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UK Politics (AK) > Prime minister and the executive > Flashcards

Prime minister and the executive Flashcards

1
Q

cabinet

A

senior ministers

decision making body of gov

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2
Q

role of the executive

A

make policy decisions
propose legislation
propose a budget

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3
Q

making policy decisions

A

day to day + overall policy

administrative exec implements it

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4
Q

proposing a budget

A

key decisions on economic policy

chancellor sets out levels of taxation and public spending

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5
Q

powers of the executive

A

prerogative powers
control of legislative agenda
powers of secondary legislation

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6
Q

prerogative powers

A

dont require parliamentary approval

e.g making treaties,organisation of civil service+granting of pardons

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7
Q

a prerogative power that has been limited by convention

A

votes on whether to deploy armed forces overseas

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8
Q

how have the PMs power been limited in terms of dissolving a government

A

can’t ask monarch anymore
have to agreed by 2/3 parliament
^result of fixed term parliament act 2011

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9
Q

votes on the motion of an early genera election 2017

A

522 to 13

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10
Q

who are most bills proposed by

A

government

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11
Q

secondary legislation

A

allows provisions of an act to be bought into force/amended without a further act

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12
Q

example of a statutory instrument

A

when parts of an act come into force

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13
Q

key roles of the prime minister (7)

A 
leadership (political+national)
appointing gov 
chairing cabinet 
managing exec
prerogative power
managing relations wi parliament
representing UK in international affairs
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14
Q

what is the convention about where the PM should come from

A

commons rather than lords bc it’s the dominant house

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15
Q

3 requirements to become PM

A

leader of party
be a MP
party they lead usually has majority

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16
Q

prime ministers office

A

190 people civil servants+special advisors

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17
Q

two main areas of work in the PMs office

A

policy advice

communications

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18
Q

policy advice

A

sets up future direction of policy
during Cameron’s premiership he scaled back this roles
but strengthened by creating policy and implementation unit in whitehall

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19
Q

communications

A

grown due to intensification of media

present gov policy

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20
Q

resources available to the prime minister

A 
patronage 
authority in cabinet 
policy making input 
party leadership 
public standing
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21
Q

patronage

A

power to appoint individual to a position

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22
Q

PM and life peers

A

PM can appoint life peers to lords
makes political nominations
enables PM to alter party balance in lords

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23
Q

who gives recommends life peers on non party appointments

A

appointments commission

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24
Q

cash for honours

A

inquiry into allegations that donors of lab party rewarded with peerages
no criminal charges

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25
Q

what was the result of the cash for honour scandal ending in 2007

A

honours committee’s set up restricts PMs role

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26
Q

what other areas besides honours has the PMs power been limited

A

now have no role in judicial appointments

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27
Q

how did the coalition gov limit Cameron’s power to appoint MPs

A

had to appoint 5 lib dem to cabinet

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28
Q

informal restraints on PMs power when appointing ministers

A

won’t overlook senior ministers (even if there rivals)

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29
Q

cabinet reshuffle

A

series of changes to people in cabinet

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30
Q

what does cabinet reshuffle allow the PM to do

A

promote successful ministers

demote those not performing

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31
Q

what are the dangers with wrong reshuffle’s of cabinet

A

reveal cabinet division
highlight policy questions
question PMs judgement

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32
Q

give an example of how a cabinet reshuffle has backfired

A

thatcher demoting foreign secretary of sir geoffrey howe 1989-triggered thatchers downfall

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33
Q

PMs authority within the core executive

A

chair cabinet meetings
managing agenda of cabinet meetinfs
organise structure of government

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34
Q

how is authority weakened in cabinet

A

if PM is too domineering or indecisive

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35
Q

example of a cabinet committee

A

economy and industrial strategy committee

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36
Q

how does PM control the agenda of cabinet meetings

A

control info presented

keeping difficult issues off the agenda

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37
Q

bilateral meeting

A

between pm and a departmental minister

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38
Q

example of how the PM needs backing on major issues

A

Lawson and Howe forced Margaret Thatcher to change policy on European Exchange Rate Mechanism (shows how she didn’t have support)

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39
Q

what did the 2003 invasion of Iraq do to Blair

A

undermined his position

made people question his judgement

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40
Q

why can the PM not always rely on party support

A

backbench rebellions (con MPs about Lords reform)

