Structure and role of executive

Question 1

In the UK, what does the executive consist of?

Answer 1

Government:
PM - Appoints all ministers, chairs the Cabinet, organises the structure of gov depts
Cabinet ministers - Approx 25 ministers. Each heads a gov dept support provided by junior ministers
Junior ministers - Approx 75-100 ministers who work under Cabinet ministers in specific gov dept. Each dept responsible for an area of policy

Question 2

What are the three main functions of the executive?

Answer 2

1. Proposing legislation - Bills are proposed in Parliament and usually pass
2. Proposing a budget - Presented to HoC by the Chancellor to pass (Lords have no power to delay “money bills”)
3. Running the country - Day-to-day decisions made by memebrs of the executive

Question 3

Role of senior ministers

Answer 3

Formulate policy and coordinate work of their dept
Usually have role in Cabinet, may involve reaching or endorsing final decisions on major issues, helping to resolve disputes between gov depts or participating in Cabinet committees

Question 4

Role of junior ministers

Answer 4

Support senior minister in their dept
May stand in for senior minister in Parliament when they can’t go e.g. to PMQs
Usually in charge of specific areas within dpet whereas Cabinet minister is responsible for the work of the whole dept

Question 5

What are the role of cabinet?

Answer 5

1. Making formal decisions - Policy becomes “officia” when approved by Cabinet
2. Coordinating a gov policy - Ensuring there is an overview of develpoments
3. Providing a forum - Particularly for disagreements between ministers
4. Managing parliamnetary business - Facilitated by Chief Whip and Leader of Commons and Lords in Cabinet. Means planning when different bills will be put to Parliament to cover the various stages needed
5. Managing emergencies e.g. Covid

Question 6

What are cabinet committees?

Answer 6

Groups of Cabinet ministers designed to allow discussions and decisions to take place with fewer ministers than in the full cabinet.
PM has power to set these up and is responsible for appointing their members
Approximately 25 main Cabinet committees - Chaired by PM, Deputy PM, Chabcellor or Home Secretary
Committees report back to the Cabinet with their decisions which the Cabinet usually feels oblidged to accept
Examples:
National Security Council
Home Affairs Committee
Economic Affairs Committee

Question 7

Reasons for the Cabinet still being important

Answer 7

Cabinet discusses the govs general strategy and goals
Some Cabinet ministers in charge of large depts are pwoerful in their own right e.g. Chancellor
Cabniet can overrule the PM or even remove them e.g. Thatcher’s Cabinet aided her departure
No PM can survive w/out Cabinet support, and in some circumstances Cabinets are able to exert a lot of influence e.g. May’s Cabinet deciding on the type fo Brexit to have)

Question 8

Reasons for the Cbainet not still being improtant

Answer 8

PM rely less on their Cabinet for policy avice, preferring soecial advisors
Collective repsonsibility gives PMs power to silence dissenters in the Cabinet
PM control working of Cabinet by shaping Cabinet’s agenda as well as chairing meetings
PMs decide number and nature of Cabinet comittees