Executive + Cabinet Flashcards
PM powers
appoint ministers, direct gov policy, chair of the cabinet, set up, reorganise + abolish gov departments, exercise royal prerogative powers, international role
what are royal prerogative powers
make treaties with other countries, head of civil service, deploy the military, patronage
factors affecting the PM
media, events, opposition, popularity, cabinet + party, large majority
PM powers over the cabinet
-call, chair and set the agenda for cabinet meetings
-establish cabinet committees
-hold bi-laterals
-collective responsibility used to silence ministers
institutional support for the PM
large increase in personal to support the PM, use of special advisers
limits on the PMs powers
requires cabinet support, threat of resignation is damaging, no formally structured PM department, powers of rival departments overshadows the size of the PMs office
what is parliamentary privilege
within the walls of parliament, MPs are free to speak without fear of prosecution for slander
how many days of the year do backbenchers get to choose topics for debate
35
limits to backbenchers powers
whips (encourage backbenchers to vote with their party), resources (very few), majority (the larger the majority, the more MPs are needed to make the gov pay attention to them)
factors that affect whether backbenchers will vote with their gov
ambition, keeping their seat, likes/dislikes with the PMs agenda
cabinet ministers
approximately 25, each heads a gov department
junior ministers
approximately 75-100, work under the cabinet ministers in gov departments
role of the executive
proposing legislation, proposing a budget, running the country
role of the cabinet
making formal decisions, coordinating gov policy, providing a forum, managing parliamentary committees, managing emergencies
cabinet committees
a group of cabinet ministers designed to allow discussions and decisions to take place without the full cabinet
why is the cabinet important
discusses the gov goals, sometimes makes key decisions, some ministers in charge of large departments, PM needs cabinet support, can overrule the PM, disputes can be dealt with out of the public eye, reconciles differences between coalition partners, deals with emergencies
why is the cabinet not important
PM has powers of patronage over the cabinet, PMs prefer special advisers, collective responsibility, the cabinet meets for less time now, PMs decide on the number/nature of cabinet committees, a cabinet united behind a PM gives him enormous power
how was the PMs patronage power constrained during the coalition gov
couldn’t appoint cabinet members himself, cameron + clegg had to consult on reshuffles + cabinet committee membership
what were some positive impacts of the coalition
PM had to consult coalition partners on policy + cabinet business, the cabinet settled differences between coalition partners, PM had to consider both parties
what did the quad do
iron out matters prior to cabinet meetings, decided on major matters of policy, similar to Blairs sofa gov, decisions handed down to other ministers to implement
negatives of the coalition
Pm was more vulnerable to rebellions, increased activity from the lords, possibility of a coalition breakdown, PM had to consider backbench opinion
positives of the coalition
gave the PM a solid majority, policies had additional authority- supported by 2 parties
