Prime Minister and the Executive

Question 1

Function of the Executive (x3)

Answer 1

Decision making branch of government

Proposing legislation (Manifesto + Doctor’s Mandate)

Propose the Budget

Question 2

Powers of the Executive (x3)

Answer 2

Prerogative powers e.g. sign treaties, appoint minister (used to declare elections until 2011 Fixed Term Parliament Act and used to declare war until Iraq 2003 and Syria 2013)

Can propose legislation and use whips

Secondary legislation (Henry VIII Clauses) as existing legislation can be modified without introducing a new bill e.g. 2016 abolition of maintenance grants

Question 3

Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 3

Individual ministerial responsibility is the convention that ministers will resign if they mess up. Charles Clarke broke this in 2006 as he did not resign as Home Secretary even though he could not account for the movements of 1000 foreign prisoners.

Collective ministerial responsibility is the principle that ministers must support Cabinet decisions or resign. It is suspended on ethical issues and the 2016 EU Referendum. In 2016 Iain Duncan Smith resigned over cuts to disability benefits.

Question 4

Prime Minister Appointing Ministers (x4)

Answer 4

Experience and ability

Rewarding loyalty

Meeting expectations for diversity (John Makor came under fire for appointing no women to his 1990 Cabinet)

Satisfy factions such as how in 2016 Theresa May appointed Boris Johnson (Leaver) and Amber Rudd (Remainer)

Question 5

Prime Minister VS Cabinet (x4)

Answer 5

In 2016 Theresa May sought to establish her authority over Cabinet by sacking many previous ministers including George Osborne

Blair was a presidential prime minister with a sofa government and kitchen cabinet

The PM can appoint ministers, control the agenda of Cabinet meetings, but the Cabinet can oust the PM (Thatcher) and prevent the PM looking weak

Theresa May created a committee for leaving the EU