The executive Flashcards
The executive is an other word for ?
Government
The chief whip & the heads of department of state are members of what
The cabinet
What is the name of people who help run the department of state
Civil servants
Who are members of the core executive
The cabinet
Political advisers in the PM’s office
Senior civil servants
Describe secondary legislation
Modifying existing legislation to make a change without passing a new act
Give two examples of political advisers
Dominic Cummings
Gavin Barwell
What are ‘statutory instruments’
Make changes without changing the law - a way to get around parliament e.g. secondary legislation
Describe the royal prerogative
The exec powers of the monarch that have now been transferred to the PM
What is a cabinet minister
A senior member of the govt who leads a department of state
Give three principles of the civil service
Permanence - always there even when there are changes in govt - institutions of govt remain
Neutrality
Anonymity
What is individual ministerial responsibility
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
Give two examples of minsters who resigned due to failures within their department (IMR) - rare
Amber Rudd - windrush scandal (2018)
Lord Arrington - Falklands war (1982)
Give two examples of ministers who resigned due to personal misconduct
Matt Hancock - broke lockdown regulations & rules despite being health secretary
Priti Patel - meetings with Israeli ministers outside govt - resigned from foreign office
What is collective ministerial responsibility
The principle that members of the cabinet must publicly support the govt
Give two examples of minister who resigned over collective ministerial responsibility
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
What are the 4 features of the cabinet
- 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
Give an example of a PM controlling the agenda for a cabinet meeting
Wilson did not discuss his resignation like the cabinet wanted by simply stating it was not on the meetings agenda
What are the roles of the cabinet
- 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
Give a example of the cabinet determining key issues of policy
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
What are the factors that affect the PM’s selection of ministers
- ‘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)
What are the 3 factors that distinguish big beasts
A significant power base within the party
Figures of a certain public standing
Project themselves as big beasts
Give an example of a current big beast
Michael gove
How do PM’s try to manage the behaviours of big beasts
By encouraging them to ‘bandwagon’ over ‘balance’
How do PM’s encourage bandwagoning
Through patronage (senior appointments) or preferment
What do senior appointments ensure for the PM’s big beasts
Ensure that big beasts remain politically close to the PM - forced into closer & more regular contact
What are cabinet committees
Groups of 2-3 ministers working on particular policies/areas
Big beasts develop and sustain _________ political identities within the confines of cabinet ________ and party _____
Independent
Collegiality
Unity
A prominent cabinet minister who distinguishes themselves through ________ to the PM is not a big beast
Loyalty
Give an example of a prominent cabinet minister who was distinguished themselves by scrupulous loyalty to the PM
William (willie) Whitelaw - Home Secretary & deputy PM in Thatcher’s first govt (79-83)
What did Thatcher say about her loyal deputy PM (1979-83)
‘Every cabinet needs a willie’ - classic example of a yes man
big beasts can be otherwise known as ‘_______ _________’
‘Cabinet heavyweights’
Which PM claimed they had been toppled by a ‘cabinet coup’
Thatcher (1993)
The preconditions for Thatchers resignation were laid by _____ senior level resignations
Three
The preconditions for Thatchers resignation were laid by _____ senior level resignations
Three
Which three big beasts resigned from Thatchers govt leading to her resignation
Defence secretary - Michael Heseltine (1986)
The chancellor of the exchequer Nigel Lawson (1989)
Deputy PM Geoffrey Howe (1990)
What was the purpose of the big beast’s resigning from Thatchers govt from 1986 - 90
To expose key policy divisions in the conserv party & govt
To damage Thatchers reputation & standing
Who challenged Thatcher’s leadership in the 1990 party election
Michael Heseltine
The high profile resignations during Thatchers govt were easily avoidable but she failed to ‘____’ her big beasts
Stroke
Why did Heseltine resign (1986)
Over the Westland affair when he believed that the PM had sided with his rival (Leon Brittan)
Why did Lawson resign (1986)
Over a policy clash with the PM’s economic advisor Alan Waters (who she continued to back)
Why did Howe resign (1990)
Over Thatcher’s unilateral assertion that the UK would never enter a single EU currency
Who was Blair’s main big beast
Chancellor Gordon Brown - the architect of Labour’s 1997 landslide election victory
How did Blair control Gordon Brown
Consistently encouraging ‘bandwagoning’ rather than ‘balancing’
Maintained a stroking approach
A pact that after his third term Blair will pass leadership to Brown
Why are big beasts in decline
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
