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Politics > Executive > Flashcards

Executive Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Minister?

A

old fashioned word for helper

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2
Q

What is a Privy Council?

A
  • Came from Henry VIII, 1540
    means Private council
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3
Q

What is the role of an Executive Branch?

A

Executive branch carries out actions of government such as implementing laws passed by parliaments, meeting foreign leaders, negotiating ending strikes

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4
Q

Until 1689, who worked under who in the executive branch and how was this chosen?

A

Until 1689- absolute monarch had all the power helped by advisors they chose who ministered to them. Ministers had more technical people who often stayed in post a long time, working anonymously. Now permenant officials called civil servants

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5
Q

How does a constitutional monarchy change the way the executive branch is appointed + why is this important?

A

Foundation of constitutional monarchy, monarch chose ministers from largest party in parliament rather than having a free choice
Important because they need to make sure their ministers could get new laws passed smoothly

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6
Q

What happened from the 18th century onwards within the executive branch?

A

From 18th century, monarchs stopped chairing meetings of ministers so they chose one of them to be the Prime Minister

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7
Q

What did the custom of the Monarch choosing the PM grow to?

A

the monarch would choose the leader of the largest party to be PM and the PM would choose the ministers

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8
Q

How many government departments are there?

A

25 government departments

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9
Q

How are government departments split?

A

Political or Administrative

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10
Q

What are the shorthands for the different government areas?

A

Whitehall- shorthand for departments
Westminster= shorthand for parliament

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11
Q

What are the levels of seniority
in political government departments?

A
  • Secretary of state
  • Has ministers of state (junior ministers)
  • Parliamentary under-secretary (very junior)
  • Political advisers (SPAD- Special Political ADvisors)
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12
Q

What are the different types of Administrative/Civil Servants in government departments?

A
  • Permanent Secretary
    • Civil Servants (From senior to junior)
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13
Q

What does the recent failure of Conservative PMs like Sunak Truss and Johnson show about the Executive?

A

Show the dysfunction of British Politics (ie Boris Johnson, Liz Truss) + show importance of a functioning executive for a smooth performance in government

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14
Q

How did Sunak’s appointment as PM in October 2022 differ from Johnson and Truss?

A

He restored executive competence and tried to improve cabinet decision making
- Better connectivity between cabinet members, Conservative MPs/backbenchers, advisers and civil servants

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15
Q

What style of Executive did Johnson have?

A

Presidential style

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16
Q

What are examples of Johnson’s presidential style of Executive?

A
  • Unlawful prorogation, September 2019
  • Redrawing electoral map (reminiscent of gerrymandering) to balance power in favour of PM over the Cabinet and Conservative party
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17
Q

How did Johnson resemble May?

A

Get Brexit Done’
- European Union Withdrawal Agreement Act published January 2020-> parallels to Theresa May pushing her version in 2019

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18
Q

What was an early example/sign of how his Executive overreach manifested within Johnson’s Cabinet + party?

A

Resignations:
First resignation= Sajid Javid, Chancellor, Feb 2020 over Johnson’s request to sack all his advisers
Also Cabinet was largely sidelined:
Government measures on COVID 19 largely decided by small court of cabinet ministers + advisers (ie lockdowns, vaccine rollouts)

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19
Q

What led to Johnson’s demise?

A

2022 Summer- 62 ministerial resignations led to his downfall, 6 cabinet resignations like Rishi Sunak (chancellor of the exchequer)
- Prompted by his disrespect for the cabinet importance as a decision making body
- Cabinet members said he failed to take difficult decisions
- Johnson blamed ‘herd instinct’ (ie others) in Westminster for his downfall

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20
Q

What was the initial opinion of Truss at the beginning of her premiership as PM?

A

Truss won the membership vote (57.4%) against Sunak but only 4/10 MPs endorsed her in the leadership contest
- Lack of support for her more Neo-liberal programme ie deregulations and tax cuts

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21
Q

What were highlights of how Truss ruled as Executive?

