The Cabinet Flashcards
What do cabinet members exercise?
Collective responsibility
What has happened to the importance of cabinet recently?
Importance depleted, small role In decision making, key polices taken elsewhere in cabinet
What is there a suggestion cabinet has joined?
Joined bagehots “dignified institutions”
Symbolic role but no influence
What’s an example of the cabinet joining bagehots “dignified institutions”?
Thatcher resignation illustrated PM fails to see dependence on senior cabinet colleagues, risk loosing office
What are the 4 functions of the cabinet?
Registering and ratifying decisions take elsewhere in cabinet
Making decisions on major issues
Receive support on key developments for determining government business in parliament
Settle disputes between government
Where are decisions made on major issues within the cabinet?
Decisions made at cabinet meetings, matters of critical importance
What are PMs having less of recently regarding cabinet and what in replace of them?
Recently pms having less of meetings, tend to be bilateral meetings, pm and individual ministers
What are cabinet the ultimate retainer of?
Decisions making power but in reality pm and advisors are the decisions makers
What’s an example of the PM and advisors having ultimate decision making powers rather than cabinet?
Blair deciding against joining euro without context given to the cabinet
How many cabinet ministers are there?
22
Two examples of cabinet being submissive to the government?
Pm can claim a personal mandate from public and the party
Pm can spppint his/her supporters to cabinet and dismiss ministers who disagree with preferred policy
Two examples of cabinet not being submissive to the government?
Senior ministers who are popular with the public or their party may gain additional influence
Government departments provide ministers with expertise and support
