Prime Minister and the Executive

Question 1

Why did the earliest prime ministers have considerably more institutional resources?

Answer 1

• Many prime ministers were first lord of the treasury and chancellor the exchequer
• Still lord of the treasury but purely ceremonial
• Meant were supported by the largest government department

Question 2

What are the institutional resources available to the prime minister?

Answer 2

• Teams of civil servants
• Special advisers

Question 3

How, when and by who were the institutional resources held by the ministers delegated?

Answer 3

• 1841
• Robert Peel
• Delegated responsibility for managing treasury to chancellor of the exchequer

Question 4

How has the role of the prime ministers office changed in recent decades?

Answer 4

• increased staffing (currently 100 however Harold Wilson had 35 in 1964)
• tries to micromanage larger departments
• receives briefings and correspondence from across government

Question 5

Define constitutive resources

Answer 5

Responsibility given by statutes and conventions to make decisions and take certain actions

Question 6

Why are Royal Prerogatives an important source of prime ministerial power?

Answer 6

• lacks a codified constitution so position of PM has changed over time