A

Cabinet of political allies (ie Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor)
- Marginalised one nation faction of party + those who supported Sunak
- Tainted with ‘mini budget’ that crashed the pound
- Resigned after 45 days as PM

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22
Q

How did Sunak fail at improving governing competence?

A

Some scandals/tensions with MPs
Lost Gavin Williamson and Dominic Raab to bullying charges + Nadhim Zahawi for breaching ministerial code in relation to tax affairs

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23
Q

What is the job of the Executive?

A

Execute laws and policy

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24
Q

What is the Executive’s relationship with legislature?

A

In the UK, Executive is fused with legislature
- some argue it allows the executive to dominate legislature, especially with a large majority

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25
Q

Who makes up the Executive?

A

1.PM appointed by monarch, head of executive
2.Ministers appointed by PM to a position of responsibility such as to lead a department within the executive. Ministers are split into a) top senior 22 (or so) who are members of the cabinet and b) junior ministers who assist cabinet ministers eg Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan has junior Ministers for Early years, Schools and Universities.
3.Civil servants (see next box)
4.Party advisers (Special party advisers known as SPADs)

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26
Q

What do members of the government also have to be members of?

A

Parliament, Commons or Lords

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27
Q

How many members of government are there usually?

A

Usually around 120
20 top ministers in cabinet, 100+ junior ministers
eg since 2019 116 in total consisting of 92 MPs and 24 peers

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28
Q

What does the salary for government members look like?

A

Nearly all unless very junior get an additional salary on top of their backbench MP one, or in case of peers, their allowance. They are sometimes known as ‘the payroll vote’ because gov’t could sack them from ministerial post if disloyal.

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29
Q

What is the Role of the Executive?

A

PEF
Proposing legislation including Budget
Executing carrying out government as specified by legislation
Foreign affairs/national crises

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30
Q

What is the title of top Civil Servants?

A

Permenant
- ie Permenant Secretary at Department of Education

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31
Q

What does the Title of Top Civil Servants entail?

A

Reflects that civil servants in the UK should not fear being sacked if they give advice to a Minister they do not like

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32
Q

What is expected of Top Civil Servants?

A

PAN
Permenant
Anonymous
Neutral

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33
Q

What does being anonymous mean as a Civil Servant?

A

Be in the background whilst the Minister takes the blame and credit

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34
Q

What does being neutral mean as a Civil Servant?

A

non party political including not joining a political party. Civil servants are supposed to advise the Minister on policy only, not do their party political or campaigning work

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35
Q

How did the Johnson government blur the neutrality of Civil Servants?

A

The Cabinet Secretary is the top civil servant and some argue Cab Sec during Covid Simon Case should have controlled parties in Number 10 more strictly and that he is less ‘neutral’ than his predecessors.

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36
Q

How has the practice of Ministers appointing party advisers grown in recent years?

A

They are increasingly being giving a temporary civil servant status

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37
Q

How can N10 SPADs become controversial?

A

if they are seen as too powerful or excluding ministers

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38
Q

What are examples of SPAD controversies?

A

May’s top chief of staff SPADs Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, both ‘left’ conservatives on economic matters and starting the ‘levelling up’ agenda, were resented by ERG Ministers and sacked after the 2017 election. Johnsons Svengali Dominic Cummings (Barnard Castle fame) was considered to be his ‘brain’ and was the most controversial SPAD to date, sacked Nov 2020 due to COVID breaches and power struggle with Carrie Johnson, later to claim Johnson ‘unfit for office’. Sunak has deliberately uncontroversial SPAD chief of staff (Liam Booth-Smith).

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39
Q

What are Key Dates for the Executive topic

A

Until 1649
1721-42
18th Century
By 1800
By 1900
1979

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40
Q

What was the case until 1649?

A

Monarch has absolute power as head of executive

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41
Q

What happened between 1721-42?

A

Sir Robert Walpole, first ‘PM’: When monarch’s ministers meet without the monarch they need a leader who unofficially becomes known as Prime Minister

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42
Q

What happened in the 18th Century?

