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

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

Which Cabinet Committees is the PM likely to chair?

Answer 10

those considered important to the direction of governmental policy

Question 11

How are decisions made in committee presented to Cabinet?

Answer 11

as established government policy

Question 12

What are bilaterals?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Who has noted that in recent years there has been an increase use of sub committees?

Answer 13

Gillian Peel

Question 14

How did Cabinet committees exist in the 19th century?

Answer 14

they exist in an unsystematic form

Question 15

What had the effect of committing the present committee structure?

Answer 15

the impact of the two world wars and the rapid expansion of governmental activity post 1945 era

Question 16

Up until what decade was the official existence of cabinet committees denied?

Answer 16

1970’s

Question 17

Since what year have the membership of Cabinet committees been published?

Answer 17

1922

Question 18

What are the two types of Cabinet committee

Answer 18

• standing committees

- Ad hoc committees

Question 19

What are Standing committees?

Answer 19

standing committees are named, permanent committees responsible for a particular policy area such as Northern Ireland and European Union and local government/

Question 20

What is the most important standing committee which is chaired by the PM?

Answer 20

the Economic and Domestic Policy Committee

Question 21

What are ad hoc committees?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

IN Tony Blair’s first administration how many ad hoc committees were there?

Answer 22

5

Question 23

What were the 5 ad hoc committees in Tony Blair’s first administration?

Answer 23

• on the celebration of the millennium
• utility regulation
• biotechnology
• genetic modification
• better government

Question 24

What is a specific advantage of committees over the cabinet?

Answer 24

they consider issues in more detail than a Cabinet meeting does

Question 25

Which committees did Tony Blair personally chair? (2)

Answer 25

• on Iraq

- international terrorism and anti-social behaviour

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Tony Blair’s and Margret Thatchers

Question 27

What does the convention of cabinet responsibility mean ?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

In public, what are cabinet members expected to do?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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 31

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

Answer 31

Lord Sailsbury

Question 32

Today, who are the lowest rank in the administrations in the labour party who are expected to toe the line?

Answer 32

the parliamentary private secretaries

Question 33

What does collective responsibility mean for ministers?

Answer 33

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 34

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

Answer 34

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

Question 35

How does the doctrine of collective responsibility avoid confusion?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

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

Answer 36

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

Question 37

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

Answer 37

as it helps make policy clear and coherent

Question 38

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

Answer 38

• 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 39

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

Answer 39

they could use coded language

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Michael Portillo on European policy under John Major

Question 41

What is an example of when some ministers have expressed personal views?

Answer 41

Peter Mandelson on the desirability of Britain joining the Eurozone.

Question 42

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

Answer 42

1975

1977

Question 43

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

Answer 43

the divisive aspects of European policy

Question 44

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

Answer 44

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

Question 45

What are parliamentary private secretaries?

Answer 45

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

Question 46

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

Answer 46

Robin Cook

Question 47

How many more months did Clare Short stay in office after the decision to go to war in Iraq before she resigned?

Answer 47

a further 2 months