EXTRA-How the Cabinet Operates

Question 1

What is the term Cabinet generally used to refer to?

Answer 1

to the formal meetings held each week

Question 2

Over recent years what have Cabinets become more concerned with? (2)

Answer 2

1) the exchange of information

2) the ratification on decisions already made else way

Question 3

What are the 4 types of Cabinet?

Answer 3

1) the inner Cabinet
2) the Kitchen Cabinet
3) the Cabinet committees
4) Bilaterals

Question 4

Which 3 people are likely to be included in the inner cabinet?

Answer 4

Deputy PM (if there is one)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Foreign Secretary

Question 5

What does the existence of the inner cabinet do?

Answer 5

this strengthens prime ministerial dominance

Question 6

How do inner cabinets strengthen prime ministerial dominance?

Answer 6

as it allows him or her to involve a small body of important and/or like minded colleagues in decision making

Question 7

Who does the kitchen cabinet consist of?

Answer 7

this consists of the PM’s own trusted advisors who may be Cabinet members but can also be trusted personal advisors (ie spads)

Question 8

Who determines the chair and composition of Cabinet committees?

Answer 8

the PM

Question 9

Who do Cabinet committees usually comprise of?

Answer 9

departmental ministers and a representative of the Treasury

Question 10

How are decisions made in committee presented to Cabinet?

Answer 10

as established government policy

Question 11

What are bilaterals?

Answer 11

these are meetings between the PM and the relevant Secretary of State

Question 12

What is a specific advantage of committees over the cabinet?

Answer 12

they consider issues in more detail than a Cabinet meeting does

Question 13

Which committees did Tony Blair personally chair? (2)

Answer 13

• on Iraq

- international terrorism and anti-social behaviour

Question 14

Under which two PM’s has the creation and composition of committees been a key element in strengthening prime ministerial power?

Answer 14

Tony Blair’s and Margret Thatchers

Question 15

What does the convention of cabinet responsibility mean ?

Answer 15

this means that ministers are collectively responsible to the HOC for governmental policy

Question 16

In public, what are cabinet members expected to do?

Answer 16

they are expected to stick to the agreed cabinet line and stay united

Question 17

When did 19th century PrimeMinister Lord Melbourne once cynically remark?

Answer 17

“It doesn’t matter what we say, as long as we all tel the same story”

Question 18

Although cabinet members have opportunities to voice their discontent, what must happen once policy is decided?

Answer 18

they either resign because they cannot go along with it or they decide they can live with it an agree to stay silent about any reservations

Question 19

Who laid down the position that Cabinet members must accept or resign over policies made that they do not agree with?

Answer 19

Lord Sailsbury

Question 20

What does collective responsibility mean for ministers?

Answer 20

that even if they were not present at the discussion or didn’t even know the discussion took place, they are bound to the decision once it is made public

Question 21

What are the 3 advantages of the doctrine of collective responsibility?

Answer 21

• ensures that all ministers all portray the same views and opinions
• helps to maintain a united front
• avoids confusion

Question 22

How does the doctrine of collective responsibility avoid confusion?

Answer 22

as this can arise when members of an administration say different things, as happens in the US administrations

Question 23

What is an effect of the advantage of helping to maintain a united front in public?

Answer 23

this would increase public confidence that the government is fully in control

Question 24

How does collective responsibility ensure that ministers all portray the same views?

Answer 24

as it helps make policy clear and coherent

Question 25

What 3 arguments show that the doctrine of collective responsibility is not upheld?

Answer 25

• some ministers get round the obligation by leaking their view
• some make speeches containing thinly veiled criticisms of government policy
• Some PM allow their ministers to agree to differ on diverse aspects

Question 26

How can a minister get round the obligation of collective responsibility by leaking their view?

Answer 26

they could use coded language

Question 27

What is an example of when some ministers have used thinly veiled criticisms of government policy?

Answer 27

Michael Portillo on European policy under John Major

Question 28

In what year did Harold Wilson and James Callaghan actually allow ministers to agree to differ on divide aspects of European policy?

Answer 28

1975

1977

Question 29

In 1975 what did Harold Wilson and in 1977 what did James Callaghan , both allow ministers to agree to differ on?

Answer 29

the divisive aspects of European policy

Question 30

What do some commentators regard the doctrine of collective responsibility as a constitutional myth?

Answer 30

as the convention is liable to be waived when it suits the PM

Question 31

Who resigned as leader of the HOC over the decision to invade Iraq ‘without international agreement or domestic support’?

Answer 31

Robin Cook