Prime minister Flashcards
Two powers of the PM
P-They are leader of the UK Government.
E-The responsibility of the government is to pass laws affecting the lives of people in the UK under the direction of the Prime Minister.
E-At present Rishi Sunak is the Prime Minister and leader of a majority government.
P- They choose members of the Cabinet.
E-They can’t run the country on their own, so they appoint Cabinet Secretaries to help look after policy areas. The Prime Minister also has the power to ‘hire and fire’ showing that they are in
charge.
E-Boris Johnson appointed Priti Patel as the Home Secretary and Alistair Jack as the Scottish Secretary.
Two roles of the PM
P- Chair Cabinet meetings and set the agenda.
E- During these meetings Cabinet Ministers will discuss important issues of government policy.
E-The Cabinet meets on a weekly basis in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street.
P- They are the spokesperson for the country.
E- When there is a crisis the Prime Minister will act as the voice of the government/nation and will also attend high-profile meetings such as the G7 and G20.
E- Boris Johnson condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. (Boris Johnson has given regular press briefings during the coronavirus pandemic)
Two reasons why the PM is powerful
P- Leader of the largest party in the House of Commons.
E-In 2019, Boris Johnson was returned as Prime Minister with 365 MPs.
E- This allowed the Conservatives to form a majority government.
P- Appoint peers to the House of Lords.
E- All Bills will be discussed and voted in the Lords and therefore the Prime Minister wants supporters of their party in the Lords to make it easier for them to pass their bills.
E- In May 2018 Theresa May appointed nine Conservative supporters to the House of Lords following the government being defeated a number of times in the Lords over Brexit.
