Key Terms

Question 1

Authority

Answer 1

A form of power based on consensus about who has the right to make decisions

Question 2

Cabinet

Answer 2

The most senior part of the executive, made up of 20 or so most senior ministers who have responsibility for major government departments. Members of the Cabinet are chosen by the PM who normally chairs its meetings.

Question 3

Cabinet government

Answer 3

The idea that the major government decisions are taken collectively by members of the Cabinet after proper discussion.

Question 4

Coalition government

Answer 4

This occurs when no single party has an overall majority in the Commons and two (or more) parties join together to form a government.

Question 5

Collective responsibility

Answer 5

The convention or unwritten rule that members of the cabinet must accept and publicly support its collective decisions or resign

Question 6

Conservative Party

Answer 6

A centre-right to right-wing party based on the ideology of conservatism.