Prime Minister and the executive Flashcards
What is the executive composed of?
The executive is formed of the Prime Minister, cabinet, and junior ministers.
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
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.
Who forms the Cabinet?
The Cabinet is formed by the Prime Minister and senior ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.
What is the function of junior ministers?
Junior ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister, have responsibilities within specific government departments, and report to cabinet ministers.
How many ministerial posts were there as of April 2023?
As of April 24, 2023, there are 133 ministerial posts held by 124 people.
What are government departments run by?
Government departments are run by a Secretary of State and include ministers and civil servants.
What is the role of civil servants?
Civil servants are permanent staff members within the government who support the current government in carrying out its policies.
What does the executive do regarding legislation proposals?
The executive proposes legislation to be passed by parliament and sets out its legislative agenda.
What is outlined in the Queen’s Speech?
The Queen’s Speech outlines the bills before starting the lawmaking process in parliament.
What is included in the Budget Statement?
The Budget Statement includes proposed changes to taxation and the state of the economy.
What is the purpose of the Budget?
The Budget is how the government raises funds and gets approval from parliament to spend money.
What is the executive’s role in policy decisions?
The executive makes decisions that determine how the country should be run, including public money, taxes, and public services.
What are royal prerogative powers?
Royal prerogative powers are the monarch’s powers as exercised by the Prime Minister and cabinet, including deploying the army and granting honours.
What is individual responsibility?
Individual responsibility holds ministers accountable for their and their departments’ actions.
What are advantages of individual responsibility?
Strong standards of behaviour are maintained, and it holds the government accountable.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
Collective ministerial responsibility requires ministers who fail to publicly support cabinet policies to resign from the government.
What are the advantages of collective ministerial responsibility?
It ensures the government appears united, making it seem stronger.
What are the disadvantages of collective ministerial responsibility?
Ministers may have to defend policies they don’t agree with.
What are the roles of the Prime Minister?
The Prime Minister serves as government head, party head, decision maker, international leader, parliament role, and chief communicator.
What is the Prime Minister’s role as government head?
The Prime Minister creates new government departments, chairs cabinet meetings, and sets the national policy agenda.
What is the Prime Minister’s role as party head?
The Prime Minister must keep the party united and lead it in elections.
What is the Prime Minister’s role in international leadership?
The Prime Minister decides on deploying British armed forces and engages in international policy.
What is the Prime Minister’s role in parliament?
The Prime Minister leads parliament as the leader of the majority party and organizes party support for government policies.
What is the Prime Minister’s role as chief communicator?
The Prime Minister communicates government policy to the media and the public.
What is the Prime Minister’s patronage?
The Prime Minister can appoint and dismiss cabinet members.
What factors influence the Prime Minister’s patronage?
Factors include loyalty, public support, and the need to balance political views.
What foreign policy powers does the Prime Minister have?
The Prime Minister can declare war and sign the UK up to foreign treaties.
How does the Prime Minister control the civil service?
The Prime Minister can reform the civil service and appoint senior civil servants.
How does the Prime Minister control parliament?
The Prime Minister uses their party’s majority to ensure policies become law.
What is the PM’s influence over the media?
The Prime Minister can set the media agenda and influence public perception.
How does the Prime Minister head the cabinet?
The Prime Minister determines the cabinet agenda and prioritizes policies.
What limits the Prime Minister’s power within the cabinet?
The cabinet must approve the Prime Minister’s policy decisions and can overrule them.
What limits the Prime Minister’s power from the electorate?
Loss of support from voters can end the Prime Minister’s time in power.
What limits the Prime Minister’s power from parliament?
Parliament can vote against government policies and hold the Prime Minister accountable.
What limits the Prime Minister’s power from political power?
The Prime Minister must maintain support from their party to remain in power.
What is the role of the cabinet in policymaking?
The cabinet reaches final decisions over government policy and legitimizes PM policies.
