Prime Minister & Executive

Question 1

Name the four institutions of the executive

Answer 1

The Prime Minister, The Cabinet, Ministers, and Governmental Departments

Question 2

What are the main roles of the executive?

Answer 2

Proposing legislation, making policy decisions, and proposing a budget

Question 3

Explain the significance of the role of proposing legislation.

Answer 3

The government submits most bills for this reason, and it is this role that allows the government to deliver its manifesto pledges

Question 4

Explain the significance of making policy decisions.

Answer 4

This allows the government to set political priorities and determine the country’s overall policy direction

It also allows the government to react quickly in times of crisis, as seen with Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020

Question 5

Explain the significance of proposing the budget

Answer 5

The executive makes decisions on economic policy and devises a budget, in which the chancellor enumerates tax changes and government spending plans

So central is this role to the power of the executive, that if the budget is rejected, the executive is expected to resign.
This could be a reason behind Liz Truss’s resignation

Question 6

What are the three main sources of Executive power?

Answer 6

The Royal Prerogative; Control over the Legislative Agenda; Secondary Legislation

Question 7

How does the Royal Prerogative grant the executive power

Answer 7

Ministers can exercise these powers on behalf of the monarch, or advise the monarch to use these powers

Such powers include: making and ratifying treaties; sending and recievind diplomats; control over the armed forces

Question 8

How does control over the legislative agenda grant the executive power

Answer 8

Allows the government to control what is debated, and means government bills and debates are prioritised over other motions.

Government business takes up 75% of the time of the Commons

Question 9

How does secondary legislation grant the executive power

Answer 9

Gives Ministers other abilities, stipulated in primary legislation.

The EU withdrawal act gave Ministers the ability to amend, repeal, or replace assimilated law

Scrutiny over secondary legislation isn’t as strong as primary legislation