EXTRA-The Core Executive Flashcards
What is the core executive?
the core executive in Britain is the network of key institutions, people and practises at the heart of government, including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and its committees, the PM’s Cabinet Office and the governments law officers and the security and intelligence services.
Where does the term executive derive from?
the latin ex sequi meaning ‘to follow’ or ‘carry out’
What is the role of the executive branch of government in the political system?
to make policies and administer laws
As long as there has been political systems, there have been individuals or small groups who assume the role of what?
leadership, formulating and implementing public poly
Who does the core executive comprise of?
- PrimeMinister
- Cabinet and its committees
- the offices that serve the first minister and Cabinet
- the departments headed by senior ministers
What do the groups in the core executive represent?
the pinnacle of the decision making process
Who was involved of the membership of the core during the build up to and invasion and occupation of Iraq?
members of the intelligence services and leaders among the military
In the British system, in theory, what provides executive leadership and political direction?
the Cabinet
Although in theory the executive leadership and political direction is provided by the Cabinet, who in practise actually has this?
the PM
What does the idea of the core executive useful in helping us to understanding?
that the government is a fluid process in which many different people, offices and relationships are involved
Who does the term ‘Cabinet’ relate to?
this relates to the group of the most senior ministers who are chosen by the PM and are at the centre of the British political system
What are the Cabinet collectively empowered to do?
to make all decisions on behalf of the overnemtn
Who are most members within the Cabinet?(what do they do)
they are heads of government departments with the title of Secretary of State
Who are the Cabinet drawn from?
either chamber of parliament
In the traditional constitutional theory, who were the key formal decision making body of the Executive?
the Cabinet
In the traditional constitutional theory, what did the Cabinet do?
they directed the work of government and coordinated the activities of individual departments
What was the Cabinet described as by Walter Bagehot in the 19th century?
as the ‘efficient secret’
What was the Cabinet referred to as in the early-mid 20th century?
the ‘core of the British constitutional system’
What do academics now often debate government is after the reduced role of the Cabinet as a decision making body?
Prime Ministerial government
What is a Cabinet Government?
this is a system in which the government forms a collective political executive with each member having in theory an equal influence other than the PM who is ‘first among equals’. The Cabinet makes or is consulted about all important political decisions
What is Prime Ministerial government?
this is a system in which the office of PM has become a power house, executive power being concentrated in his or her hands. Policy making is dominated by the PM rather than by the collective will of the cabinet
where are most cabinet members drawn from?
the HOC
How many Cabinet ministers do we currently have?
23
When do we especially have experiments with smaller cabinets?
at times of war
What does Kavanagh 1994 say regarding the size of Cabinets?
“It has to be small enough to allow ministers the opportunities to discuss, deliberate and coordinate major policies”
during WW1 how many members were there in the small War Cabinet?
5
What could be a problem of not being able to represent all shades of opinion in the PM’s Cabinet?
there would be a danger that the Cabinet could easily lose touch with the party and public opinion
who are the 3 most important figures in the Cabinet ?
PM
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Home Sectary
Why does the chief whip attend the cabinet?
to advise the Cabinet ministers of the feeling on the back benches of the party in order to ensure that the leadership does not lose touch with other MPs
What were Blair Cabinets noted for?
the number of women they included
