P2 - The Cabinet Flashcards
What are the functions of the cabinet
making formal decisions, coordinating government policy, providing a forum, managing parliamentary business, managing emergencies
How many cabinet committees are there
approximately 25
what are some examples of cabinet committees
national security council, home affairs committee, economic affairs committee, Scotland committee, social justice committee
What does Cabinet do in reference to goals
they discuss the government’s strategy and goals
What is an example of the Cabinet making key decisions
whether to hold an election in 2017
Name some powerful cabinet ministers
Chancellor of the Exchequer
What is an example of a PM relying on their Cabinet
May’s cabinet deciding on the type of Brexit to have
How does the Cabinet have power over the PM
Thatcher’s cabinet famously aided her departure (Hesseltine)
What is the cabinet place the only place for
where disputes between ministers can be dealt with out of the public eye
what does the cabinet do during coalition government
they reconcile differences between coalition partners
when is the cabinet more significant
under coalition
who deals with crises and emergencies
Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA)
What powers does the PM have over the Cabinet
powers of patronage
how has the Americanisation of the political system reduced the power of the cabinet
they rely less on the cabinet for policy advice, and more on political advisors
what gives the PM power to silence dissenters in the Cabinet
collective responsibility
what has happened to the Cabinet in recent years
they meet for less time and tends to rubber-stamp decisions made elsewhere
how does the PM control Cabinet
they control the workings of the Cabinet by shaping the Cabinet’s agenda as well as chairing meetings. They decide the number and nature of Cabinet
what is the growth of cabinet committees seen as
a way for the PM to bypass the Cabinet as a form of ‘inner cabinet’
how can the cabinet give PM lots of power
a cabinet united behind its PM gives a PM enormous power
what is collective responsibility
it is a convention that requires that they all stick to an agreed responsibility and do not question it in public.
why is collective responsibility necessary
it ensures the minister present a united front against the opposition
it means that discussions inside the Cabinet remain private and disagreement remains confidential
it binds the government together
it can enhance the prime ministerial power
what are ministers legal responsibilities
responsible for all that goes on within their own department
must give accurate information to Parliament, if they mislead Parliament they are expected
the PM decides how long a minister remains in office
what is an example of a ministers departmental responsibility
David Cameron resigned as PM after the UK had voted to leave the EU in June 2016. However, Theresa May did not resign as Home Sec in 2011 over lapses in border controls as she argued that a civil servant, Brodie Clark, acted beyond the guidelines she gave him
what is an example of ministers having to give accurate information in 2018
Amber Rudd resigned as Home SEc in 2018 as she inadvertently misled Parliament over the question of whether she knew about targets to remove illegal immigrants.
what is an example of ministers having to give accurate information in 2011
Liam Fox had to resign in Oct 2011 as Werrity in the Ministry of Defence business came into the public domain
what is an example of the PM deciding how long a minister remains in office
In 2002 Estelle Morris resigned as education sec after failing to meet gov targets on literacy and numeracy tests.
What is an example of an MP staying despite other advice
Theresa May remained Home Sec in 2012 despite confusion over deadlines for appeals against Abu Qatada’s deportation to Jordan
What is a minister’s political responsibility
they are responsible for their own political conduct. In this situation, ministers may be forced to resign because of personal failure, which is not necessarily related to their performance as a minister
what does a politicians fate depend on
how serious an issue is perceived be, how critical Parliament is about the matter and any media response, how the PM responds to the issue
Why did Maria Miller resign and when
She resigned as culture sec in 2014 after a row over her expenses
Why did Mark Harper resign and when
He resigned as immigration minister in 2014 after it emerged his cleaner did not have permission to work in the UK
Why did Chris Huhne resign and when
He resigned in 2012 as he was told he would face a criminal charge for avoiding a speeding offence
Why did Conservative MP Brooks Newmark step down
he stepped down as a minister over a newspaper report that he sent an explicit image of himself to an undercover reporter
Why was Peter Mandelson forced to resign
over the allegation that he abused his position to give the Hinduja brothers passports. The PM told him he had to resign without waiting to see how accurate such allegations were
