The cabinet and the PM

Question 1

What is the origin of the cabinet?

Answer 1

Has its origins in the Privy Council set up to advise the Monarch and was developed in the 18th century under the Hanoverian kings

Question 2

What is the cabinet?

Answer 2

A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch’s top leader

Question 3

What is the shadow cabinet?

Answer 3

the team of senior spokespeople chosen by the Leader of the Opposition to mirror the Cabinet in Government. Each member of the shadow cabinet is appointed to lead on a specific policy area for their party and to question and challenge their counterpart in the Cabinet

Question 4

How is the cabinet formed?

Answer 4

Each member of the cabinet is hand appointed by the PM who in turn has been appointed by the monarch on the basis of ability to command a majority of votes in the Commons

Question 5

True or false, the PM can be outvoted by the cabinet

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What is the latin phrase for Prime Minister

Answer 6

“Primus inter pares” (first among equals)

Question 7

Functions of the cabinet

Answer 7

Controls policy and coordinates activities of governmental departments:
1. Settle ministerial disputes
2. Domestic emergencies
3. Presentation of policy
4. Legitimise policy
5. Settle coalition conflicts

Question 8

Cabinet weaknesses

Answer 8

-Meetings are short and state managed
-PM patronage means they are dominant and determined by them
-Large departments have become more independent which can lead to lack of cohesion in government

Question 9

Role of the PM

Answer 9

-Chief Policy maker
-Head of government and Chief government spokesperson
-Commander-in-chief of armed forces
-Chief foreign-policy maker
-Parliamentary leader

Question 10

Give strengths and weaknesses of the PM’s role in patronage

Answer 10

+ Appoints and dismisses ministers

• Possibility of sacked ministers emerging as rivals for leadership and Ideological balance (talented backbenchers)

Question 11

Give strengths and weaknesses of the PM’s authority in the cabinet

Answer 11

+ Holds bilateral and informal meetings with key ministers and appoints chairs and members of cabinet committees

• Requires cabinet support on major or controversial issues and Problems may arise if senior ministers feel they are being ignored

Question 12

Give strengths and weaknesses of the PM’s party leadership

Answer 12

+ Elected by MPs and party members

• Possibility of backbench rebellions and Support of party is not unconditional

Question 13

Give strengths and weaknesses of the PM’s power in public standing

Answer 13

+ Political leaders in times of crisis and Represents country in international affairs

• Unpopularity with the electorate undermines authority and becomes the focus of media criticism

Question 14

Give strengths and weaknesses of the PM in policy making

Answer 14

+ Directs government policy and sets the agenda

• Limited time and lack of detailed knowledge and Lacks the resources provided by a government department

Question 15

Does the PM dominate and control the executive?

Answer 15

A dominant cabinet = weak PM
A weak cabinet = Dominant PM

Question 16

Compare the role of PM and president

Answer 16

PM is elected via parliamentary elections and President is voted separately. PM has a collective cabinet and President has a ‘sounding board’ cabinet. PM is head of government and President is head of government and head of state