Paper 1: Prime Minister and the Executive Flashcards
Executive definition
Collective group go PM, and junior ministers, sometimes know as ‘The Government’
Cabinet definition
PM and senior ministers, most of whom lead a particular govt. department
Minister definition
An MP or member os HofL appointed to a position in the govt., usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department
Government Department definition
Part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health, defence
Royal Perogative definition
Set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by PM of cabinet such as granting of honours or of legal pardons
Secondary Legislation definition
Powers given to executive by parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules
Individual Responsibility definition
Principal by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments
Collective Responsibility definition
Principal by which ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the cabinet
Presidential Government definition
An executive dominated by one individual, may be a President, also used to describe a strong, dominant Prime Minister e.g Tony Blair
What do the House of Commons do?
Elected legislature
Creates/ designs laws, represents will of ppl
What does the executive do?
Her Majesty’s govt.
Put forward laws + runs govt., represents will of majority
What does the Judiciary do?
UK court of law
Upholds the law, represents rule of law
What do the House of Lords do?
Appointed legislature
Scrutinizes/approves laws, acts as safeguard
Represents unwritten constitution
What does the Crown do?
The Monarch
Represents the UK, signs bills into law, represents ceremony/tradition
How is the executive formed?
Party with majority of constituencies becomes governing party, leader of party must win their constituency
Leader of winning party is summoned by monarch and chooses cabinet within next few days and become PM
How is the government formed?
Inc. 100+ ministers + senior party officials chosen by PM that forms inner circle which governs country
No codified rules as to how govt. is formed
What is the government made up of?
Approx 115 ppl in govt.
23 cabinet ministers
17 whips who keep things in order
60 Junior ministers
15 senior, non-cabinet posts, heads of important offices
Not all governing party MPs are in govt., many are backbenchers
What’s a majority coalition?
2 parties form majority govt. e.g 2010
What’s a grand coalition?
2 major parties form large party, usually in times of crisis, creating an overwhelming majority e.g. WWII
What’s a rainbow coalition?
Agreement between large no. of parties, norm 1 large and several small
Agreements on varying philosophies e.g Ireland
What’s a national coalition?
All parties invited to participate at time of national crisis
Designed to create unity, happened in WWII, also referred to as grand coalition
What’s a minority government?
Unusual and normally short-lived
Also described as a caretaker govt. waiting for a fresh general election in hope to produce decisive result
What’s ministerial selection?
PM has to weigh up personal qualities v political consequences. Need to be reliable, have potential, show political support (collective responsibility)
Once considering all the qualities, only a few left
Blair and Thatcher had strong political philosophies so wanted ppl who though similar to them
Is parliament out of date? Representation
FPTP is no longer fit for purpose as designed for two-party system which isn’t the case anymore because of rise in popularity of smaller parties
Only sides in HofC
Not proportional amount of women and minorities in govt.
London is in south-east, not fully representing he country, should be more central
Is parliament out of date? Checks and balances (scrutiny)
HofL aren’t elected so can’t be held accountable for their scrutiny
However many are professional in their areas so deserve to be there
HofL doesn’t have power to stop laws permanently
What powers does the PM have?: Head of government
Appointing and dismissing ministers and conducting regular reshuffles
Head of civil service and choses senior judges and senior bishops of CofE
What powers does the PM have?: Chairing Cabinet
PM solely responsible for calling and chairing Cabinet meetings
Appoints all members of Cabinet and decides their term of reference
What powers does the PM have?: Patronage
Also responsible for appointments of senior military officers, governor of Bank of England, members of governing bodies of BBC and IBA
Advised monarch on who should be on Honours list
What powers does the PM have?: Parliamentary duties
Expected to speak in debate in response to Queen’s speech
Has to comment at the start of each parliamentary session if been to international conference
Has to answer PM’s questions
Overall control of govts strategy in both houses
What powers does the PM have?: Sovereign
PM is sovereign’s principal advisor
Has weekly meeting with Queen and occasionally advises the Queen who is constitutionally obliged to follow it