A

when ministers meet they call themselves cabinet (office furniture). The conventions develop that they should be collectively responsible as a cabinet and individually responsible for what happens in their departments as ministers

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43
Q

What happened by 1800?

A

gradually monarch has handed ‘royal prerogative powers’ to appoint ministers, declare war etc to Prime Minister and cabinet. Due to organic uncodified constitution the powers of PM and cabinet depend on conventions rather than being spelled out in statutes or other written docs.

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44
Q

What happened by 1900?

A

modern civil service (PAN) in shape it is today

45
Q

What happened in 1979?

A

Thatcher has high profile SPAD Bernard Ingham as her Press Officer and number of SPADs increases from now on, leading to enlarged Downing Street and PM take over of what had been a tiny Department called Cabinet Office

46
Q

What is the role of the PM?

A

a)Head of executive branch of government including Cabinet, de facto Head of State
b)More broadly, national leader
c)Party leader
d)Leader of parliament
These roles require different strengths: arguably the UK PM has a more difficult role than the US President

47
Q

What are factors that affect the PMs power to appoint Ministers?

A

Party unity
Experience
Coalition
Diversity

48
Q

How can party unity affect the PMs power to appoint Ministers?

A

May tried to create party unity by including hard (Johnson) and soft (Rudd, Lidington) Brexiteers BUT Johnson felt strong enough to purge the soft Brexiteers, Brown relied on close ally Mandelson, Cameron close to Chancellor Osborne

49
Q

How can Experience affect the PMs power to appoint Ministers?

A

Experienced ministers may improve policy making and also be dangerous to keep on backbenches eg Cameron included TWO former party leaders William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith BUT May removed experienced George Osborne Ability eg Sunak promoted from Chief Secretary to Chancellor of Ex 2020

50
Q

How can a Coalition affect the PMs power to appoint Ministers?

A

Cameron made Lib Dem leader Clegg Deputy PM and allowed him say over 4 other Lib Dem appointments to cabinet

51
Q

How can Diversity affect the PMs power to appoint Ministers?

A

include Northerners (Prescott during New Labour years), women (Cameron increased proportion to nearly half), ethnic minority and so on

52
Q

How has Prerogative power commander in chief changed?

A

Until recently assumed that because fast action might be needed/or nat security implications, PM could commit troops without prior parl approval. Thatcher did this 1983 Falklands (after only consulting cabinet). Blair got a vote of parl approval for 2003 invasion Iraq but was clear that he did not need it. However, in part because subsequently found to have ‘misled’ Parl over Iraqi threat, subsequent PMs have modified their stance. 2013 Syrian gov’t used chemical weapons on rebels; Cameron asked Parl if they would approve air strikes, to his surprise he lost the vote and complied with their wishes.

53
Q

How is the PMs role and Power affected by external events?

A

Thatcher’s power increased because she had successfully fought off foreign invasion of Falklands,
Brown hurt by 2008 financial crisis, May post 2016 referendum affected by its dominance– the need ‘to get Brexit done’
Johnson not suited to dealing with health emergency

54
Q

What are sources of power in the Executive?

A

MPPP
Monarch, party, parliament, people

55
Q

What do the 4 sources of PM power (MPPP) also stand for?

A

4 reasons why the MPs power can fluctuate

56
Q

What is the Monarch’s power in relation to the PM?

A

Monarch has delegated royal prerogative powers to PM such as to declare war, so PM is de facto Head of State. While Monarch would never interfere in selection of PM the fact has to go to palace after election for monarch to signal approval shows PM benefits from this public transfer of monarch’s trad authority. PM’s royal prerogative power to appoint including Ministers (also called patronage) then consolidates this power
- Prerogative powers
- PM becomes temporary head of the state when monarch delegates power to them
- Monarch appoints PM
- Inherits traditional authority

57
Q

What is the Party power in relation to the PM?

A

PM usually becomes PM because they are leader of largest party after election (Cameron 2010 and 15) or they become leader after largest party changes leader (Brown 07, May 2016, Johnson 2019, Truss 2022, Sunak 2022). If party united (Thatcher 1979-87) Blair (1997-2005) PM will have more power than when divided (May).

