EXTRA-How the Cabinet Operates Flashcards
What is the term Cabinet generally used to refer to?
to the formal meetings held each week
Over recent years what have Cabinets become more concerned with? (2)
1) the exchange of information
2) the ratification on decisions already made else way
What are the 4 types of Cabinet?
1) the inner Cabinet
2) the Kitchen Cabinet
3) the Cabinet committees
4) Bilaterals
Which 3 people are likely to be included in the inner cabinet?
Deputy PM (if there is one)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Foreign Secretary
What does the existence of the inner cabinet do?
this strengthens prime ministerial dominance
How do inner cabinets strengthen prime ministerial dominance?
as it allows him or her to involve a small body of important and/or like minded colleagues in decision making
Who does the kitchen cabinet consist of?
this consists of the PM’s own trusted advisors who may be Cabinet members but can also be trusted personal advisors
Who determines the chair and composition of Cabinet committees?
the PM
Who do Cabinet committees usually comprise of?
departmental ministers and a representative of the Treasury
Which Cabinet Committees is the PM likely to chair?
those considered important to the direction of governmental policy
How are decisions made in committee presented to Cabinet?
as established government policy
What are bilaterals?
these are meetings between the PM and the relevant Secretary of State
Who has noted that in recent years there has been an increase use of sub committees?
Gillian Peel
How did Cabinet committees exist in the 19th century?
they exist in an unsystematic form
What had the effect of committing the present committee structure?
the impact of the two world wars and the rapid expansion of governmental activity post 1945 era
Up until what decade was the official existence of cabinet committees denied?
1970’s
Since what year have the membership of Cabinet committees been published?
1922
What are the two types of Cabinet committee
- standing committees
- Ad hoc committees
What are Standing committees?
standing committees are named, permanent committees responsible for a particular policy area such as Northern Ireland and European Union and local government/
What is the most important standing committee which is chaired by the PM?
the Economic and Domestic Policy Committee
What are ad hoc committees?
Ad hoc committees vary in number according to the preferences and style of the PM. They are concerned with particular policy areas such as a sudden crisis or an issue of importance. Once the crisis has passed they are disbanded.
IN Tony Blair’s first administration how many ad hoc committees were there?
5
What were the 5 ad hoc committees in Tony Blair’s first administration?
- on the celebration of the millennium
- utility regulation
- biotechnology
- genetic modification
- better government
What is a specific advantage of committees over the cabinet?
they consider issues in more detail than a Cabinet meeting does
Which committees did Tony Blair personally chair? (2)
- on Iraq
- international terrorism and anti-social behaviour
Under which two PM’s has the creation and composition of committees been a key element in strengthening prime ministerial power?
Tony Blair’s and Margret Thatchers
What does the convention of cabinet responsibility mean ?
this means that ministers are collectively responsible to the HOC for governmental policy
In public, what are cabinet members expected to do?
they are expected to stick to the agreed cabinet line and stay united
When did 19th century PrimeMinister Lord Melbourne once cynically remark?
“It doesn’t matter what we say, as long as we all tel the same story”
Although cabinet members have opportunities to voice their discontent, what must happen once policy is decided?
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
Who laid down the position that Cabinet members must accept or resign over policies made that they do not agree with?
Lord Sailsbury
Today, who are the lowest rank in the administrations in the labour party who are expected to toe the line?
the parliamentary private secretaries
What does collective responsibility mean for ministers?
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
What are the 3 advantages of the doctrine of collective responsibility?
- ensures that all ministers all portray the same views and opinions
- helps to maintain a united front
- avoids confusion
How does the doctrine of collective responsibility avoid confusion?
as this can arise when members of an administration say different things, as happens in the US administrations
What is an effect of the advantage of helping to maintain a united front in public?
this would increase public confidence that the government is fully in control
How does collective responsibility ensure that ministers all portray the same views?
as it helps make policy clear and coherent
What 3 arguments show that the doctrine of collective responsibility is not upheld?
- 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
How can a minister get round the obligation of collective responsibility by leaking their view?
they could use coded language
What is an example of when some ministers have used thinly veiled criticisms of government policy?
Michael Portillo on European policy under John Major
What is an example of when some ministers have expressed personal views?
Peter Mandelson on the desirability of Britain joining the Eurozone.
In what year did Harold Wilson and James Callaghan actually allow ministers to agree to differ on divide aspects of European policy?
1975
1977
In 1975 what did Harold Wilson and in 1977 what did James Callaghan , both allow ministers to agree to differ on?
the divisive aspects of European policy
What do some commentators regard the doctrine of collective responsibility as a constitutional myth?
as the convention is liable to be waived when it suits the PM
What are parliamentary private secretaries?
these are unpaid assistants who serve as the parliamentary contact for their minister. Appointment to this rank is seen as the first step on the promotion ladder for an MP
Who resigned as leader of the HOC over the decision to invade Iraq ‘without international agreement or domestic support’?
Robin Cook
How many more months did Clare Short stay in office after the decision to go to war in Iraq before she resigned?
a further 2 months
