Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Politics A-Level > GOVP2 - Executive > Flashcards

GOVP2 - Executive Flashcards

1
Q

Tomlin Commission on Civil Service definition (1931)

A

Servants of the Crown, other than holders of political or judicial offices, who are employed in a civil capacity and whose remuneration is paid wholly and directly out of moneys voted by parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Bagehot on cabinet

A

Efficient secret (of system)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

2 types of government in terms of leadership

A

Prime Ministerial or Cabinet government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Example of small cabinets

A

Heath (1970-74) who used super-ministries with larger areas of policy covered

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Benefits of small cabinets

A

More national interest than departmental battles, more frequent meetings, clearer driving force can be seen by PM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Issues of small cabinets

A

Cabinet lack experience and ability to represent all wings of party, lack of opportunity for youngers to come up, too much stress on Secretary of State

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Importance of unity with PM and Chancellor

A

Key to avoiding cabinet from dividing and desire contrary objectives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Importance of whip in cabinet

A

So that votes are lost damagingly in the House and backbenches are not ignored

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

4 roles of cabinet

A

Deciding on major policy, tackling major problems, coordinating policies of different departments, planning for long term

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Blair on coordination in cabinet of policy

A

Joined up government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Power of cabinet committees

A

Equal to that of a cabinet decision so matters not always brought out fully to cabinet for consultation, as they have expertise and time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How have cabinet meeting lengths and frequencies changed?

A

Decreased from around 100 a year from war down to 40 for Blair, but longer for Callaghan and Major due to leadership style and lack of agreement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the role of Cabinet Secretariat?

A

30-40 members of civil service that organize cabinet meetings before and after they happen, as well as Cabinet Secretary being in cabinet and highest post in civil service

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Power of Cabinet Secretary shown in

A

Richard Crossman saying two men decided on cabinet agenda as well as increased politicisation of Jeremy Heywood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Role of Cabinet Office

A

1,500 civil service staff to aid cabinet, PM mainly, as well as implementation of reform, and coordination of security and intelligence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Example of emergency cabinet

A

COBRA meeting with PM, relevant security staff and mayors as well as relevant members of cabinet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was Cabinet Office for Blair?

A

‘Dynamic centre’ with PM, CO and Treasury working together with departments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Power of Cabinet Office on advice

A

Major through to Blair with Units such as Social Exclusion Unit, specific to help PM on that area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

4 types of cabinet groups

A

Inner cabinet, kitchen cabinet (with more political advisors), cabinet committees and bilaterals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

2 smaller cabinet groups

A

Subcommittees and taskforces which work with civil service and experts but without cabinet authority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Most power cabinet committee

A

Economy and Industrial Strategy Committee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

2 types of cabinet committees

A

Standing committees and ad hoc ones (non-permanent such as Blair’s millennium celebrations)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How did Blair use cabinet committees to his advantage?

A

Increase power over cabinet with meetings and increased knowledge as a result

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Lord Melbourne on collective cabinet responsibility

A

It doesn’t matter what we say, as long as we all tell the same story

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Power of collective cabinet responsibility spreads to

A

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Benefits of collective cabinet responsibility

A

Coherent, seeming in control and no confusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How has collective cabinet responsibility failed?

A

Leaking of views by cabinet, thinly-veiled messages in speeches as personal views (Boris Johnson) and in times of disunity open disagreement allowed (Brexit or Callaghan in 1977 allowing such action)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How has Blair changed cabinet?

A

Rubber stamping decisions made elsewhere rather than actual disagreements discussed, members are more important as heads of department than discussers of policy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Clare Short on Blair cabinet

A

An increasingly small number of advisors… making decisions without proper discussion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Cabinet Secretary Butler opinion on Blair cabinet

A

Too many sofa chats and more informality, as a result lack of clarity and not enough meetings between defense and overseas committee on Iraq, disliked unscripted reports in cabinet on Iraq

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

5 parts of Prime Minister’s Office

A

Private Office (official engagements), Policy Unit, Political Unit, Press Office and Strategic Communications Unit (spot pitfalls/coordinate minister announcements)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Asquith on PM power

A

The office of Prime Minister is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Why is it key to keep cabinet on side as PM?

A

Don’t want to end up like Thatcher, and also keeps rivals on side and keeps government strong and seemingly more in control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Reason to keep party on side

A

Need loyalty to pass votes, as well as avoid revolts against when announced you will step down such as with Blair in 2005

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Reason to keep Parliament on side

A

Can help legitimacy with large decisions such as Brexit or Iraq War vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

5 constraints on PM power

A

Cabinet, Party, Parliament, events and media hostility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

How can the media constrain PM power?