- Leader of majority party 
- Elections only happen after Parliamentary vote of no confidence or resignation, or party votes of no confidence
	○ 1990: Conservatives replaced Thatcher with John Major
	○ 2019: Theresa May resigned, Boris Johnson took over
- Allows PM to take lead in policy making
58
Q

What is the Parliament power in relation to the PM?

A

Parl shows approval not through any formal ceremony but approving PM’s budget or by not passing a vote of confidence. The larger the PM’s parl majority the more clear cut they should be PM: May had less authority in Parl after 2017 because she was seen to depend on DUP confidence and supply, Major re-asserted control over parl 1995 by winning leadership election he called (while staying PM) to silence Eurosceptic critic John Redwood. If PM has a lot of new MPs (Johnson 2019) in theory they should be more impressionable and easier to control than if lots of embittered old hands

- Recognises PM authority to lead the government
- Pass a budget
- Parliament can only dismiss whole government through vote of no confidence
- PM is leader of largest party in Parliament-> larger government majority, more power PM has
- MPs in the governing party tend to support the PM 1995: John Major PM resigned as party leader but not PM, re-elected in subsequent leadership election, asserting his authority and power in Parliament
59
Q

What is the People power in relation to the PM?

A

People demonstrate their approval by voting for PM’s party in an election, even if they do not vote directly for PM (as in USA). PM who has not ‘fought an election’ usually has less authority eg Brown 2007-10, Sunak now. In between elections PM will have more authority if high opinion poll rating leads MPs to believe ‘coattails effect’ eg most Tories from 2019 believed Johnson should stay as leader to help them win next election, only when partygate turned polls consistently negative they got rid.

- People vote for alternative candidates + party-> partially impact who is chosen as PM
- Problems only occur for PMs who take the position without a General election (people have no say) Opinion polls show how popular the PM is
60
Q

What are the PMs powers?

A

Appoint Ministers and others
Cabinet Chair
Foreign policy leader and commander in chief
Election Caller

61
Q

What is the PMs role of Appointing others?

A

Appoint Ministers (few constraints), Judges (Judicial Appointments Commission constrains), peers (H of L Appointments Commission constrains) other public posts like Chair BBC (EG controversy Johnson chose Richard Sharp, Tory sympathiser who had allegedly organised him a loan, subsequently resigned 2023)

62
Q

What does the PM role of Cabinet Chair entail?

A

set agenda, chair meeting, ‘sum up’, write minutes, organise cabinet committees

63
Q

What does the PM role of Election Caller entail?

A

Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011-2021 (see Parl KO) constrained PM somewhat eg Johnson wanted election to get a majority to get Brexit done almost as soon as took over from May summer 2019 but Lab refused to give support until Dec). PM also has power to prorogue and recall Parl (controversial prorogation 2019).

64
Q

Where does the PM get power from?

A
  • Monarch
    • Party
    • Parliament
  • People
65
Q

When was the last time Parliament passed a vote of no confidence, successfully ejecting a PM out of office?

A

1979

66
Q

What are examples of failed votes of no confidences in Parliament?

A

Boris Johnson had a failed Parliamentary vote of no confidence, won and stayed PM
- But resigned a month later (2019)

May had one, resigned 7 months later (2022)

67
Q

What power does American Congress have that is their equivalent to a vote of no confidence?

A

American Congress doesn’t have the power to vote of no confidence, can only impeach if the President has done something illegal.

68
Q

What is Patronage?

A
  • Power to make important appointments to public offices
    • Those who aspire to be in high office tend to be loyal to person who has power
    • Disloyalty can lead to dismissal
    • PM= government ministers, peers, heads of various state bodies
    • Majority of MPs and peers in PM party tend to be loyal-> gives PM power and influence over party + PARLIAMENT
69
Q

What is the American equivalent to Patronage?

A

American president has less power in Congress + doesn’t have power of patronage as if they appoint someone in a position, they no longer have a seat in congress/do not have a seat in congress

70
Q

What are the PMs Formal Powers?

