Prime Minister & The Cabinet Flashcards
Role of the Prime Minister - Government head
Head of all gov departments, decides who is on cabinet, chairs cabinet meeting, creates new government roles.
Responsible for setting national policy and agenda
Decides which policies shold be a priority for the government
Role of the Prime Minister - Party head
Elected by party members and MPs to the position, must keep party united, successfully lead in elections, decide policy and speak at party conference
Role of the Prime Minister - Decision Maker
Key decisions often in times of crisis, cheairs that National Security Council’s weekly meetings on UKs most important security Issues.
- 2017 May chaired a Cobra committee meeting following an attempted terrorist attack on London underground train
Role of the Prime Minister - International Leadership
Decided whether to deploy Britich armed forces to any foreign intervention, PM involved in overseas engagements and working with other state leaders to make international policy
- 2017 May became PM and visited over 30 countries
Role of the Prime Minister - Parliament Role
Leads Parliament as leader of HoC
Leads their party in parliamentary questioning and in debates
Organises their party’s majority in parliament to ensure that parliament will pass gov polucues into law
Role of the Prime Minister - Chief communicator
Communicates with media and the public on policy or to explain issues
Talk to media in times of crisis to provide citizens with Information
Prime Minister’s Powers - Patronage
Used to appoint MPs to cabinet roles (appoint supporters and dismiss ministers who they view as rivals)
Takes place after an election through a ‘cabinet reshuffle’ (to strengthen the government and the PM’s position)
Prime Minister’s Powers - Strengths of Patronage
Can appoint ministers with similar views as themselves
Gives control over cabinet and MPs as PMs strongly influence their careers
Prime Minister’s Powers - factors influencing appointments
More likely to appoint ministers who share similar views and who are loyal supporters
Will appoint ministeers in order to balance political views in gov
May appoint ministers to make cabinet more diverse and representative of voters (female/ethnic minority)
Prime Minister’s Powers - Parliament control
Majorities give control over law-making process
Appoint chief whip, HoC leader and HoL leader to ensure policies make it into law
Chief whip ensures party members vote in the way the gov wishes
Prime Minister’s Powers - heading cabinet
Determine agenda of cabinet meeting and priroitise policies they favour and appoint members to deal with policy decisions
Prime Minister’s Powers - media influence
Power to set media agenda as they are more important to the media
Able to successfully influence media agenda so is favourable towards the (Tony Blair hired Alistair Campbell to help set media agenda)
Prime Minister’s Powers - power over civil service
Can reform civil service and ensure civil servants remain loyal and supportive to the PM
Limits on the Prime Minister’s Powers - cabinet
Cabinet is required to approve PM policy decisions and can overrule, the PM is ‘first among equals’ meaning they have equal say over key policy decisions
Limits on the Prime Minister’s Powers - electorate
Loss of support from voters will end PM’s tie in power, 2010 Gordon Brown replaced by Cameron after winning less votes
Limits on the Prime Minister’s Powers - parliament
Limits power by voting against gov policies and scrutiny, they are held to account through PMQs weekly
A vote of no confidence can remove PM from their position
Limits on the Prime Minister’s Powers - political party
Lose power through weaker support from their party and if challenged by their cabinet or backbenchers to stand down
1990 Thatcher resigned after challenged to stand down by her own party members
Limits on the Prime Minister’s Powers - The Media
Media limits power by communicating with the public and influencing their opinion on the PM
It can pressurise the PM over their actions
Role of the Cabinet - Policy maker
Reaches financial decisions over policies, have to endorse meetings and reach an agreement
Need to legitimise and ratify PMs policies
Smaller cabinets make reccomendations which the full cabinet must approve to be policy
Role of the Cabinet - coordinates government work
Cabinet decided when to introduce legislation
Organises weekly agenda, including backbenchers’ problems and which minitsers are due to speak in parliamentary debates
Role of the Cabinet - limits prime ministers powers
If PM loses support of cabinet they will lose authority and risk their role
Role of the Cabinet - Emergencies
Cabinets handle emergencies and national crises by making quick decisions, often through COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) meetings. These meetings involve cabinet members coordinating the government’s response. For instance, a COBR meeting was convened after the suspected Russian poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - Use of PMs powers
The prime minister’s use of their powers over the cabinet shapes their relationship and the cabinet’s role. The prime minister sets the agenda, chairs meetings, summarizes decisions, and determines the frequency and duration of cabinet meetings.
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - PMs use of cabinet
The prime minister’s reliance on the cabinet for key policy decisions impacts their relationship. Using an inner circle of advisers instead of the full cabinet weakens the cabinet’s power. Prime ministers may use an informal “sofa government” with advisers to coordinate policy rather than the formal cabinet.
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - Cabinet members
Strong cabinet members, with influence in the party, are more difficult to be ignored by the prime minister
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - example of a sofa government
PM Tony Blair’s ‘sofa government’ involved discussing policy in detail with special advisers and his close team. Advisers included Jonathan Powell and Alistair Campbell
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - Media Focus
The media’s focus on the prime minister influences their perceived strength. Greater media attention on the prime minister than on the cabinet boosts their authority as the main communicator of government policy. However, media criticism can weaken the prime minister’s authority by undermining them.
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations - PMs popularity
A prime minister’s popularity with ministers and the public influences their control over the cabinet. A popular prime minister has greater cabinet control, while an unpopular one faces less support, potential resignations, and a damaged public image.
