EXTRA-Prime Ministerial or Cabinet government? Flashcards
What did Crossman in 1976 explain the thesis of?
of prime ministerial government has meant that “The Cabinet now joins the dignified elements of the constitution”
Who were Crossman’s views were confirmed by Professor Mackintosh 1977 who said what?
Cabinet was becoming a “clearing house and court of appeal”
Who said in 1977 that the Cabinet was becoming a “clearing house and court of appeal”
Professor Mackintosh
Who’s premiership provided a renewed impetus in the debate about whether we have a ‘government by Prime Minister’?
Margret Thatcher’s
What does the thesis of prime ministerial government tend to do?
over-generalise
What did the last 18 months of Blair’s premiership see?
a leader beset with difficulties
What humiliating defeat did Tony Blair face in 2005?
his plan to allow the police to detain suspected terrorists for up to 90 days without charge
Who lacked the inclination or mystery of the affairs to be in position to dominate his administration and did not have a presidential or dictatorial leadership?
Sir Alec Douglas Home
What 4 things to the PM and US President have in common?
- substantial powers of patronage
- opportunities to manipulate media
- substantial control over policy making support
- act as a national leader
How is the PM different in the fact that Britain have separated the ‘pomp from power’ as a separate head of state?
in the US, the President combines the roles of head of executive and head of state
What is the difference of the US to the fact that the PM can be brought down such as Margret Thatcher in 1990?
the president has more security of tenure having a fixed term
How is the US different to the UK from the fact that in the UK we have a plural executive, with the PM and cabinet both responsible to the Commons?
The US has a single executive and the US Cabinet is not a significant body in policy deliberations and policy making
What did those who detected presidential qualities in Tony Blair point out
(5)
- large apparatus in Downing Street
- his pre-eminence in shaping policy
- priority of the presentation of policy and manipulation of media
- staged key announcements
- the quality which Michael Foley called spatial leadership
What has the PM’s Office became under the development of Tony Blair?
It has become a de facto if not formalised PM’s department
Who do Presidents rely on as opposed to the backing a PM gets from the Cabinet?
upon an array of advisers and consultants many whom are located in the Executive Office of the President
