Prime Minister and the executive Flashcards
Bureaucracy
The
administrative
machinery of
government. It
literally means ‘rule
by offcials’
Patronage
The
power to appoint
and dismiss
members of the
government and
other signifcant
appointments.
Cabinet
committees
Groups of ministers
that can take
decisions that are
binding and are
designed to reduce
the burden on the
full Cabinet by
allowing smaller
groups of ministers
to take decisions on
specifc policy areas.
Secondary
legislation:
Powers given to
the executive by
Parliament to make
changes to the
law within certain
specifc rules
Cabinet
The group
of leading ministers
which is empowered
to make offcial
government policy
Inner cabinet:
A loose and
informal group of
policy advisers
consulted by the
Prime Minister
outside the formal
Cabinet, including
senior ministers,
offcials and special
advisers
Minister
An MP
or member of the
House of Lords
appointed to a
position in the
government, usually
exercising specifc
responsibilities in a
department.
Government
department:
A part
of the executive,
usually with specifc
responsibility over
an area such as
education, health or
defence.
Cabinet offce:
Responsible for
supporting the
Prime Minister
and ensuring the
effective running
of government.
It is composed
of various units
which take the
lead in certain
critical policy areas
and coordinate
the delivery of
government policy
Sofa government:
An informal
decision-making
style within
government,
stemming from the
idea that politicians
would be sat on
sofas discussing
potential policy
ideas. This term
was coined to
describe Blair’s style
of government.
Presidential governments
The tendency for
political leaders to
act increasingly like
executive presidents,
through the rise
of personalised
leadership
Bilateral meeting:
A meeting between
the Prime Minister
and one other
Cabinet minister
to discuss and
sometimes decide
policy
Royal prerogative:
A set of powers and
privileges belonging
to the monarch but
normally exercised
by the Prime
Minister or Cabinet,
such as the granting
of honours or legal
pardons
spin
:The biased
or distorted
presentation of
information so as
to gain a desired
response; being
‘economical with
the truth’
Individual
responsibility:
The principle by
which ministers
are responsible
for their personal
conduct and for their
departments.
Collective
responsibility:
The
principle by which
ministers must
support Cabinet
decisions or leave
the executive.
Payroll vote:
Used
to describe MPs
who hold positions
in the government
which they would
have to resign from
in order to oppose
the government