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41
Q

why is the sudden removal of a Prime minister unlikely

A

length and cost of leadership election

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42
Q

public standing

A

PM has high profile

Thacther+Blair strong relations with US

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43
Q

Patronage gives the PM power (YES)

A

appoint+dismiss

allies in key roles

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44
Q

Patronage gives the PM power (NO)

A

colleagues may have claims to posts
restricted by desire for ideological balance
botched reshuffles=problems
limited choice

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45
Q

Authority in cabinet brings PM power (YES)

A

manages meetings+minister chairs
steer discussion
use bilateral meetings

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46
Q

Authority in cabinet brings PM power (NO)

A

problems arise people feel ignored
challenges to PM
PM not involved in detailed policy

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47
Q

Party leadership brings PM power (YES)

A

been elected so has legitimacy

normally has majority in commons

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48
Q

Party leadership brings PM power (NO)

A

support is not unconditional
allow leadership challenge
backbench rebel increase

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49
Q

how does public satisfaction benefit the PM

A

strengthens their decision

one seen as strong and effective has greater authority

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50
Q

who does the cabinet consist of

A

senior ministers

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51
Q

do you have to be a cabinet minister to attend the meetings

A

no, you can be granted the right by the PM

2012 10 minister attended cabinet- weren’t full members

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52
Q

most important departments

A

treasury, foreign office and home office

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53
Q

how many cabinet meetings are there per week

A

1 last roughly an hour

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54
Q

cabinet comittees

A

sub-committees of the cabinet appointed by the prime minister

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55
Q

cabinet office

A

provides support for the cabinet created in 1916

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56
Q

cabinet secretariat

A

regulates+coordinates cabinet business

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57
Q

what two documents set out the role and function of cabinet

A

ministerial code

cabinet manual

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58
Q

functions of the cabinet (system)

A

make decisions on major issues
receive reports on key developments
settling disputes between government departments

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59
Q

what is the main business of the cabinet concerning

A

questions that engage collective responsibility

unresolved dispute between government departments

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60
Q

why is cabinet ability to decide policy constrained

A

infrequency of meetings
size
detailed nature of policy

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61
Q

how has cabinet changed since the 1960s-70s

A

shorter discussions before reaching a decision

done with small informal groups

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62
Q

what reports are heard in the cabinet

A

parliamentary business (outlines following weeks business)
economic and home affairs
foreign affairs

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63
Q

why did Michael Heseltine resign

A

1985 westland affair
unhappy with thatcher decision that cabinet wouldn’t hear his appeal against cabinet committee about awarding defence contract

64
Q

The Cabinet is submissive to the PM (YES)

A

PM appoints+dismisses
control over cabinet agenda
decisions taken outside of cabinet
can claim mandate from party+public

65
Q

the cabinet is submissive to the PM (NO)

A

no practical limits, potential rivals
senior ministers work together to oppose PM
popular senior ministers have influence

66
Q

collective responsibility

A

principle that minsters must support cabinet decisions or resign from government

67
Q

three main elements of collective responsibility

A

secrecy
binding decisions
confidence vote

68
Q

secrecy

A

ministers keep cabinet convos a secret ensuring sensitive info isn’t leaked to the public

69
Q

binding decisions

A

once a decision is reached in cabinet it becomes binding to all ministers
if this can’t be accepted a minister should resign

70
Q

confidence vote

A

gov must resign if they lose vote of confidence

last happened 1979

71
Q

give 3 examples of resignations over collective responsibility

A

John Redwood 1995
Robin Cook 2003
Norman Barker 2014

72
Q

why did john redwood resign

A

launched leadership challenge

73
Q

why did Robin cook resign

A

opposed invasion in iraq

74
Q

why did norman barker resign

A

opposed policy on home affairs

75
Q

suspension on collective responsibility during referendums

A

done to prevent resignations

Harold Wilson allowed ministers to campaign either way during 1975 EEC, his gov supported yes

76
Q

coalition collective responsibility in AV referendum

A

suspended cons and lib dems voted differently

77
Q

how many cabinet ministers campaigned to leave the EU despite government stance to be supporting EU membership

A

5

78
Q

what were the 4 issues members of the 2010 coalition agreement didn’t have collective responsibility on

A

construction of nuclear power stations
tax allowance for married couples
higher education funding
case against renewal of trident nuclear deterrent

79
Q

give an example of where collective responsibility broke down in the coalition government

