structure and role of the executive - paper 2 Flashcards
Who is the head of the Executive in the UK?
Prime Minister
What is the primary role of the Prime Minister?
Chairs the cabinet and manages the agenda
How many senior ministers are typically in the Cabinet?
20-23 senior ministers
What is the role of the Cabinet Office?
Provides administrative support headed by the Cabinet Secretary
Who is the most senior civil servant in the UK?
Cabinet Secretary
What is the responsibility of Government Departments?
Each is responsible for an area of policy (transport, defence, energy, etc)
What is the relationship between cabinet members and Government Departments?
Each Government Department is headed by a cabinet member and supported by junior ministers
What are Executive Agencies?
Semi-independent bodies that carry out some functions of government departments
Give an example of an Executive Agency.
DVLA
Which department oversees the DVLA?
DfT (Department for Transport)
roles of the executive
Proposing Legislation:
- Executive proposes new laws or amendments
- Before introducing legislation, ministers consult pressure groups and professional bodies that the legislation would affect.
Proposing the Budget:
- created by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister
- annual statement of the government’s plans for tax changes and public spending. - If a new government comes to power, it will present its own new budget.
Making Policy Decisions:
- has to decide how to make its future aims effective for the country
Powers of the Executive
Royal Prerogative:
- historic powers of the monarch now exercised by the prime minister and ministers without parliamentary approval
- eg foreign affairs, military action and granting passports
- limits = constitutional conventions mean military action still usually requires parliamentary approval
Initiating Legislation:
- The Executive is almost always made up of just the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.
- they control the agenda and timing of legislation and can push their bills through Parliament with a large majority.
Secondary Legislation:
- a law that is made without passing an Act of Parliament
What does individual responsibility refer to?
The principle that ministers are responsible for themselves and their department.
What does individual responsibility include?
- Private / personal conduct
- General conduct of the department
- Policy
What is the official term for the rules governing ministers?
Ministerial code
How can ministers be held accountable for their department’s actions?
- Question Time
- Select committee scrutiny
What is one reason a minister may resign due to individual responsibility?
Personal misjudgements and mistakes
Who was Cecil Parkinson and what led to his resignation?
Party chairman who resigned after revealing an affair with the Prime Minister’s secretary.
What mistake led Ron Davies to resign?
Caught on Clapham Common ‘looking for company’.
What is expected of ministers regarding government policy?
They should agree on the direction of policy.
What was David Davis’s reason for resignation?
Disagreement with the Prime Minister’s stance on Brexit.
What caused David Blunkett to resign in 2004?
An affair.
What is a point of principle in relation to ministerial responsibility?
A minister should resign if they cannot agree with something on principle.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
The principle that the Cabinet must publicly support the work of the government and agree to policy
It is not legally binding.
What must discussions in Cabinet be?
Confidential
This confidentiality is crucial for maintaining unity and open dialogue.
What happens if a government is defeated in a no-confidence vote?
The whole government resigns
How should the Cabinet appear in public despite private disagreements?
United
This appearance helps convey strength and unity to the public.
What are non-abiding members expected to do?
Resign or be sacked
What significant action did PM David Cameron take during the 2016 EU referendum campaign?
Suspended collective responsibility
What does it mean when collective responsibility is suspended?
Ministers can vote with their conscience rather than with a party line
Should collective responsibility be abolished?
YES:
- encourages open debate
- greater accountability
- reflects coalition politics
NO:
- weakens government unity
- reduces government efficiency
- gives opposition an advantage
The text does not provide a conclusive answer.
What are the basic requirements to become Prime Minister?
- An MP
- Over 18
- A commonwealth citizen
- A party leader
Can a Prime Minister take office without an election?
Yes, they can take office by becoming leader of the majority party or without an overall majority
List the roles of the Prime Minister.
- Leader of the party in parliament and country
- Appoint government ministers to a cabinet
- Direct and influence government policy
- Exercise power under royal prerogative
What are some factors that influence the Prime Minister’s selection of ministers?
- Close allies
- A popular figure
- Silencing opponents
What does the Director of Communications do?
Manages internal and external communications of the Prime Minister
What is the function of the Press Secretary?
Gives news and information to the Prime Minister to manage public perception
How can events influence a Prime Minister’s power?
Leadership during events can boost their popularity at elections
What role does the team around the Prime Minister play in their effectiveness?
Stronger civil servants and ministers can enhance the PM’s strength and provide better advice
key members of the cabinet (march 2025)
- Prime Minister: Keir Starmer
- Chancellor: Rachel Reeves
- Home secretary: Yvette Cooper
factors effecting the selection of ministers
- Experience and ability
- diversity
- rewarding allies and rivals
prime minister and cabinet relationship
- cabinet is responsible for policy making
- leadership is becoming more personalised and the PM is distant from traditional institutions like the cabinet
factors affecting the PM-Cabinet relationship
Prime ministerial style
- can hire and fire at will
PMs ability to set agenda
- controls what is and isn’t discussed in cabinet
Special Circumstances:
- large majority: Blair had a unites cabinet
- coalition: cameron had to share power with Lib Dem ministers
Is the cabinet still important?
YES:
- formal decision making body of gov
- major issues still discussed in cabinet
- PM must maintain support of ministers
NO:
- power has shifted to PM and lobbyists
- some PMs ( Blair) sidelined cabinet
- Presidential style of leadership reduces cabinet influence
what was the first successful coalition government since wwII
- 2010 coalition government between the conservatives and lib dems
- david cameron became PM and Nick clegg became deputy PM
what did the 2011 fixed-term parliaments act do?
- set five year election cycles and required 2/3 of MPs to vote for an early election
- repealed in 2022
what is the 2015 recall of MPs act?
- allowed constituents to trigger a by election if an MP committed a crime or was suspended for 10+ days
- requires 10/ of constituents to sign a petition
how did the 2010 coalition affect parliament?
- 2014 Lords reform act: peers could retire or be removed for crimes
- 2015 lords spiritual act: allowed female female bishops in the lords
what electoral reform did the Lib Dems want
- STV but settled for AV referendum
