Executive Branch - 20 Marker Flashcards
Intro
UK & US Executive have significant powers. However, limitations on Executive’s powers. Argued UK Executive has more power in terms of policy making, US & UK has significant powers of appointment, US Executive has lasting impact due to power to appoint supreme court judges. Finally UK Executive has more power as not constrained by term limits unlike US who has limitations
Term Limits - Point
UK Executive has significant powers by not being limited in term limits
Term Limits - Explain
UK, PM has no limits on number of years they can serve
No legal process exists in UK allowing PM to serve as long as they keep winning elections
Term Limits - Example
Margaret Thatcher able to remain PM for 11 years until she suffered a vote of no confidence in 1990
Term Limits - Analysis
Consequence of UK Executive, PM can serve as long as votes allow them to
Term Limits - Rebuttal Point
US, Executive is very different
Term Limits - Rebuttal Explain
US, constitution clearly states President can only serve maximum of 2 terms, 4 years each
Contrast to UK Executive, even if President is popular, unable to serve 3rd term in White House
Term Limits - Rebuttal Example
Obama couldn’t run for re-election after serving 2, 4 year terms from 2008-2012 & 2012-2016
Term Limits - Rebuttal Analysis
Clear differences between US & UK as no limits to how long a PM can serve but there is for Presidents
Implication, US classed as undemocratic as even if President is popular, can’t serve longer than 2 terms
Policy Making - Point
UK Executive has significant policy making powers
Policy Making - Explain
PM normally leader of majority party so able to pass legislation without opposition
Policy making in parliament straight-forward as PM can make new laws easily with majority & don’t need to worry about backbench rebellions
Policy Making - Example
Won majority in 2019, BJ able to pass EU withdrawal bill to allows Brexit to begin the following year
Policy Making - Analysis
Implication of UK Executive’s power, can pass legislation without opposition
Policy Making - Rebuttal Point
US Executive faces more barriers
Policy Making - Rebuttal Explain
POTUS faced with Congress controlled by other main party, can refuse to support budget or block legislation President would like passed
Policy Making - Rebuttal Example
Obama faced with Republican controlled House of Representatives from 2010 & effectively blocked significant legislation
Policy Making - Rebuttal Analysis
Significant differences between UK & US powers as in UK PM able to easily pass legislation whereas US opposition can block legislation making it harder to pass
Appoint Members - Point
UK Executive has power to appoint which is known as power of patronage
Appoint Members - Explain
UK PM can make cabinet appointments that they wish, known as ‘power of patronage’
Means they should publicly support gov decisions & resign if they disagree with PM
Appoint Members - Example
Tony Blair & Chancellor Gordon Brow disagreed on issues but Brown stayed in cabinet as Blair was happy to keep him as he could become problematic if rebelling from backbenchers
Appoint Members - Analysis
Implication of Executive is all appointments must agree with decisions made
Appoint Members - Rebuttal Point
US can also appoint cabinet members
Appoint Members - Rebuttal Explain
President has cabinet but only serve at behest of President as Constitution states all executive power should be vested in President
Appoint Members - Rebuttal Example
Trump removed Cabinet members as he didn’t think they were supporting agenda, included Defence Secretary & Secretary of State
Appoint Members - Rebuttal Analysis
Similarities between UK & US as both can appoint members of cabinet
US also has power to appoint supreme court judge whereas UK doesn’t showing contradictions between powers
Overall Conclusion
PM has few limits on power
Led to claims that we’ve moved from Cabinet system of gov to a PM form of gov
President has many limits on power
Constitution ensures Presidents have range of checks to ensure no branch of government has complete power
PPM doesn’t have same restrictions on power