A

differences emerged in each party on vote for EU referendum

cons in favour

80
Q

free votes

A

granted on issues of conscience

Cameron allowed free vote on Marriage Bill 2013

81
Q

in what three ways has collective responsibility come under strain

A

leaks
dissent and non resignation
prime ministerial dominance

82
Q

leaks

A

info leaked to the media
been revealed in books by Ed Balls and Nick Clegg
people don’t want to go public with their criticisms

83
Q

dissent and non resignation

A

cabinet ministers who oppose important parts of polic but survived even when their concerns are public
some lib dem minister critical about coalition policy only norman barker resigned

84
Q

prime ministerial dominance

A

complaints that blair didn’t consult cabinet enough

85
Q

individual ministerial responsibility

A

ministers are responsible to parliament for their personal conduct

86
Q

when are ministers not obliged to resign

A

if failings are traceable to civil servant but are constitutionally responsible for telling parliament about department actions

87
Q

what does the ministerial code state

A

must give ‘accurate and truthful information to
parliament’
those who don’t ‘expected to offer resignation’

88
Q

Why did Berverley Hughs resign in 2004

A

admitted to giving parliament ‘misleading impression’ on checks on migrants from eastern europe

89
Q

who are responsible for day to day matters

A

officials not ministers

90
Q

example of how their is complexity around ministerial responsibility

A

transfer of policy implementation from government to department
e.g head of UK border force made decisions about relaxed borders without consent of home secretary Theresa May

91
Q

4 reasons that ministers resign

A

mistakes made in department
policy failure
personal misconduct
political pressure

92
Q

mistakes made in department example (reason for resignation)

A

Sir Thomas Douglas 1954 mistakes by civil servants om Crichel Down case

93
Q

policy failure example (reason for resignation)

A

James Callaghan 1967 devaluation of sterling

94
Q

personal misconduct examples (reason for resignation)

A

cash for honours
expenses
peterborough MP speeding inquiry

95
Q

Nolan principles

A 
selflessness 
integrity 
objectivity 
accountability 
openness 
honesty 
leadership
96
Q

political pressure

A

pleb gate
2 police vs Andrew Mitchell
pressure for him to resign
minister unlikely to stay in their position if its attracting too much negative attention

97
Q

resignation of David Blunkett 1st time

A

2004 requested fast track visa for nanny employed by former lover

98
Q

resignation of David Blunkett 2nd time

A

accepted postion of DNA bioscience director without consulting Advisory committee on Business Appointments

99
Q

prime ministerial government

A

prime minister dominant actor

100
Q

power with the gov or cabinet

A

neither its shared

101
Q

how did George Jones describe Prime ministerial power

A

elastic band
stretch to suit your way of leadership
stretch it too far it will snap (ministers will resign)

102
Q

prime ministers 4 institutional powers

A

legal head of government
leadership of government
prime ministers office
setting political agenda

103
Q

presidentialisation

A

idea that UK prime ministers have taken on some characteristics of the president

104
Q

personalised leadership

A

expected to be dominant political personality

introduction of televised leaders’ debates in 2010 reinforced focus on party leaders

105
Q

public outreach

A

leaders become public commodities
media spotlight falls on PM
expected to connect with the mood

106
Q

spatial leadership

A

PM relies more on their own inner circle
Blair’s ‘sofa’ government
Camerons Quad

107
Q

has the prime minister become more presidential (YES)

A

leadership has been personalised (impose personality)
increasing rely on close circle
PMs distanced themselves from rest of gov
appeal directly through media

108
Q

has the prime minister become more presidential (NO)

A

directs rather than controls
senior ministers have own resources (departments)
PM needs support of ministers to achieve things
support for party not unconditional

109
Q

what are the criticisms of the presidentialisation thesis

A

misrepresents nature of power within gov

under estimates PMs dependence on cabinet ministers

110
Q

how many ministers are there in government

A

more than 100

111
Q

secretary of state

A

gov minister in charge of major department

112
Q

main roles performed by ministers

A

policy leadership
representing departmental interests
departmental management
relations with parliament

113
Q

policy leadership (roles of ministers)

A

doesn’t have time to play part in detailed policy

important role in policy initiation

114
Q

representing departmental interests (roles of ministers)

A

represent department in cabinet meeting

represent gov in council of european union

115
Q

departmental management (roles of ministers)

A

set objectives

shape internal distribution of resources

116
Q

relations with parliament (roles of ministers)

