Prime Minister and the executive

Question 1

What is the executive composed of?

Answer 1

The executive is formed of the Prime Minister, cabinet, and junior ministers.

Question 2

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

Answer 2

The Prime Minister is the head of the executive, holding final decision-making power and expected to lead the executive by determining government policy and making decisions on major national issues.

Question 3

Who forms the Cabinet?

Answer 3

The Cabinet is formed by the Prime Minister and senior ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.

Question 4

What is the function of junior ministers?

Answer 4

Junior ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister, have responsibilities within specific government departments, and report to cabinet ministers.

Question 5

How many ministerial posts were there as of April 2023?

Answer 5

As of April 24, 2023, there are 133 ministerial posts held by 124 people.

Question 6

What are government departments run by?

Answer 6

Government departments are run by a Secretary of State and include ministers and civil servants.

Question 7

What is the role of civil servants?

Answer 7

Civil servants are permanent staff members within the government who support the current government in carrying out its policies.

Question 8

What does the executive do regarding legislation proposals?

Answer 8

The executive proposes legislation to be passed by parliament and sets out its legislative agenda.

Question 9

What is outlined in the Queen’s Speech?

Answer 9

The Queen’s Speech outlines the bills before starting the lawmaking process in parliament.

Question 10

What is included in the Budget Statement?

Answer 10

The Budget Statement includes proposed changes to taxation and the state of the economy.

Question 11

What is the purpose of the Budget?

Answer 11

The Budget is how the government raises funds and gets approval from parliament to spend money.

Question 12

What is the executive’s role in policy decisions?

Answer 12

The executive makes decisions that determine how the country should be run, including public money, taxes, and public services.

Question 13

What are royal prerogative powers?

Answer 13

Royal prerogative powers are the monarch’s powers as exercised by the Prime Minister and cabinet, including deploying the army and granting honours.

Question 14

What is individual responsibility?

Answer 14

Individual responsibility holds ministers accountable for their and their departments’ actions.

Question 15

What are advantages of individual responsibility?

Answer 15

Strong standards of behaviour are maintained, and it holds the government accountable.

Question 16

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 16

Collective ministerial responsibility requires ministers who fail to publicly support cabinet policies to resign from the government.

Question 17

What are the advantages of collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 17

It ensures the government appears united, making it seem stronger.

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 18

Ministers may have to defend policies they don’t agree with.

Question 19

What are the roles of the Prime Minister?

Answer 19

The Prime Minister serves as government head, party head, decision maker, international leader, parliament role, and chief communicator.

Question 20

What is the Prime Minister’s role as government head?

Answer 20

The Prime Minister creates new government departments, chairs cabinet meetings, and sets the national policy agenda.

Question 21

What is the Prime Minister’s role as party head?

Answer 21

The Prime Minister must keep the party united and lead it in elections.

Question 22

What is the Prime Minister’s role in international leadership?

Answer 22

The Prime Minister decides on deploying British armed forces and engages in international policy.

Question 23

What is the Prime Minister’s role in parliament?

Answer 23

The Prime Minister leads parliament as the leader of the majority party and organizes party support for government policies.

Question 24

What is the Prime Minister’s role as chief communicator?

Answer 24

The Prime Minister communicates government policy to the media and the public.

Question 25

What is the Prime Minister’s patronage?

Answer 25

The Prime Minister can appoint and dismiss cabinet members.

Question 26

What factors influence the Prime Minister’s patronage?

Answer 26

Factors include loyalty, public support, and the need to balance political views.

Question 27

What foreign policy powers does the Prime Minister have?

Answer 27

The Prime Minister can declare war and sign the UK up to foreign treaties.

Question 28

How does the Prime Minister control the civil service?

Answer 28

The Prime Minister can reform the civil service and appoint senior civil servants.

Question 29

How does the Prime Minister control parliament?

Answer 29

The Prime Minister uses their party’s majority to ensure policies become law.

Question 30

What is the PM’s influence over the media?

Answer 30

The Prime Minister can set the media agenda and influence public perception.

Question 31

How does the Prime Minister head the cabinet?

Answer 31

The Prime Minister determines the cabinet agenda and prioritizes policies.

Question 32

What limits the Prime Minister’s power within the cabinet?

Answer 32

The cabinet must approve the Prime Minister’s policy decisions and can overrule them.

Question 33

What limits the Prime Minister’s power from the electorate?

Answer 33

Loss of support from voters can end the Prime Minister’s time in power.

Question 34

What limits the Prime Minister’s power from parliament?

Answer 34

Parliament can vote against government policies and hold the Prime Minister accountable.

Question 35

What limits the Prime Minister’s power from political power?

Answer 35

The Prime Minister must maintain support from their party to remain in power.

Question 36

What is the role of the cabinet in policymaking?

Answer 36

The cabinet reaches final decisions over government policy and legitimizes PM policies.