EXTRA-The role and increase power of the PM

Question 1

Who do the PM’s powers derive from?

Answer 1

the royal prerogative

Question 2

What is the range of the PM’s responsibilities?

Answer 2

from oversight of the security services to liaising with the Monarch in a weekly meeting.

Question 3

What does the PM meet with the Monarch weekly to do?

Answer 3

the PM keeps her informed of what the government is doing and advise on matters such as the constitutional implications of a royal marriage or divorce

Question 4

What are the 6 chief tasks of the PM?

Answer 4

• Leader of his party in the country and in parliament
• responsibility for the appointment and dismissal of members of the cabinet
• Leader of the government at home and abroad
• Powers of patronage
• royal prerogative
• used to determine general election

Question 5

How will the PM use their powers of leadership?

Answer 5

to keep the party united, working our compromise solutions if necessary

Question 6

Why can the government be vulnerable meaning that the PM cannot successfully perform the role of leading their party?

Answer 6

when the majority is small and there is a sizeable block of MPs who reject key themes of party leaderships policy

Question 7

Why is the chief role of the PM being able to hire, fire or reshuffle colleges a crucial role?

Answer 7

as this can make or break their careers

Question 8

What day does the PM answer questions at PMQ’S?

Answer 8

Wednesdays

Question 9

What does PMQ’s act as on occasions such as the death of Princess Diana or some national disaster?

Answer 9

the publics voice

Question 10

As apart of the PM’s role of national leadership where will they sometimes appear?

Answer 10

on TV and will address the nation directly

Question 11

Where does the PM represent the nation as a leader of the government at home and abroad?

Answer 11

in summit conferences with European leaders, the US president and other worlds states people

Question 12

Who traditionally had powers of patronage?

Answer 12

the monarch

Question 13

Who does the PM appoint? (4)

Answer 13

-bishops
-peers
-Chairman of the BBC
-Privy Council
+ all government ministers

Question 14

Before the set general election of every 5 years, what power did the PM have in this regards?

Answer 14

the PM decided to ask the Monarch to dissolve parliament and consequently the timing of polling day

Question 15

Which PM fought 2 elections after a 5 year term?

Answer 15

John Major

Question 16

Under Tony Blair what has happened to the Prime Ministers Office?

Answer 16

it has been greatly expanded and politicised in order to enhance its capacity to support his personal approach to premiership

Question 17

unlike other ministers, what does the PM not have?

Answer 17

a department

Question 18

What is the Prime Ministers Office made up of? (2)

Answer 18

permanent civil servants and political advisers

Question 19

What has happened to the Prime Ministers Office which is made up of permanent civl servants and political advisors ?

Answer 19

it has increased in size and its membership is divided into 5 components

Question 20

What does the Private Office do?

Answer 20

this handles the PM’s official engagements and his relationship with parliament and government departments

Question 21

What is the Policy Unit?

Answer 21

this comprises of outside specialists brought in to advise on specific aspects of government policy

Question 22

What does the Political Unit do?

Answer 22

This exists to create a bridge between the party and the PM

Question 23

What is the role of the Press Office?

Answer 23

they handle relations with the media, a major importance in the Blair era due to party presentation

Question 24

What is the role of the Strategic Communications Unit?

Answer 24

this is there to spot pitfalls and coordinate ministerial announcements, ensuring that Downing Street is ahead of the game and in control of the overall direction of government

Question 25

What is patronage?

Answer 25

political patronage is the granting of favours or rewards, in this case to appoint people to important and often highly prestigious public offices

Question 26

What does primus inter pares mean?

Answer 26

first among equals

Question 27

When was the PM thought to be primus inter pares (first amoung equals)?

Answer 27

beginning of 20th century

Question 28

What did primus inter pares *first amoung equals) mean?

Answer 28

that even though the PM has powers denied to other ministers, the cabinet reached decisions collectively and on a majority basis

Question 29

What is the difference between a PM and a dictator?

Answer 29

a dictator can only be removed by a military coup whereas a PM can always be evicted from Number 10 in the next general election or a vote of no confidence

Question 30

What are the 5 constraints on the PM?

Answer 30

• The Cabinet
• the Party
• Parliament
• Events
• Hostility in the media

Question 31

What will the way in which the PM and their colleagues work together depend on?

Answer 31

the mix of personalities involved as relationships are complex and fluid

Question 32

When may premiers see their support melt away from the party when they impose strong discipline on backbenchers?

Answer 32

near elections, MPs who fear for their seats may oppose the PM

Question 33

Who is an example of who had to resign when the loss of back bench support withered?

Answer 33

Margret Thatcher / Blair / May

Question 34

When were Tony Blair’s critics regularly willing to challenge Tony Blair in the party on parliamentary divisions which undermined his authority?

Answer 34

After he announced he would not serve full term if re-elected before the 2005 general election

Question 35

Why do PM’s need to retain their support in parliament?

Answer 35

in order to get their policies through the chamber

Question 36

What does the PM appear on Wednesdays to be subjected to during Question time? (2)

Answer 36

• to defend policies to occasional select committee hearings
• to sell policies on contentious issues such as Iraq

Question 37

Who said “events, dear boy, events” ?

Answer 37

Harold Macmillan, Conservative PM of 1950’s and 60’s

Question 38

What will a poor PM on television soon find out?

Answer 38

that the media is useful to charismatic politicians but a problem for the less articulate

Question 39

IN what 2 election years did Tony Blair have a remarkable degree of press support?

Answer 39

1997, 2001

Question 40

Which newspaper contributed in 2005 to the marked hostility after issues in 2005 such as the Iraq War effects

Answer 40

Daily Mail

Question 41

What are the 8 central elements to prime ministerial power today?

Answer 41

• Appointments
• Power of Cabinet committees
• leadership of party
• single party government
• Patronage
• wartime leadership (for some)
• bureaucratic support of PM’s office and Cabinet office
• Public visibility