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Component 2: UK government > PM And Executive > Flashcards

PM And Executive Flashcards

1
Q

3 jobs of the PM

A

Head of executive- chairs Cabinet, manages agenda

Appoints Cabinet

Create, abolish, merge departments

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2
Q

Main roles of executive

A

Propose legislation

Propose budget

Make policy decisions

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3
Q

Example of proposing legislation

A

Queens Speech 2015- priorities of Cameron’s gov eg EU referendum

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4
Q

List some royal prerogative

A 
Grant legal pardons
Sign treaties
Grant and withdraw passports 
Declare war
Take action to maintain order in emergency 
Appoint ministers
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5
Q

What has undermined the royal prerogatives?

A

2011 Fixed Term parliament act
(Right to call election)

Proroguing parliament

Article 50

Military action requires approval (following Iraq war and 2013 Syrian air strikes)

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6
Q

Factors governing PMs selection of ministers

A 
Ability and experience 
PMs authority (re order cabinet)
Reward loyalty 
Maintain faction balance 
Diversity
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7
Q

Lack of minister diversity example

A

No women, Major’s 1990 cabinet

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8
Q

Example of establishing PM authority

A

May trying to distance herself from Cameron, 9 ministers sacked in 24 hrs (inc George Osbourne)

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9
Q

Factors that affect PM- cabinet relationship (4)

A

LEADERSHIP- PM management skills
PMs ability to set AGENDA
Use of Cabinet for decisions
Impact of wider political and economic situation

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10
Q

Give factors which affect the PMs ability to handle events (5)

A
  1. PMs LEADERSHIP style and personality
  2. United PARTY and cabinet
  3. EXTERNAL pressures (economy etc)
  4. Size of MAJORITY
  5. PMs POPULARITY
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11
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

A

Ministers are obliged to give accurate information to parliament, if they mislead parliament they are expected to resign

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12
Q

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

A

Convention- Ministers must support all gov. decisions in public, otherwise must leave the Executive
In a vote of no confidence, the gov. as a whole must resign- matin unity against opposition

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13
Q

Give arguments for Cabinet remaining important and powerful (4)

A
  1. Cabinet approval offers LEGITIMACY in the eyes of the public and parliament
  2. PMs use Cabinet for SUPPORT in big decisions and emergencies eg Falkland’s smaller ‘war Cabinet’
  3. Can influence the REMOVAL of a PM eg Thatcher, May- not presidential
  4. Can help resolve issues and offer SCRUTINY
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14
Q

Give arguments against Cabinet remaining important (5)

A
  1. The PM controls the AGENDA and LENGTH of Cabinet meetings
  2. SCRUTINY of PM is undermined by threat of removal
  3. EXPERTISE- many Cabinet ministers don’t speak outside their remit/ department
  4. Disputes are settled outside Cabinet by PM or COMMITTEES
  5. MEDIA focus and public attention is usually on PM, they get the praise and criticism
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15
Q

Explain types of Cabinet

A

Presidential
Sofa gov.- advice from unofficial groups eg Blair
Kitchen- an ‘inner-circle’ eg Wilson, Marcia Williams sec. friend, ally

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16
Q

Give arguments that support the coalition strengthening Cameron (4)

A
  1. Gave stability and enough parliamentary VOTES
  2. The Coalition Agreement with Clegg allowed for him to fulfil manifesto eg austerity
  3. Supported by COLLECTIVE min. responsibility
  4. Passed FIXED TERM in 2011, lasted 5 years must be successful
17
Q

Give arguments against the coalition strengthening Cameron

A
  1. Cameron had to give Lib Dems 4 Cabinet POSITIONS
  2. AV referendum agreement
  3. Lords suspended SALISBURY convention as no majority on manifesto, no mandate
18
Q

Para on theme- personality and leadership, PM STRONG

A

Major not using political aided- instead Robin Butler Cab. Sec. (Thatcher’s PPS, experienced)

Thatcher- privatising industry eg British telecom/ airways/ steel, and Falklands 1982
Thatcher asserted Cabinet image through appointments, Nigel Lawson, Norman Tebbit

Blair- constitutional reform, HRA, devolution, SC, strong media image, charismatic

Cameron and coalition, electoral success, reshuffles

May copying Thatcher’s dominance, election failure, sacking Osbourne appointing allies Rudd and Hammond

19
Q

Para on theme- personality and leadership, PM WEAK

A

Thatcher- overbearing, Cabinet forced her from office in 1990, euroscepticism in leading advisors
86, Westland crisis, Defence sec. Heseltine resigned saying no longer listened to
Chancellor Lawson also resigned saying she was listening to economics advisors Walters more

Major- Europe divisions- resignation and reelection as party leader in 1995
Scandals- cash-for-questions, sex scandals, undermined by his party

Blair- presidential, overturned after 3rd election success, loss of popularity over Iraq war

Brown- not as charismatic in eyes of media, weak, indecisive

May- April 2017 voted most popular leader since 1970s, 2/3s saying more capable than Corbyn, 98% con. party supporters most copyable gov. leader, Brexit divisions, lack of unity

20
Q

Para on theme- majority and public opinion, PM STRONG

A

Thatcher- Callaghan mistimed calling an election, failed to call it before the Winter of Discontent, lost vote of no confidence, Thatcher’s party seen as more capable, Callaghan failed to control trade unionists, Thatcher didn’t, Gordon Reese and Tim Bell modern advertising and photo opportunities

Major- kept figures such as Butler from Thatcher’s until her won his own election in 1992, trusted, legitimate

Blair- election campaign and media image, no parliamentary defeats over first two terms, majority of over 160 seats across the two terms, winners bonus , Its the Sun Wot won it, New Labour Clause IV removal, focus on law and order (and its causes) appealed in middle ground, Lib Dems has similar manifesto, cause tactical voting

Cameron- 2015 election, Osbourne, austerity politics,

May- Clegg, PMQ offer to little to no scrutiny, electoral failure of opposition, Corbyn’s competence, 10 mins 6 questions

Johnson- 80, Get Brexit Done, Voter ID laws propositions

21
Q

Para on theme- majority and public opinion PM WEAK

A

Blair- 2005, 35.2 % of pop vote, lowest a single party gov. has ever achieved, became a liability

Brown- failed to call early election to get mandate, deemed cowardice ‘bottler Brown’ , damaged legitimacy when handling 2008 crash, failure in 2010

Cameron- coalition agreement- consult Clegg on all appointments are reshuffles

May- DUP, Brexit, Sack Osbourne and 9 other senior ministers in 24 hours, poor appointment, clashed with Chancellor repeatedly, dementia tax controversial, failed strong and stable
Didnt discuss snap election with Cabinet
No majority meant policy on grammar schools, free vote on fox hunting and repealing HRA was scrapped

22
Q

Para on theme- events, PM STRONG

A

Thatcher- Falklands, major success, aided election victory in 1983 with maj. of 144, authority on right to buy, privatisation and trade unions

Major- good Friday signed after left office

Cameron- austerity politics, crash 2008, elections,

Johnson- Brexit deal

23
Q

Para on theme- events, PM WEAK

A

Major- not credited, overshadowed by Black Wednesday crash

Blair- reform by Iraq war 2003, relationship with party and public

Brown- Blairite Brownite divide, hyperbolised tensions over euroscepticism, eg Powell and Campbell further constraining

Cameron- not highly credited for recovery the economy as gradual, internal party pressure on Brexit and referendum, mishandled remain campaign

May- poor handling of terrorism, parliamentary sovereignty, Article 50, ‘no gov. ca expect to be unanswerable or unchallenged. parliament alone is sovereign’ 2017,

Johnson- overshadowed by pandemic and economy, prorogation

24
Q

Para on theme- party and cabinet unity PM STRONG

A

Thatcher- 1981, allowed extensive cabinet debate on about Howe’s controversial tax raising Budget
Falklands- use of Cabinet
86, Westland crisis, Defence sec. Heseltine resigned saying no longer listened to
Chancellor Lawson also resigned saying she was listening to economics advisors Walters more

Major- Major- kept figures such as Butler from Thatcher’s until her won his own election in 1992, trusted, legitimate

Blair- sofa government, Powell, Campbell, only informed cab. of decisions once made in private office, dominant

Cameron- able to effectively form coalition, effectively negotiated, eg over Av ref. knew it would fail

May- sack Osbourne, appoint allies Rudd and Hammond, assert authority

25
Q

Para on theme- party and cabinet unity PM WEAK

A

Thatcher- Euroscepticism and divide

Major- euroscepticism,

Blair- Chilcot Report on Iraq war 2016, Blair failed to consult Cabinet. 1994, Brown agreed not to contest fro leadership if allowed complete control of the economy, prevented Blair from joining European single currency

Brown- Blairite Brownite divide, hyperbolised tensions over euroscepticism, eg Powell and Campbell further constraining

Cameron- Call Brexit ref. to appease leave wing, however mishandled campaign, coalition, gave in on AV ref. and other policy over divide

May- attempted to settle division and conflict by using both Leave and Remain Cabinet, failed due to minority and weak leadership
Didn’t discuss snap election with Cabinet

Component 2: UK government (4 decks)

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