Roles of and powers of the president and PM

Question 1

How many of the 11 enumerated powers are also performed by the PM?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

List them

Answer 2

Proposing legislation, submitting the annual budget, act as chief executive and nominate executive branch officials

Question 3

How are these shared powers not even that similar?

Answer 3

Because they are not identical, so we can see the effect structural differences between the two countries

Question 4

Ill list a role of powers or roles held by the president and then you say a parallel role or power held by the PM

Answer 4

!!!

Question 5

Elected as president

Answer 5

Elected as party leader

Question 6

Chief exectutive and head of state

Answer 6

Head of government only

Question 7

Initiates and vetoes legislation

Answer 7

Draws up the government’s legislative programme with the cabinet

Question 8

Appoints cabinet with senate ratification

Answer 8

Appoints cabinet with no need for ratification

Question 9

Commander in chief on the armed forces, but only congress can declare war

Answer 9

Can use royal prerogative to declare war and deploy troops abroad, but a convention has developed that this should be subject to parliamentary approval

Question 10

Has a vice president with the president deciding what their role will be. Some have extensive powers and influence while other are given little to do and are peripheral figures

Answer 10

The role of deputy PM is at the discression of the PM and they don’t have to appoint one at all. Some are given considerable powers while others are almost figureheads

Question 11

Give an example of an influential VP

Answer 11

Biden

Question 12

Give an example of an unimportant VP

Answer 12

Pence

Question 13

Give an example of an important deputy PM

Answer 13

Michael Heseltine

Question 14

Give an example of an unimportant deputy PM

Answer 14

Geoffrey Howe

Question 15

Has a large EXOP

Answer 15

Has small number 10 staff and cabinet office

Question 16

Has a variety of means to determine policy unilaterally; executive orders, signing statements etc.

Answer 16

More likely to pursue policy collectively, through either cabinet or cabinet committees

Question 17

Limited to two full terms in office

Answer 17

No term limits

Question 18

The president communicates the legislation they would like passed by congress in the State of the Union Address

Answer 18

The King will deliver the King’s speech, written for her by the government, detailing the legislation it wants to pass into law

Question 19

How is the state of the union address no more than a wish list?

Answer 19

Whether these wishes come true is largely dependent on the make up of congress

Question 20

How is the King’s speech more than just a wish list?

Answer 20

It’s the government’s to do list for the coming years - a list of certainties

Question 21

What is the structural reason for why it is easier for the PM to pass legislation?

Answer 21

Because there is a clear separation of powers in the US and a fusion of the executive and legislature in the UK

Question 22

Give an example of one of the rare occasions where the president has found it easier to pass legislation than the PM

Answer 22

In 2017, May lacked a working commons majority and the party was split over how to deal with Brexit, frustrating her attempts to pass legislation, while Trump, with a united congress was successful in passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the same year

Question 23

Who do both the PM and president submit their budgets to?

Answer 23

The legislature

Question 24

How does the aftermath of this differ?

Answer 24

The US this marks the beginning of months of bargaining during which the president may be defeated by many items. In the UK, the budget being submitted is a formality and it will always be passed

Question 25

Compare their respective roles as chief executive

Answer 25

The president does so as part of a singular executive while theoretically the PM is part of a collective executive. They both appoint officials to the executive but the president needs these to be confirmed but the PM doesn’t

Question 26

Who performs the powers that the president has but the PM doesn’t in the UK

Answer 26

The monarch

Question 27

I’ll give a role fulfilled by the president and you say who does it in the UK

Answer 27

!!!!

Question 28

Signs and vetoes legislation

Answer 28

This is still the power of the monarch, but the monarch has not refused to sign legislation since Queen Anne in 1707

Question 29

Appoints all federal judges

Answer 29

In 2006 this power was given to the Judicial Appointments Commission

Question 30

Power of pardon

Answer 30

Reserved for the monarch

Question 31

Head of state

Answer 31

The monarch fulfils this role. The monarch has a weekly audience with the PM. Although they remain politically neutral, they will occasionally ‘advise and warn’ the PM

Question 32

List some of the exclusive powers and roles enjoyed by the PM

Answer 32

• They play an important role in parliament, especially during PMQs. Their ability to stand and deliver here is vital to their survival but the PM faces no such ordeal
• PMs make occasional statements to parliament, appear before the liaison committee and occasionally lead in significant parliamentary debates, while the president does not do this
• Their patronage extends beyond executive branch appointments to posts such as chairmanship of the BBC as well as CoE Bishops and archbishops, as well as recommending life peerages. The president has no equivalent responsibilities