)
Establishing PM’s authority. Blair in 2001 appointed New Labour supporters and people who were loyal to him => David Blunkett (Home Secretary)
Meeting expectations of diversity => Priti Patel 2019
Rewarding loyalty => Boris Johnson with Brexiteers like Jacob Rees Mogg
Reconciliating potential allies => Brown was Blair’s Chancellor of Exchequer.
what are the factors affecting the relationship between a PM and Cabinet.
1) Management skills
2) PM’s ability to set agenda
3) Cabinet committees
4) Use of advisors
5) Situation
what is a cabinet government
Cabinet has key role
PM is the first amongst equals
PM is easily ushered out if they have too much or little power (Thatcher/May)
Theresa May had to have a divided Cabinet as she only had a 13 seat majority after a confidence and supply agreement.
what is a prime misisterial government
PM has more power, so can be dominant and Cabinet merely makes decisions
Where has PM’s power increased?
Role of media Sources of power Advisors Sofa politics Cabinet acting as a rubber stamp
What is the Quad?
Was used in the 2010 Coalition to iron out matters between LD and Con. to iron out issues before Cabinet meets
undermines that cabinet discusses ideas freely
determines budget
insistence it was not sofa politics
is PM Presidential
+Daily briefinfs: PM became COVID figurehead
+Statutory Instruments during COVID
+PM becomes a focus of the media
-Voting on lockdown
-Boris destroyed reputation during Partygate
-Other Cabinet Members do briefings
- Laison Committees, PMQs
+ Boris missed 3 liason meetings
- evident PM is reliant on Ministers - Nadhim Zahawi was Vaccine Minister
What factors determine PM’s power
Majority
Public image
Loyalty of party
Events
How do events change the strength of a PM?
Depends on what it is and how its dealt with World Recession 2008 hindered Brown Iraq War 2003 hindered Blair Brexit Referendum 2016 hindered Cameron Brexit Deals 2018-19 hindered May COVID 2020-21 helped Johnson initially
How does media change the strength of a PM?
Can display a PM in different light Callaghan Winter of Discontent 1978 Media portrayed Brown to be behind 2008 recession Johnson incapable of dealing with COVID May incapable of dealing with Brexit Thatcher "the iron lady"
How does a majority change the strength of a PM?
May had 13 seat majority so didnt get much done Theresa May’s government from 2017 to 2019 was defeated on 33 divisions in the House of Commons - Boris has only had 4 defeats
In Blair’s 10 years, he wasn’t defeated until 2005 on Terrorism BIll
How does cabinet change the strength of a PM?
Thatcher surrounded herself with allies like Geoffrey Howe
May’s 50-50 cabinet made it easier to push her out
Johnson sacrificed expertise for likeminded people like Priti Patel
