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UK politics > The executive > Flashcards

The executive Flashcards

1
Q

The executive is an other word for ?

A

Government

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2
Q

The chief whip & the heads of department of state are members of what

A

The cabinet

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3
Q

What is the name of people who help run the department of state

A

Civil servants

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4
Q

Who are members of the core executive

A

The cabinet
Political advisers in the PM’s office
Senior civil servants

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5
Q

Describe secondary legislation

A

Modifying existing legislation to make a change without passing a new act

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6
Q

Give two examples of political advisers

A

Dominic Cummings

Gavin Barwell

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7
Q

What are ‘statutory instruments’

A

Make changes without changing the law - a way to get around parliament e.g. secondary legislation

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8
Q

Describe the royal prerogative

A

The exec powers of the monarch that have now been transferred to the PM

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9
Q

What is a cabinet minister

A

A senior member of the govt who leads a department of state

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10
Q

Give three principles of the civil service

A

Permanence - always there even when there are changes in govt - institutions of govt remain
Neutrality
Anonymity

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11
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility

A

The principle that members of the cabinet must take responsibility for failures within their department & their personal conduct - bound by ministerial code a intangible contract

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12
Q

Give two examples of minsters who resigned due to failures within their department (IMR) - rare

A

Amber Rudd - windrush scandal (2018)

Lord Arrington - Falklands war (1982)

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13
Q

Give two examples of ministers who resigned due to personal misconduct

A

Matt Hancock - broke lockdown regulations & rules despite being health secretary
Priti Patel - meetings with Israeli ministers outside govt - resigned from foreign office

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14
Q

What is collective ministerial responsibility

A

The principle that members of the cabinet must publicly support the govt

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15
Q

Give two examples of minister who resigned over collective ministerial responsibility

A

Boris Johnson - resigned as a foreign secretary over May’s Brexit deal - one of the highest profile resignations May had
Clare Short - didn’t support Blair’s acts resigned over Iraq war

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16
Q

What are the 4 features of the cabinet

A
  • 20 - 25 senior govt ministers
  • meet once a week on Thursday mornings
  • PM sets the agenda ,chairs meeting , sums up & approves minutes
  • collective ministerial responsibility
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17
Q

Give an example of a PM controlling the agenda for a cabinet meeting

A

Wilson did not discuss his resignation like the cabinet wanted by simply stating it was not on the meetings agenda

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18
Q

What are the roles of the cabinet

A
  • to approve decisions taken elsewhere within the exec - provide them with the seal of govt policy
  • to determine key issues of policy
  • to decide how the govt will determine business
  • to resolve disputes between ministers
  • to develop & implement specific policy through committees
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19
Q

Give a example of the cabinet determining key issues of policy

A

In 2018 May summoned the cabinet to chequers - the PM’s country retreat - in order to determine what the govts bargaining position should be in the final stages of Brexit

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20
Q

What are the factors that affect the PM’s selection of ministers

A
  • ‘big beasts’
  • loyalty - rewarding key reliable allies
  • rivals - bound by collective ministerial responsibility/to cultivate their loyalty
  • party unity/ balance (ensure cabinet is representative of whole party)
  • diversity (so cabinet is socially representative)
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21
Q

What are the 3 factors that distinguish big beasts

A

A significant power base within the party
Figures of a certain public standing
Project themselves as big beasts

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22
Q

Give an example of a current big beast

A

Michael gove

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23
Q

How do PM’s try to manage the behaviours of big beasts

A

By encouraging them to ‘bandwagon’ over ‘balance’

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24
Q

How do PM’s encourage bandwagoning

A

Through patronage (senior appointments) or preferment

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25
Q

What do senior appointments ensure for the PM’s big beasts

A

Ensure that big beasts remain politically close to the PM - forced into closer & more regular contact

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26
Q

What are cabinet committees

A

Groups of 2-3 ministers working on particular policies/areas

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27
Q

Big beasts develop and sustain _________ political identities within the confines of cabinet ________ and party _____

A

Independent
Collegiality
Unity

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28
Q

A prominent cabinet minister who distinguishes themselves through ________ to the PM is not a big beast

A

Loyalty

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29
Q

Give an example of a prominent cabinet minister who was distinguished themselves by scrupulous loyalty to the PM

A

William (willie) Whitelaw - Home Secretary & deputy PM in Thatcher’s first govt (79-83)

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30
Q

What did Thatcher say about her loyal deputy PM (1979-83)

A

‘Every cabinet needs a willie’ - classic example of a yes man

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31
Q

big beasts can be otherwise known as ‘_______ _________’

A

‘Cabinet heavyweights’

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32
Q

Which PM claimed they had been toppled by a ‘cabinet coup’

A

Thatcher (1993)

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33
Q

The preconditions for Thatchers resignation were laid by _____ senior level resignations

A

Three

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34
Q

The preconditions for Thatchers resignation were laid by _____ senior level resignations