A

Supportive media of Blair in 1997 and 2001 soured in 2005 creating more general hostility towards government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Power of PM over cabinet in its organization

A

Organizing cabinet meeting agenda and cabinet committees as well as use of SpAds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Supporters of Prime Ministerial government idea

A

Crossman (1976) and Mackintosh (1977), cabinet ‘a clearing house and court of appeal’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Example of changing power of a PM

A

Blair losing it from 2005 with 90 day detention, Iraq and resurgent Tory party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

How has Blair changed decision making and PM role?

A

PMO gives him greater powers as does pre-eminence in shaping policy particularly on foreign matters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

How has Blair changed the PM and media?

A

Use of Alistair Campbell and making policy announcements as staged events rather than in Parliament (shows lack of care)

43
Q

Foley (2000) on Blair

A

Support for spatial leadership idea where one is above the fray, like Reagan, but as cabinet is still in constitutional position, the systems are different

44
Q

Who is the top civil servant in a Department?

A

Permanent Secretary

45
Q

Examples of executive agency and department relationship?

A

Her Majesty’s Prison Service for Home Office, and Jobcentre Plus with DWOP

46
Q

Example of non-ministerial department

A

Assets Recovery Agency

47
Q

Size of Civil Service in 1976, 1999 and 2015

A

750,000, 460,000, 480,000

48
Q

Number of leading officials in Civil Service

A

Around 800

49
Q

Reason for decreasing Civil Service size

A

Privatisation, outsourcing and cutbacks

50
Q

1968 Fulton Report

A

Calls for removal of ‘cult of the amateur’ in Civil Service

51
Q

How has civil service recruitment changed?

A

Less Oxbridge and arts subjects, more minorities

52
Q

Roles of higher civil servants

A

Preparing legislation, administration, heling to develop government department’s attitude on policy, implementation

53
Q

How did policy implementation change under Thatcher?

A

Civil Service took more leading role

54
Q

Benefits of permanence

A

Expertise and ability to be frank without fear of political firing

55
Q

Issues of permanence

A

Lack of change at the top so no fresh initiatives

56
Q

Benefits of neutrality

A

Makes the system workable as they cannot override democratically taken decisions

57
Q

Issues with neutrality

A

Too much of being ‘neutral on the government’s side’ in particular when competing with Special Advisors

58
Q

Issue of neutrality under Thatcher

A

As PM she choose top civil servants based on efficiency and support of government

59
Q

Number of special advisors in 1994 and 2005

A

34 up to 84

60
Q

Benefits of anonymity

A

No identification with a policy (leading to sack in government change of power), ability to be frank without fear of public lambasting

61
Q

Issues of anonymity

A

Made hide bad advice as not accountable, no incentive for efficiency, and have become more well known with Select Committees and power over Brexit

62
Q

Change to Civil Service Code in 2006

A

Anonymity was taken out as a key clause

63
Q

Example of non-parliamentary minister

A

Sir Digby Jones, CBI leader turned Minister of state for Trade and Investment

64
Q

Number of ministers in health and transport department for Brown

A

5 and 3

65
Q

Ministerial Code of 1995

A

Emphasis on not misleading public

66
Q

Changes to Civil Service under Thatcher overall

A

Next Steps programmes based on Ibbs Report, splitting agencies with Chief Executives for implementation, and departments with ministers for policy making

67
Q

Limits on Minister power with personal issues

A

Lack of permanency (around 2 years), lack knowledge specifically so no clear objectives, many demands with Cabinet, media and constituency

68
Q

Limits on Minister power with civil service issues

A

6 of them versus one of you, lack of control of information compared to civil service (including whistleblowers and leakers) and practiced art of delay of mandarins

69
Q

Number of Trade and Industry Secretaries of State under Thatcher/Major years

A

12

70
Q

What is the traditional public administration model of department relationships?

A

Civil servants advise, ministers decide, with individual ministerial responsibility taking key importance

71
Q

What is the adversarial model of department relationships?

A

Supported by left, where the ‘departmental view’ of civil servants and reluctance to change frustrates left-wing ministers

72
Q

What is the Whitehall community model of department relationships?

A

Expertise of civil servant and political work of minister is used together to fight for limited government resources (like with Treasury versus Health), a mutually beneficial relationship

73
Q

What is the public choice model of department relationships?

A

New Right thinking where department imperialism leads to growing size of government waste, with civil service leading plan and getting backing from minister

74
Q

Who put forward the idea of the 4 models of department relationships?

