Prime Minister

Question 1

What are some of the most important role of the PM

Answer 1

1) powers of patronage
2) first minister or head of govt
3) chairman of the cabinet
4) representative of the country abroad

Question 2

What are powers of patronage

Answer 2

PM can appoint, promote and dismiss people in the government and to some extent in the civil service

Pm can also advise the queen on appointments to the House of Lords and the senior judiciary

Pm dominates the honors system

Question 3

Why is it important that the PM represents the country abroad

Answer 3

Responsible for how the country is portrayed

Question 4

What is prime ministerial power

Answer 4

A government where prime minister is dominant in terms of the executive

Pm has control over everything and makes decisions on behalf of govt

They are the dominant figure in the British government system

Examples include Margaret thatcher and Tony Blair

Question 5

What is coalition government

Answer 5

Where a government is formed jointly by more than one political party

Parties can decide to form a coalition if there is a hung parliament

Question 6

What is the core executive

Answer 6

The branch of government which implements policy

This includes the PM, cabinet, cabinet committees, cabinet office and senior civil service

Question 7

Evaluate prime ministerial government

Answer 7

✅one clear leader for the country to look to
✅fast and easy to pass legislation
❌pm is constrained by cabinet
❌pm is not directly elected so has no real mandate

Question 8

Evaluate presidential government

Answer 8

✅presidents have fixed terms
✅head of state and is directly elected (so has legitimate authority)
❌separation of powers has led to stalemates
❌President has all the power - authoritarianism

Question 9

How does the cabinet limit the PMs powers

Answer 9

No PM can survive for long without the support of the majority of there cabinet colleagues

Example is Margaret thatcher who was advised her to resign

Question 10

Name 3 other ways that the prime minister may be constrained

Answer 10

• size of commons majority
• public opinion
• pms own political party

Question 11

What can the core executive model tell us about executive power

Answer 11

Argues that power is fluid and varies according to relative power of actors and circumstances

Question 12

What is spatial leadership, what model of government shows this

Answer 12

When the pm spaces them self apart from the rest of politics
Evident in a presidential governments

Question 13

Populist outreach is another reason for presidentialism, what does this mean

Answer 13

Pm speaks to the people not as leader of a political party but rather as a national leader addressing the concerns of a whole nation

Question 14

Name three other reasons for presidentialism

Answer 14

• personalised election campaigns
• personal mandates
• use of special advisors

Question 15

How does parliament limit the prime ministers powers (4)

Answer 15

• prime ministers questions
• defeat/block bills
• vote of no confidence
• select committee scrutiny

Question 16

What is a liaison select committee

Answer 16

Where the pm must appear before a select committee 3 x per year

Question 17

What do you think Is the most effective constraint

Answer 17

The size of commons majority:
If it is small the pm must attempt to appeal to other parties in order to get their legislation through, this will include compromise
This undermines the PMs authority

Question 18

Is the prime minister powerful even with these constraints

Answer 18

Yes ultimately the pm is still powerful despite these constraints, as regardless they are the head of the largest party in parliament and so have immense legislative powers

Question 19

What do personal powers of the pm depend upon

Answer 19

Their reputation
Skill
Ability
Policy success
Popularity
Public support

Question 20

Describe how Margaret thatcher demonstrated presidentialism

Answer 20

Reduced number of cabinet meetings
Limited subjects discussed
Purged ‘wets’ from the cabinet leaving her loyal ‘yes’ men around
Bypass full cabinet meetings
Acted above her colleagues
Had a parliamentary majority

Question 21

Describe how tony Blair demonstrated presidentialism

Answer 21

Made key policy announcements at staged and televised events rather than in the commons
Low common turnout (8.6%)
Unelected advisors held more power than cabinet
Won a huge majority

Question 22

What was Tony Blair’s House of Commons turnout for voting

Answer 22

8.6%

Question 23

If a party has a massive majority, what are they likely to also have

Answer 23

An electoral dictatorship