What is a cabinet govt
The cabinet is the most powerful body in the govt & the PM is merely ‘primes inter pares’ (first among equals)
The cabinet govt was especially prevalent pre ______’s
1960’s
What is a prime ministerial govt
The PM dominates the executive and the cabinet is relegated to a subordinate decision making role
Why has the presence of a cabinet govt declined since Wilsons govt
PM’s have acquired many other sources of advice & info e.g. Wilson set up the policy unit in Downing Street
Why has the presence of a prime ministerial govt increased over time
PM’s now have a greater focus from the media e.g. Tony Blair
PM’s in a prime ministerial govt often will have already decided the _____ of govt without consulting the cabinet
Focus
Tony Blair introduced ‘____ politics’
Sofa
When did Wilson set up the policy unit in Downing Street and why
1974
To provide him with his own support and advice in developing political strategy
What was Blair’s ‘sofa politics’
Rathered one on ones (bilateral decisions) than cabinet meetings with multilateral decisions
How did Tony Blair reform the Downing Street office (aided decline of cabinet govt)
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
Who held the position of chief of staff under Blair
Johnathan Powell
Why is it wrong to dismiss the influence of the cabinet
Every cabinet is composed of the most powerful & influential members of the political party - unwise to ignore their political experience
What was the main role of the cabinet under Blair
To report decisions that had already been made elsewhere
What was the main role of the cabinet under May & Major
To solidify their position as PM & hold their govts together
After the 19__ election Major only had a __ seat majority and a divided party
92
21
May has to balance a highly divided govt over _____ whilst coping with the loss of her parliamentary majority after the _____ election
Brexit
2017
What is evidence for the cabinet playing a central role in British govt
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
What is evidence against the ides that the cabinet plays a central role in British govt
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
What determines authority of PM
- 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
In 1962 what did MacMillan try to do
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
Give 4 examples of PM’s who’s circumstances had an impact on their authority
Edward Heath (1970 - 74) James Callaghan (1976 - 79) John Major (1990 - 97) David Cameron (2010 - 16)
At the beginning of his term Heath had a _______ personality , ______ cabinet and a workable parliamentary _______
Dominant
Loyal
Majority
What was a significant achievement for Heath in 1973
Negotiating the UK’s entry into the EEC in 1973
What were challenges for Heath
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
As a consequence to the challenges he faced heath called a snap election in what year and lost to who
Feb 1974 , Wilson
Callaghan began his term with a strong ______ rating in the nation
Personal
At the 19__ lab party conference Callaghan challenged post war _______ consensus
1976
Economic
What was the consequence of the 1976 lab party conference for Callaghans govt
Resulted in sudden change in govt policy from high expenses/spending to taking deflationary measures - effective in decreasing inflation
In what year did Callaghan decide not to call an election
1978
What was Callaghan’s authority challenged by
Strikes — the winter became known as ‘winter of discontent’
Who was Callaghan abandoned by
Liberal & nationalist parties
Why was Callaghan forced to call a gen election
His minority govt lost a vote of no confidence in HOC
Major employed a ‘back to _____’ approach
Basics
What did Major do that gained public support
Ditched unpopular poll tax by Thatcher + expert negotiation on opting out from social chap in Maastricht treaty
In what gen election did Major receive a 21 seat majority
1992 gen election
How did the 1992 election contribute to Major’s authority decline
Gave eurosceptic conserv MP’s chance to disrupt ratification of treaty
In what year did Major resign and what did he say
1995 resigned leadership - told those against him in conserv party to “put up or shut up”
Who took Major up on his challenge
John Redwood member of cabinet won the support of 89 MP’s to Majors 218 - highlighting divisions
What is the presidential thesis
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
What PM especially highlighted possible presidentialism in UK politics
Harold Wilson
Who were the 4 main examples of presidentialism in British politics
Tony Blair
David Cameron
Harold Wilson
Margaret Thatcher
How is John Major an example of presidentialism
Give evidence for presidentialism
- 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”
Give evidence against presidentialism
- 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
what is the theory of political elasticity
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
Thatcher held cabinet debate in ___ over controversial tax raising budget
1981
What is an elective dictatorship
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
Give an example of how May’s govt was not an elected dictatorship
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
