PM Flashcards
Role of executive
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
Prerogative powers( not requiring parliamentary approval)
granting of pardons
making and ratifying treaties
international deplomacy
patronage powers- dissolution of parliament
Role of PM
political leadership national leadership appointing govt chairing cabinet managing executive managing relations with parliament
Powers of PM
patronage- power to appoint people (Life peers) authority making in cabinet policy making party leadership public standing
PM authority in cabinet
chairs meetings manages agenda creates commitees and appoints members holds bilateral meetings(between PM and departmental minister) organises structure of govt
Patronage bring significant power to PM (table)
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
Authority in Cabinet (table) power
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
Party leadership (table) power
Yes: majority- head of party
No: support is not unconditional
backbench rebellions
Public standing (table) power
Yes: PM higher public profile than others
provide national leadership in crisis
No: Unpopularity with electorate- undermine authority
Blamed for govt failings
Policy making (table) power
Yes: PM directs policy and sets agenda
they can direct policy in areas of choosing
No: lack time and expertise for significant involvement
PM office (table) power
Yes: provies advice to PM
No: Limited rescources
Influence of cabinet committees
Most decisions taken in committees
implement taskforces
ministerial standing commitees
Role and powers of Cabinet (advisory- PM ultimately decides)
Registering and ratifying decisions- clearing house for policy
Decisions on key issues
Settling disputes between govt departments
Determining govt business in parliament
Is Cabinet submissive to PM (table)
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
Collective responsibility and core elements
ministers must support cabinet decisions or resign
Secrecy
Binding decisions- binding on all members
Confidence vote- govt must resign if lose no confidence vote
Strain on collective responsibility
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
Indivual minsterial responsibility and what leads to resignation
ministers responsible to parliament for personal conduct Mistakes in department policy failure personal misconduct political pressure
Pre-eminent PM and example
Brown and Cameron legal head of govt leadership of govt PM office setting political agenda
Pre-dominant PM
Thatcher and Blair Leaderhip ability and reputation association w success electoral popularity high standing with party
PM presidentialisation
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
PM become presedential (table)
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
Thatcher as PM
Privitisation + reduce trade union power
British gas, BA.
Less use of cabinet- more reliance on advisors
Blair as PM
Less use of cabinet- bilateral meetings ‘sofa govt’
Third Way- HOL reform, devolution, HR
Problems with spatial leadership
PM being held personally accountable for mistakes- Blair Iraq and Cameron over EU
Creates weakness in divisions in party