A
  • Patronage
    ○ Appointing ministers
    ○ Appointing judges and peers
    ○ Granting other honours
    • Charing of Cabinet, including setting the agenda
    • Foreign policy leader
    • Commander in chief
    • Signing foreign treaties and international agreements
    • Ability to call an early general election if Parliament approves with a 2/3 majority or passes a vote of no confidence
      Power to recall parliament
71
Q

What are the PMs Informal Powers?

A

Informal Powers:
- Controlling and setting government policy
- Controlling and setting legislative agenda
- Economic leadership
- Media focus and platform
National leadership in times of crisis

72
Q

What Acronym represents the PMs powers?

A

CAFE

73
Q

What is CAFE?

A

Appoint Ministers (few constraints), Judges (Judicial Appointments Commission constrains), peers (H of L Appointments Commission constrains) other public posts like Chair BBC (EG controversy Johnson chose Richard Sharp, Tory sympathiser who had allegedly organised him a loan, subsequently resigned 2023)
Cabinet chair – set agenda, chair meeting, ‘sum up’, write minutes, organise cabinet committees
Foreign policy leader and commander in chief
Election caller – Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011-2021 constrained PM somewhat eg Johnson wanted election to get a majority to get Brexit done almost as soon as took over from May summer 2019 but Lab refused to give support until Dec). PM also has power to prorogue and recall Parl (controversial prorogation 2019).

74
Q

What do members of government also have to be members of?

A

Parliament

75
Q

How does being a member of government differ in USA?

A

USA: members of government don’t have to be members of Parliament

76
Q

How many junior ministers does each Secretary of state have?

A

5 junior ministers

77
Q

What is an MP salary?

A

£86,000

78
Q

What is PM salary?

A

£86,000 as MP + £86,000 as PM

79
Q

What roles does PM have to appoint that work directly for him?

A

a chief SPAD and top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary

80
Q

What do Cabinet meetings look like?

A

Oval table- designed for easy discussion of around 22 people
All people in the cabinet are ministers

81
Q

Who is the current Cabinet Secretary?

A

Chris Wormald

82
Q

Who is the only non minister to attend cabinet meetings?

A

Cabinet Secretary

83
Q

What does Cabinet minister do during Cabinet meetings?

A

Take minutes

84
Q

What do ministers have to do about their private vs public views on Government bills?

A

Even if ministers disagree with bills, they have to publicly agree

85
Q

What does the Cabinet system of government mean in the UK vs the US?

A
  • To be a member of cabinet you have to be a member of parliament
    US- do not have to be a member of congress
86
Q

Who has the stronger cabinet system: UK or USA?

A

UK

87
Q

How does the Cabinet make and pass decisions?

A

Decisions are made by the whole cabinet and all have to be approved to be official policy, not just the PM
Power is based in convention, not really written down

88
Q

How does the US cabinet operate?

A

US cabinet meet a couple ties a year, President doesn’t have to listen to what they say, even if they have ministers and have a cabinet

89
Q

What is the role of the Cabinet Secretary?

A

Role of Cabinet Secretary (top civil servant in gov’t) to help PM chair cabinet, prepare its docs and take minutes (official and secret, usually for 30 years)

90
Q

How does the PM come to a decision of the overall Cabinet views?

A
  • PM doesn’t ask for votes at the end of an agenda item, but sums up what they think ‘consensus’ view is
    Cabinet ministers bound by convention
91
Q

When can the cabinet call the government?

A

In emergencies PM may (if time) call the cabinet
Ie July 2007 London terrorist attacks

92
Q

What is COBRA?

A

Smaller group= COBRA
- Used for emergencies
- Senior government officials + other key figures

93
Q

What does the cabinet do?

A

Cabinet helps PM formulate how to present policy to the party

94
Q

What is the Political Cabinet?

A

Often at the end of the government business, PM has section called political cabinet
- Then send the Cabinet Secretary out

95
Q

What is the role of the Cabinet?