A

Three

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35
Q

Which three big beasts resigned from Thatchers govt leading to her resignation

A

Defence secretary - Michael Heseltine (1986)
The chancellor of the exchequer Nigel Lawson (1989)
Deputy PM Geoffrey Howe (1990)

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36
Q

What was the purpose of the big beast’s resigning from Thatchers govt from 1986 - 90

A

To expose key policy divisions in the conserv party & govt

To damage Thatchers reputation & standing

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37
Q

Who challenged Thatcher’s leadership in the 1990 party election

A

Michael Heseltine

38
Q

The high profile resignations during Thatchers govt were easily avoidable but she failed to ‘____’ her big beasts

A

Stroke

39
Q

Why did Heseltine resign (1986)

A

Over the Westland affair when he believed that the PM had sided with his rival (Leon Brittan)

40
Q

Why did Lawson resign (1986)

A

Over a policy clash with the PM’s economic advisor Alan Waters (who she continued to back)

41
Q

Why did Howe resign (1990)

A

Over Thatcher’s unilateral assertion that the UK would never enter a single EU currency

42
Q

Who was Blair’s main big beast

A

Chancellor Gordon Brown - the architect of Labour’s 1997 landslide election victory

43
Q

How did Blair control Gordon Brown

A

Consistently encouraging ‘bandwagoning’ rather than ‘balancing’
Maintained a stroking approach
A pact that after his third term Blair will pass leadership to Brown

44
Q

Why are big beasts in decline

A

The rise of ‘career politicians’ who arguably lack wider skills
Political careers are increasingly built on the basis of presentational & televisual skills - potential BB’s unable to take serious ideological stances

45
Q

What is a cabinet govt

A

The cabinet is the most powerful body in the govt & the PM is merely ‘primes inter pares’ (first among equals)

46
Q

The cabinet govt was especially prevalent pre ______’s

A

1960’s

47
Q

What is a prime ministerial govt

A

The PM dominates the executive and the cabinet is relegated to a subordinate decision making role

48
Q

Why has the presence of a cabinet govt declined since Wilsons govt

A

PM’s have acquired many other sources of advice & info e.g. Wilson set up the policy unit in Downing Street

49
Q

Why has the presence of a prime ministerial govt increased over time

A

PM’s now have a greater focus from the media e.g. Tony Blair

50
Q

PM’s in a prime ministerial govt often will have already decided the _____ of govt without consulting the cabinet

A

Focus

51
Q

Tony Blair introduced ‘____ politics’

A

Sofa

52
Q

When did Wilson set up the policy unit in Downing Street and why

A

1974

To provide him with his own support and advice in developing political strategy

53
Q

What was Blair’s ‘sofa politics’

A

Rathered one on ones (bilateral decisions) than cabinet meetings with multilateral decisions

54
Q

How did Tony Blair reform the Downing Street office (aided decline of cabinet govt)

A

By introducing a number of initiatives e.g. the position of chief of staff was established to coordinate policy - done to further increase control from the centre

55
Q

Who held the position of chief of staff under Blair

A

Johnathan Powell

56
Q

Why is it wrong to dismiss the influence of the cabinet

A

Every cabinet is composed of the most powerful & influential members of the political party - unwise to ignore their political experience

57
Q

What was the main role of the cabinet under Blair

A

To report decisions that had already been made elsewhere

58
Q

What was the main role of the cabinet under May & Major

A

To solidify their position as PM & hold their govts together

59
Q

After the 19__ election Major only had a __ seat majority and a divided party

A

92

21

60
Q

May has to balance a highly divided govt over _____ whilst coping with the loss of her parliamentary majority after the _____ election

A

Brexit

2017

61
Q

What is evidence for the cabinet playing a central role in British govt

A

May’s cabinet meeting at chequers in 2018 to discuss the terms of Brexit

May’s cabinet meeting of 2018 to discuss the UK’s response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons

Callaghan’s cabinet meeting to discuss the IMF loan 1976

62
Q

What is evidence against the ides that the cabinet plays a central role in British govt

A

Blair’s ‘sofa politics’

Thatcher’s poll tax

Macmillan’s appointment of 4 chancellors in 6 years

Wilson’s ‘kitchen cabinet’ - meet with a small group of core advisors in Downing Street flat rather than whole cabinet

63
Q

What determines authority of PM

A
  • strong/size of majority - determines how easily they can push their agenda
  • degree of control over cabinet
  • degree of party unity
  • events e.g. crises
  • the circumstances in which they hold office
64
Q

In 1962 what did MacMillan try to do

A

Tried to reenergise cabinet - sacked 1/3 of his cabinet including chancellor . Gave impression of panicking - PM coined “mac the knife” by the press and the sacking termed “the night of the long knives “ - his rep never recovered

65
Q

Give 4 examples of PM’s who’s circumstances had an impact on their authority

A 
Edward Heath (1970 - 74)
James Callaghan (1976 - 79)
John Major (1990 - 97)
David Cameron (2010 - 16)
66
Q

