PM and cabinet Flashcards
powers of the PM - patronage
the ability to hire and make appointments
not checked by the legislature
how is the PM strengthened by patronage
-promote loyal colleagues making a stronger cabinet
-controls career making them more loyal
powers of the PM- cabinet management
the ability to shuffle cabinet
how is the PM strengthened by cabinet management
-control cabinet and how long it meets for
-chair the most important meetings
how can cabinet management limit PM powers
- cabinet resignations can damage authoirty of the PM
powers of the PM - political circumstances
-strong economy gives advantage
-large majoirty- more likely to pass legislation
constraints on the PM - cabinet
-if the PM fails the cabinet will likely not support them
-cabinet resignations lose authority of the PM
constraints on the PM - party
if the party does not have faith in the PM then they will not survive. e.g Tony blairs authority over labour party was weaked by his support of the 2003 iraq war
constraints on the PM- electorate
-PMs popularity may decilne in the public
-parties will not support a PM if they do not think they can provide electoral success
features of a presidential government
strong PMs office
personalised leadership
communicator in chief
control of foreign policy
why is the PM not presidential
can be removed from a vote of no confidence
can be removed from party pressure
a PM likely to use cabinet for decision making
cabinet government
PM is first among equals
collegial decision making style
example of cabinet government
2010 coalition between conservatives and lib dems
individual ministerial responsibility
-holds minsiters responsible for their actions and their departments actions
-expected to resign after any major failings
-keeps a strong and accountable government
-fails when ministers blame others
ministerial responsibiltiy example
2016 Amber Rudd resigned after her departments targets for deporting illegal immigrants misled legal officials
collective responsibility
-ministers that fail to publicly support cabinet decisions must resign
-ensures a united cabinet
-ministers may defend policies they disagree with so they dont have to resign
collective responsibility examle
2018 Boris Johnson disagreed with Chequers Deal for leaving the EU
where do powers of PM and minsisters come from
Crown Preogative
what do select comittees do
scrutinise and investigate govt and publish report which they must respond to in 60 days
broken down into departmental
how does PM have control legislation
-three line party whips
-parliamentary sovereignty
-control parliament timetables
how did the HRA 1998 shit sovereignhty
introduces rulings from ECHR placing sovereignty in the judiciary
how did the constituional reforms shift sovereignty
moved it to other political instituions e.g devolution
transferred HoL power to SC
how is the PM limited by patronage
ministers must come from HOC or HOL so limited choice and must be from majority party
must be a balance of ideas to prevent alienation of. party
it may be better to have opponents in the cabinet as they are bounded by collective responsibility
how do political circumstances weaken the PM
small majority = PM grip and power more precautious
example of patronage power
David Cameron appointed George Osborne as chancellor as they were close allies with similar ideologies
3 qualifications to become PM
Must all be MPs and sit in HOC (Lord Salisbury and Lord Cameron exceptions)
they must be a party leader
their party must have majority control of the HOC and come into power as a result of winning election (Thatcher) and out leave office as a result of leadership election defeat (Callaghan 1979)
primus inter pares
first amongst equals
roles of the PM
sets the overall direction and defines policy goals
chairs cabinet meetings
set up staff cabinet committees
they set up, reorganise and abolish government departments
national leadership in times of criss
constitution theory of cabinet
highest executive body above the PM and so the uk has a cabinet government system
three central features of cabinet
fuses the exec and leg bodies as its members head government departments but are also drawn from and held accountable by parliament
controls the policy making process and makes major government decisions
policy is made democratically within cabinet
main roles of cabinet
approve policy discussions and debates
e.g. Blair decision to make BofE semi-independent was consulted with chancellor brown
ensure ministers know what is going on in their departments and reconcile their individual responsibilities
raise issues and stimulate discussion and take in the views and morale of parliament
cabinet meetings - Pm reports and policies are confirmed.to maintain strong government underpinned by collective ministerial responsibility
2 main features of collective ministerial responsibility
implies the government are collective responsible to parliament and rests on the confidence of the HOC
implies all ministers are to support govt majority policy publicly and in parliament, failure to do is implies political secrecy
features of individual ministerial responsibility
implies ministers are responsible for parliament and the actions of their departments reflected in the obligation to inform e.g. question time
cabinet government
helps to ensure cabinet collegiality
a ministers resignation could threaten the strength of govt and authority of the PM
prime ministerial govt
PM dominates policy making process
cabinet only acts as advisor to the govt
presidentialism
growth of spatial leadership (PMs distancing themselves from cabinet)
Pm addressing the nation in times go high crisis
mass media increasingly portraying the elections as battle between the leaders
they are he ideological councousness of their party, their source of conviction and policy direction
select comittee examples
defence select committee
energy security SC
transport select comittee