A
  • Political cabinet
  • Court of Appeal
  • Parliamentary timetable
  • Ratify official policy
  • Support PM (or remove them)
96
Q

How does the Cabinet play a role in disputes between ministers?

A

Final court of appeal in disputes between departmental ministers
- Most common disputes are the ones about which minister gets the most money from the treasury

97
Q

What is the Cabinet role in the Parliamentary timetable?

A

Settle parliamentary timetable issues

98
Q

What are Cabinet Committees?

A

PM sets them up on certain subjects ie Education Bill, around 3-4 ministers to discuss in detail

99
Q

What is the Cabinet role on official policy?

A

Ratify official policy
usually detail is decided in smaller cabinet committees or informally between PM and relevant cabinet minister

100
Q

Why is it bad when PMs don’t use the formal cabinet meetings?

A
  • Bad when PM use the formal meetings as no one takes minutes and doesn’t follow tradition and policy (ie info is secretive, only released 30 years later, not to be compromised) (ie Blair, didn’t like arguing, used to do one-on-one meetings-> lacked record as no one took notes)
    • Led Blair to misinform and leave out information, ie 2003 Iraq
    • Boris Johnson used Whatsapp to contact others like Matt Hancock to decide complicated things, sometimes leading to those being deleted, not available to all members of cabinet.
101
Q

What is some examples of PMs not using the formal meeting system of the Cabinet?

A

(ie Blair, didn’t like arguing, used to do one-on-one meetings-> lacked record as no one took notes)
- Led Blair to misinform and leave out information, ie 2003 Iraq
- Boris Johnson used Whatsapp to contact others like Matt Hancock to decide complicated things, sometimes leading to those being deleted, not available to all members of cabinet.

102
Q

What is the relationship between the Cabinet and the PM?

A

Support PM, or remove him/her

103
Q

What are examples of the Cabinet showing efforts to remove the PM?

A

Margret Thatcher- Ministers told her one by one they lost support
Theresa May- Boris Jonson resigned as Cabinet secretary, but also lost vote of no confidence (just loss of support overall?)
Boris Johnson- 6 minister resignations, but 62 MP resignations (loss of support overall)

104
Q

What are Considerations the PM makes when appointing ministers?

A

Party unity
Experience/Ability
Diversity
Coalition- Lib Dem + Conservative

105
Q

How does the PM consider party unity when appointing ministers?

A
  • They may choose close political allies who have been guaranteed a post. For example, David Cameron chose George Osborne.
  • They may decide on a personal friend that they are close to. For example, Theresa May chose her university friend, Damien Green, to be her First Secretary of State. Truss chose Kwasi Kwarteng
  • There may be some individuals that are popular figures with the public and media. For example, Theresa May chose Boris Johnson as he was one of the big beasts who if outside the Cabinet might be a significant challenge to her authority.
106
Q

How does the PM consider experience/ability when appointing ministers?

A
  • They may identify some individuals with potential and have the ability to manage a Department. For example, David Cameron chose Oliver Letwin to work in the Cabinet Office because of his skill as an administrator.
  • Some people might be bought into the government simply because they were seen as good at managing a department. For example, Theresa May chose Damian Hinds as Secretary of State for Education.
  • Some people are chosen because of their vast political experience. For example, David Cameron bought Kenneth Clark into the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio.
107
Q

How does the PM consider diversity when appointing ministers?

A
  • They may choose an individual who can represent an important section of their Party. For example, Boris Johnson chose Priti Patel as a representative of the right-wing of the Conservative Party whilst Tony Blair made John Prescott Deputy Prime Minister to appease left-wingers in his party.
  • In addition to these considerations a Prime Minister might want to consider the descriptive representation of the Cabinet. This means that they appoint a Cabinet who represents the diversity of Britain. This may be in terms of factors such as ethnicity, religion and socio-economic background
108
Q

What is the average time for a Cabinet minister to stay in their position?

A

2 years

109
Q

What does the lifespan per cabinet minister show about the PM?

A

Maybe PM have shuffles too often (NEG)

Politics (12 decks)

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