A

steer bills through
accountable to parliament
appear before select committees

117
Q

government departments

A

main administrative units of the government

118
Q

functions of government departments

A

policy advice to ministers
managing public spending
fostering relationships with pressure groups
policy implementation

119
Q

treasury

A

controls public spending

120
Q

attorney general’s office

A

legal advice to gov

121
Q

civil servant

A

official employed by crown, responsible for policy advice/implementation

122
Q

four principles involving civil servants

A

impartiality
anonymity
permanence
meritocracy

123
Q

impartiality (civil servants)

A

serve crown not government

expected to be politically neutral

124
Q

anonymity (civil servants)

A

should not be identified

give evidence under direction of minister

125
Q

permanence (civil servants)

A

stay in post when change of gov

126
Q

meritocracy (civil servants)

A

recruited through competitive exams+interviews

127
Q

special advisor

A

temporary political appointment made by government minister

128
Q

spin doctor

A

special adviser- promotes images of minister+policy in media

129
Q

when was Harold Wilson in office

A

1964-70

1974-76

130
Q

how did Harold Wilson appear

A

in tune with public opinion

131
Q

what did Harold Wilson’s labour government do

A

increase social welfare spending
reformed education
introduced liberal social reforms

132
Q

what damaged Wilson’s credibility

A

devalued the pound

133
Q

example of social reform act under Wilson’s 60s gov

A

Divorce reform act 1969

couples who have been seperated for 2 years could get a divorce without fault being established

134
Q

Three social landmark private members’ bills

A

abolition of death penalty
decriminalised sex between men in private
legalised abortion up to 24 weeks

135
Q

what allowed the social reforms to take place

A

government backing

labours large parliamentary majority

136
Q

why did labour party management become increasingly difficult for Wilson

A

far left wanted extension of public ownership

only steel was renationalised

137
Q

difficulties in Harold Wilsons 1974-76 government

A

minority gov
referendum on EEC over party division
economy badly performing

138
Q

when did Harold Wilson suspend collective responsibility

A

EEC campaign

5 ministers campaigned to leave

139
Q

example from thatchers privatisation programme

A

sales of shares in british gas and british airways

140
Q

Thatchers relationship with cabinet

A

made less use of it

kept somes issues away from them, used her advisors more

141
Q

what helped Thatcher win the election in the following year

A

1982 Falklands war victory

economy recovery

142
Q

what factors contributed to Thatchers downfall

A

unpopular policies (poll tax)
cabinet divisions
low opinion poll ratings

143
Q

poll tax (community charge)

A

council tax per person (e.g 4 people in one house all 4 had to pay)

144
Q

why was the poll tax a disaster

A

was regressive
took a higher % from poor than rich
many people refused to pay

145
Q

where did the root problem of the poll tax lie?

A

within gov
not enough checks and balances
warnings by treasury weren’t given proper consideration

146
Q

how did Blair prefer to conduct his business

A

bilateral meetings rather than cabinet

147
Q

what did Blair’s third way involve

A

combine free market economics with social justice

148
Q

Blair’s constitutional reforms

A

devolution
house of lords
supreme court
HRA

149
Q

invasion of Iraq

A

supported george W. Bush, sent UK forces into Iraq to remove weapons of mass destruction

150
Q

2016 chilcot report

A

other policy options were’t explored (iraq)
Blair disregarded warnings about intelligence
highlighted the need for collective ministerial discussion

151
Q

the coalition government was a constraint on David Camerons power (YES)

A

cameron couldn’t dismiss or reshuffle lib dem cabinet ministers
lib dems resisted deviation from policies set out in original agreement
needed collective style of gov
have to manage tensions between the two parties

152
Q

the coalition agreement was a constraint on David Cameron’s power (NO)

A

PM still had patronage powers
PM determines overall policy direction
key issues decided by the ‘quad’
healthy parliamentary majority proved stable

153
Q

Cameron gave ministers more independence, how did this backfire?

A

reorganisation of NHS Andrew Lansley- too radical

problems weren’t spotted

154
Q

which of Camerons main initiatives did conservatives not back

A

same sex marriage

155
Q

how many conservative MPs backed Theresa May in the second ballot of the leadership election

A

199 (61%)

156
Q

what were the limits on Theresa May’s power

A

damaged by calling early election
divisions in party over her policy+leadership
brexit
decline in popularity in opinion polls

UK Politics (AK) (5 decks)

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