Prime Minister and Executive

Question 1

What is the executive?

Answer 1

-the decision-making branch of government, centered on the prime minister and cabinet and its committees

Question 2

What is the cabinet?

Answer 2

-the group of senior ministers, chaired by the prime minister, which is the main collective decision-making body in the government

Question 3

What is a minister?

Answer 3

-a member of either the house of commons or the house of Lords who serves the government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department

Question 4

What is a government department?

Answer 4

-a part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility for an area such as education, health, or defense

Question 5

What are the roles of the prime minister?

Answer 5

• head of the executive and chair of cabinet

- appoints all ministers who sit on cabinet committees

Question 6

What are the roles of cabinet?

Answer 6

• administrative support and help deliver policy

- part of cabinet committees that deal in specific areas

Question 7

What are the roles of government departments?

Answer 7

• responsible for an area of policy

- each headed by a cabinet minister

Question 8

What is an executive body?

Answer 8

-semi-independent bodies that carry out some of the functions of government departments

Question 9

What are the main roles of the executive?

Answer 9

• proposing legislation
• proposing the budget
• making policy decisions

Question 10

What are the main powers of the executive?

Answer 10

• royal prerogative
• initiation of legislation
• secondary legislation

Question 11

What are the royal prerogative powers?

Answer 11

-a set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the prime minister or cabinet, such as the granting of honors or of legal pardons

Question 12

What is secondary legislation?

Answer 12

-powers are given to the executive by parliament to make changes to the law, within certain specific rules

Question 13

What is individual responsibility?

Answer 13

-the principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments

Question 14

What features determine individual responsibility?

Answer 14

• how serious the issue is
• the level of criticism of parliament and the media
• the attitude of the prime minister

Question 15

What is collective responsibility?

Answer 15

-the principle by which ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive

Question 16

Are there any exceptions to collective responsibility?

Answer 16

• during coalitions

- if MPs are allowed to vote freely