PM

Question 1

Role of executive

Answer 1

making policy decisions- day to day and policy implementation
Proposing legislation- primary (bills) + secondary (acts brought into force without further primary legislation
Proposing budget- economic policy and budget

Question 2

Prerogative powers( not requiring parliamentary approval)

Answer 2

granting of pardons
making and ratifying treaties
international deplomacy
patronage powers- dissolution of parliament

Question 3

Role of PM

Answer 3

political leadership
national leadership
appointing govt
chairing cabinet
managing executive
managing relations with parliament

Question 4

Powers of PM

Answer 4

patronage- power to appoint people (Life peers)
authority making in cabinet
policy making
party leadership
public standing

Question 5

PM authority in cabinet

Answer 5

chairs meetings
manages agenda
creates commitees and appoints members
holds bilateral meetings(between PM and departmental minister)
organises structure of govt

Question 6

Patronage bring significant power to PM (table)

Answer 6

Yes: appoint ministers- allies in key roles
dismiss ministers
No: Seniors have claims to posts
botched reshuffle create rivals
restricted by desire for ideological balance

Question 7

Authority in Cabinet (table) power

Answer 7

Yes: chair and steer meetings (bilateral meetings)
create commitees and appoint members
No: Seniors challenge PM policy
PM not involved in detailed policy making in commitees

Question 8

Party leadership (table) power

Answer 8

Yes: majority- head of party
No: support is not unconditional
backbench rebellions

Question 9

Public standing (table) power

Answer 9

Yes: PM higher public profile than others
provide national leadership in crisis
No: Unpopularity with electorate- undermine authority
Blamed for govt failings

Question 10

Policy making (table) power

Answer 10

Yes: PM directs policy and sets agenda
they can direct policy in areas of choosing
No: lack time and expertise for significant involvement

Question 11

PM office (table) power

Answer 11

Yes: provies advice to PM
No: Limited rescources

Question 12

Influence of cabinet committees

Answer 12

Most decisions taken in committees
implement taskforces
ministerial standing commitees

Question 13

Role and powers of Cabinet (advisory- PM ultimately decides)

Answer 13

Registering and ratifying decisions- clearing house for policy
Decisions on key issues
Settling disputes between govt departments
Determining govt business in parliament

Question 14

Is Cabinet submissive to PM (table)

Answer 14

Yes: PM can appoint and dismiss ministers
PM control over cabinet agenda
many decisions taken out of cabinet
No: limits of PM patronage powers
Ministers work together to oppose PM

Question 15

Collective responsibility and core elements

Answer 15

ministers must support cabinet decisions or resign
Secrecy
Binding decisions- binding on all members
Confidence vote- govt must resign if lose no confidence vote

Question 16

Strain on collective responsibility

Answer 16

Leaks- ministers may leak info as disgruntled
Dissent and non resignation- ministers oppose govt policy and don’t resign
PM dominance- PM undermines collective responsibility by ignoring Cabinet- Blair and Thatcher

Question 17

Indivual minsterial responsibility and what leads to resignation

Answer 17

ministers responsible to parliament for personal conduct
Mistakes in department
policy failure
personal misconduct
political pressure

Question 18

Pre-eminent PM and example

Answer 18

Brown and Cameron
legal head of govt
leadership of govt
PM office
setting political agenda

Question 19

Pre-dominant PM

Answer 19

Thatcher and Blair
Leaderhip ability and reputation
association w success
electoral popularity
high standing with party

Question 20

PM presidentialisation

Answer 20

Personalised leadership- dominant and leaves a mark(Blair and Thatcher)
Public outreach- media on PM moreso than anyone else, connect w public mood (Blair and Cameron)
Spatial leadership- distance between PM and party. Relying on advisors rather than cabinet- Blair and Cameron

Question 21

PM become presedential (table)

Answer 21

Yes: leadership become personalised
Reliance on advisors- space from govt
PM appeal to public directly through Media
No: leads but can’t command executive
PM needs support of ministers to achieve goals
Support from party not unconditional
Ministers have support of their own- govt departments

Question 22

Thatcher as PM

Answer 22

Privitisation + reduce trade union power
British gas, BA.
Less use of cabinet- more reliance on advisors

Question 23

Blair as PM

Answer 23

Less use of cabinet- bilateral meetings ‘sofa govt’

Third Way- HOL reform, devolution, HR

Question 24

Problems with spatial leadership

Answer 24

PM being held personally accountable for mistakes- Blair Iraq and Cameron over EU
Creates weakness in divisions in party