The Executive Flashcards
What is the role of the Executive branch of government?
To implement laws and policies made by Parliament/The Legislative branch
What are the two sections of the Executive?
The Poltical Executive, which is the government in office and the Official Executive, which is comprised of civil servants
What three criteria must a politician fulfil to become a Prime Minister?
- They must be an MP
- They must be the party leader
- Their party usually has a majority in the House of Commons
What was the traditional view of the role of a prime minister?
‘Primus inter pares’; The prime minister was ‘first among equals’ in that they are the primary representative of government, but no more powerful than the rest of the cabinet
What are the aspects of the modern view of the role of the Prime minister?
- Making Governments
- Directing government policy
- Managing the cabinet system
- Organising government
- Controlling Parliament
- Providing National Leadership
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of Making governments
The PM upon appointment has to choose all other members of cabinet, and has ‘hiring and firing’ powers which gives the PM a lot of control over the careers of other MPs
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of directing government policy
The PM defines the overall direction of government policy and its strategic goals
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of managing the cabinet system
The PM chairs cabinet meetings, decides the length and number, and staffs cabinet committees
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of Organising government
The PM sets up, reorganises and abolishes government departments and civil services
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of controlling Parliament
The PM is the leader of the majority party in Parliament so he mostly controls policy that is passed.
Explain the Prime Ministers modern role of providing national leadership
The PM needs to provide the role of national leader in times of national crises, major world events and wars.
What is the role of the cabinet?
- Formal policy approval
- Policy Coordination
- Resolve disputes
- Forum for debate
- Party management/Election strategy
- Dealing with Crises
Explain the Cabinet’s role of formal policy approval
Any policy proposed must be formally approved by the Cabinet.
Explain the Cabinet’s role of Policy Coordination
Helps to reconcile the responsibilities of ministers for their departments with their responsibility to the government as a whole.
Explain the Cabinet’s role of resolving disputes
Cabinet can act as a final court of appeal when disagreements between departments cannot be resolved at a lower level
Explain the Cabinet’s role of acting as a forum for debate
The cabinet can be used to raise issues or topics of discussion between departments
Explain the Cabinet’s role of party management
The cabinet is in charge of the views and morale of the party. This is why the chief whip is part of the cabinet.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
A concept that implies that all ministers are obliged to support government policy and are all collectively responsible for its successes and failures. If they do not, they must resign.
What is individual ministerial responsibility?
It implies that ministers are responsible for their departments and should resign if there is a major blunder in the department.
What are the 4 main theories of where power lies in the executive?
- Cabinet government
- PM Goverment
- Presidentialism
- Core Executive Model
Explain the theory of Cabinet Government
The Cabinet is the dominant policy making body and senior executive organ. Policy is made democratically with each minister’s view having equal weighting. The PM is first among equals. The cabinet fuses the legislative and executive.
Explain the theory of Prime Ministerial Government
The cabinet Is a subordinate body that acts as a source of advice and support for the PM, not a major policy making body. The PM dominates policy making. The PM ‘fuses’ the legislative and executive.
List evidence that the PM is becoming more Presidential
- Growth of Spatial Leadsrship.
- Tendency towards Populist Outreach
- Personalised election campaigns
- Personal Mandates
- Wider use of special advisors
- Strengthened Cabinet Office
Explain how the PM has become more presidential due to growth of spatial leadership?
Spatial leadership is the tendency for leaders to distance themselves from the party and government and developing a personal ideology (e.g. Thatcher and Thatcherism)