At the beginning of his term Heath had a _______ personality , ______ cabinet and a workable parliamentary _______

A

Dominant
Loyal
Majority

67
Q

What was a significant achievement for Heath in 1973

A

Negotiating the UK’s entry into the EEC in 1973

68
Q

What were challenges for Heath

A

Miner’s strikes in 1972 then again in 1974 threatened the nation’s energy supplies
Rise in oil costs led to huge increase in global inflation undermining govt’s economic strategy

69
Q

As a consequence to the challenges he faced heath called a snap election in what year and lost to who

A

Feb 1974 , Wilson

70
Q

Callaghan began his term with a strong ______ rating in the nation

A

Personal

71
Q

At the 19__ lab party conference Callaghan challenged post war _______ consensus

A

1976

Economic

72
Q

What was the consequence of the 1976 lab party conference for Callaghans govt

A

Resulted in sudden change in govt policy from high expenses/spending to taking deflationary measures - effective in decreasing inflation

73
Q

In what year did Callaghan decide not to call an election

A

1978

74
Q

What was Callaghan’s authority challenged by

A

Strikes — the winter became known as ‘winter of discontent’

75
Q

Who was Callaghan abandoned by

A

Liberal & nationalist parties

76
Q

Why was Callaghan forced to call a gen election

A

His minority govt lost a vote of no confidence in HOC

77
Q

Major employed a ‘back to _____’ approach

A

Basics

78
Q

What did Major do that gained public support

A

Ditched unpopular poll tax by Thatcher + expert negotiation on opting out from social chap in Maastricht treaty

79
Q

In what gen election did Major receive a 21 seat majority

A

1992 gen election

80
Q

How did the 1992 election contribute to Major’s authority decline

A

Gave eurosceptic conserv MP’s chance to disrupt ratification of treaty

81
Q

In what year did Major resign and what did he say

A

1995 resigned leadership - told those against him in conserv party to “put up or shut up”

82
Q

Who took Major up on his challenge

A

John Redwood member of cabinet won the support of 89 MP’s to Majors 218 - highlighting divisions

83
Q

What is the presidential thesis

A

The theory that PM’s have become so dominant of their cabinets and there is so much media focus on them that they have come to act like US presidents

84
Q

What PM especially highlighted possible presidentialism in UK politics

A

Harold Wilson

85
Q

Who were the 4 main examples of presidentialism in British politics

A

Tony Blair
David Cameron
Harold Wilson
Margaret Thatcher

86
Q

How is John Major an example of presidentialism

A
87
Q

Give evidence for presidentialism

A
  • Wilson’s use of TV to reach out to public directly known as ‘spatial leadership’
  • Media’s appetite for personal interventions in global crisis increases spotlight on the PM - media exacerbation
  • media & public focused on Thatcher’s leadership during the Falklands war (1982) & the miners strike of (1983)
  • Blair’s rhetoric was highly personal
  • Blair intervened in all aspects of govt - established chief of staff in order to westernise his govt so it more closely resembled the White House/decrease cabinet power
  • Blair expresses the mood of the nation in his princess Diana speech (1997) - exemplary televisual skills
  • in 2003 Blair put the case for intervention in the Iraq war directly to the public through the tv (no cabinet discussion)
  • H. Wilson would ignore advice of cabinet & make decisions with a small group of advisers - often already decided what to do with advisers before cabinet met “kitchen cabinet”
88
Q

Give evidence against presidentialism

A
  • Unlike presidents, PM’s do not possess a personal electoral mandate from the public
  • A PM’s authority depends on them having a parliamentary majority & maintaining the support of the party
  • Callaghan calling election in 1979 after losing vote of no confidence in parliament - lost liberal support (called by Thatcher over unions)
  • Thatcher resigning in 1990 after losing support of the cabinet
  • Major’s collegiate to govt was non presidential
  • Brown was uncharismatic and was not convincing when addressing the nation directly - no televisual skills
  • May was unable to govern in a presidential fashion after her failure to engage with the public in 2017 election and the loss of her parliamentary majority
  • Thatcher had emergency cabinet meeting in 1982 to discuss recovering Falklands
  • Thatcher held cabinet debate in 1981 over controversial tax raising budget
89
Q

what is the theory of political elasticity

A

The more elastic the organization or political system, the softer are the more normal manifestations of power, allowing and encouraging delegation of responsibility, decentralisation etc

90
Q

Thatcher held cabinet debate in ___ over controversial tax raising budget

A

1981

91
Q

What is an elective dictatorship

A

The ability to garner a majority that makes it difficult for parliament to contend with the PM essentially an elected dictator e.g. Blair , Thatcher , Wilson

92
Q

Give an example of how May’s govt was not an elected dictatorship

A

Failed cabinet reshuffle - Jeremy hunt refused to move and so her new year reshuffle was thrown off course - + Justine Greening quit which further diminished May’s authority

UK politics (13 decks)

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