A

Kevin Theakston (1999)

75
Q

Dennis Healey (Chancellor in 70s) on civil service

A

The minister that complains that his civil servants are too powerful is either a weak minister if an incompetent one

76
Q

Heath on civil service

A

There is nothing they dislike more than a minister whom they feel is weak, who does not know his mind

77
Q

Why ‘on tap, but not on top’?

A

In the end the minister has responsibility so will make own decisions

78
Q

Number of education ministers and permanent secretaries 1945-2004

A

27 and 11

79
Q

Powers of civil servants in terms of relationships and powers

A

Have interdepartmental relationships like ministers and have power of patronage over those under them

80
Q

Why are unimportant government departments badly led?

A

New ministers keep coming and going on their way up the ladder, such as Education Secretary

81
Q

Benefit and disadvantage of individual ministerial responsibility

A

MPs have someone to ask about issues to, gives accountability but not at all to permanent secretary, and only a convention

82
Q

Areas of ministerial responsibility according to Brazier (1988)

A

Private conduct, general conduct of department and acts done or left undone in government (rarely policy)

83
Q

Crichel Down Affair

A

Land acquisitioned during war sold in 50s not to original owner, leading to Agriculture Minister Sir Thomas Dugdale stepping down

84
Q

Example individual ministerial responsibility under Thatcher

A

Due to lack of foresight or preparation on Falklands War, even with South Georgia invasion as warning, whole ministerial team and Lord Carrington resigned

85
Q

Benefit of individual ministerial responsibility for PM

A

Minister can be fall guy, not PM themselves like with Falklands War

86
Q

How has individual ministerial responsibility decreased in terms of the news cycle?

A

If popular MPs will support a minister, and media will accept limited ability of minister to affect certain issues which did not involve them

87
Q

How has individual ministerial responsibility decreased in terms of ministers ability?

A

Home Office receives many complaints - minister can’t know all, while agencies give a shield such as with prison riots

88
Q

Pankhurst gaol break of 1995

A

Prison governor Derek Lewis and Home Secretary Michael Howard neither took responsibility for matter, creating debate over if personal matters and constitutional department responsibilities are under the ministers power, or just the former

89
Q

Benefits of individual ministerial responsibility for efficient bureaucracy and opposition

A

Civil Service know that their mismanagements will have to be answered for in the House, and opposition have individuals that they can criticise to expose departmental failings publicly

90
Q

Example of ministerial resigning for poor behaviour

A

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon 2017

91
Q

Example of ministerial resignation for misuse of power

A

1998 Peter Mandelson for not disclosing a loan to a fellow minister to facilitate an house purchase, and 2001 for fast-tracking visas for Labour Party donors Hinduja brothers

92
Q

Example of ministerial resignation for disagreements with government

A

Robin Cook in 2003 over Iraq War

93
Q

Why was the Civil Service criticised before 80s reforms?

A

Elitism disliked by left, barrier to change disliked by radical left and right, civil service needed more expertise for expanding state

94
Q

How did Thatcher reform the civil service with changes to membership?

A

Less of them, more cl`osely aligned to New Right thinking, with outsider advisors such as Sir John Hoskyns to bring market values in bureaucracy

95
Q

How did Thatcher reform the civil service with changes to organisation?

A

Ibbs Report within the Efficiency Unit led to calls for blocks of executive work to be done by agencies while core civil service work with departments

96
Q

How did Blair change civil service thinking?

A

More about achieving end goal, like smaller classroom sizes, than the means of it be it agency or department

97
Q

How did Blair create a long-term thinking attitude in government?

A

Performance and Innovation Unit set up to sort out cross-departmental disputes (joined up government) as well as Lord Falconer working within Cabinet Office to make sure goals were long term

98
Q

How did Blair open up the civil service with fresh ideas?

A

Change culture of senior servant ‘departmentalitis’ where the department view is taken over the party one, and Millbank New Labour machine with special advisors was brought into the Civil Service

99
Q

Benefits of special advisors

A

Give political aspect to problem, particularly when the minister may be easily persuaded by their Permanent Secretary on policy

100
Q

Mo Mowlam on special advisors

A

Strong central support and political focus

101
Q

Issues with special advisors in terms of power

A

They are seen as unelected ministers

102
Q

Example of special advisor/Civil Service clash

A

Jo Moore ‘good day to get out anything we want to bury’ leading to her and civil servant Martin Sixsmith resigning due to political nature

103
Q

Benefits of special advisors for Civil Service

A

Gives CW ability to carry out political work without losing neutrality as special advisors can be used

104
Q

Other from Theakston

A

Weber’s theory of the ‘dictatorship of the official’

Politics A-Level (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions