Powers and Limitations of the PM

Question 1

What are the 5 powers of the PM?

Answer 1

• Powers of patronage
• Powers over cabinet, government & the civil service
• Powers over Parliament
• Powers over the agenda
• Powers on the world stage

Question 2

Under what Act does the PM have the power to appoint senior judges?

Answer 2

Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (but judges are recommended by an independent commission)

Question 3

Through the powers of patronage what can the PM nominate individuals for?

Answer 3

for the honours list + peerage

Question 4

Under the powers of patronage, who can the PM appoint in the Church of England?

Answer 4

Bishops

Question 5

Under the powers of patronage what 6 powers does the PM have?

Answer 5

• appoint and dismiss ministers at cabinet level or below
• appoint senior civil servants
• appoint bishops in the Church of England
• create peers
• appoint senior judges
• nominate individuals for the honours list

Question 6

In what 3 ways does the PM have control over cabinet meetings?

Answer 6

the PM decides the

• number
• timing
• duration
• agenda

Question 7

Under the powers the PM has over cabinet, government and civil service, what 6 things does the PM control?

Answer 7

• the number, timing and duration of cabinet meetings
• cabinet agendas
• conduct of meetings and who speaks
• structure and composition of cabinet committees
• the makeup and organisation of the government
• appointments to higher levels of the civil service

Question 8

Why can the PM rely on party loyalty?

Answer 8

as that party is in government & often the PM can claim responsibility for the election victory

Question 9

Who used the tactic of when ‘backs are against the wall’ to threaten to ask the queen to dissolve Parliament as a means of forcing rebels from his/her own party into line?

Answer 9

John Major

Question 10

Why did John Major face rebels?

Answer 10

over a number of votes relating Maastricht Treaty in 1993-94

Question 11

What is the PM’s position as world leader rooted in?

Answer 11

rooted in the prerogative powers to make war and conclude treaties

Question 12

In what 5 ways are the powers of the PM limited?

Answer 12

1) Limited by the cabinet
2) Limited by Parliament
3) Limited by the party
4) Limited by public opinion
5) Limited by their own abilities and by circumstances

Question 13

Who are 2 examples of cabinet ministers who have allowed ideological balance in a cabinet?

Answer 13

• John Prescott 1997

- Ken Clarke 2010

Question 14

Who are 2 examples of cabinet ministers who have achieved this position through supporting one’s rise to the position of PM?

Answer 14

• Gordon Brown in 1997

- George Osborne 2010

Question 15

What may happen if the PM excludes or forces out key figures of the cabinet?

Answer 15

They could become dangerous enemies on the back benches

Question 16

Who is an example of a cabinet minister forced out as a back bencher who became a dangerous enemy under Thatcher ?

Answer 16

Michael Heseltine

Question 17

Who are 3 examples of a cabinet ministers forced out as a back bencher who became a dangerous enemy under Blair

Answer 17

• Mo Mowlan
• Clare Short
• Robin Cook

Question 18

What did Mo Mowlan accuse Blair of

Answer 18

“control freakery”

Question 19

Why did Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe threaten to resign from Margret Thatchers cabinet?

Answer 19

over the issue of UK entry to the Exchange Rate Mechanism in June 1989

Question 20

What are 2 examples under Thatcher and Blair whereby specific policies which faced serious opposition have led the PM to face significant difficulties when these policies failed?

Answer 20

• Thatcher and the Poll Tax

- Blair and Iraq war

Question 21

How can Parliament cause the PM embarrassment?

Answer 21

Through PMQ’s

Question 22

When is an example of when the Commons have forced the government to back down?

Answer 22

Gordon Browns concessions over the removal of the 10% tax rate in 2008

Question 23

When have the Commons removed a government?

Answer 23

James Callaghan in 1979

Question 24

How can the Commons remove a government?

Answer 24

through carrying a vote of no confidence

Question 25

Who’s leadership challenge ultimately resulted in Margret Thatchers resignation?

Answer 25

Michael Heseltine

Question 26

What is an example of an unpopular policy under Blair which provoked massive backbench rebellions?

Answer 26

top-up fees (tuition fees for uni students)

Question 27

What 2 things can damage a PM’s long-term prospects

Answer 27

• disappointing opinion poll ratings

- bad results in local elections and by-elections

Question 28

Who famously remarked that ‘the office of the PM is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it’?

Answer 28

Herbert Asquith

Question 29

What did Herbert Asquith remark?

Answer 29

That ‘the office of the PM is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it’

Question 30

What might the circumstances in which the PM holds in office include? (2)

Answer 30

• size of Commons majority

- economic conditions

Question 31

Who remarked it is often ‘Events, dear boy. Events’ that do most to shape a premiership?

Answer 31

Harold Macmillan

Question 32

What did Harold Macmillan remark?

Answer 32

that it is often ‘Events, dear boy.Events’ that do most to shape a premiership