The Executive Flashcards
What are powers of patronage?
Powers of the PM to appoint senior civil servants, cabinet members and peers.
Outline two functions of the PM
Leader of the country and a figurehead to gather around
Sets the general direction of government policy and defines it goals.
Primary representative of the Government
What is the cabinet and outline two cabinet functions
The cabinet is the central policy making body of government, with 22 official ministers, They must coordinate government policy and lead the government.
They must also act as a check upon the Prime Minister.
What is collective responsibility?
The principle that ministers must agree in public on the policy of the government.
What is cabinet government?
The collective decision making of the cabinet in UK politics.
What are the main sources of PM power?
Royal prerogative (powers previously of the monarchy)
Powers of First Lord of the Treasury (controller of economic policy)
Public and party support
What does “primus inter pares” mean?
First among equals
Case study of Thatcher:
Thatcher came to power in 1979.
Popular for being “Cabinet Dictator”.
In 1987 introduced Poll tax despite ministers saying not o
Consulted special advisers over ministers (Exchange rate policy Nigel Lawson was never consulted)
Cabinet ultimately caused downfall (Howe resigns 1990 and cabinet convinces Thatcher to resign 3 weeks later)
Case study of Blair
Tony Blair came to power in 1997.
Popular for making the cabinet a “talking shop” (Mo Mowlam)
Increased number of Special Advisers (5 in 1990 to 25 in 2005)
Clare Short said in 2003 4 special advisers and Blair were making the decisions about the Iraq War, and that power was being centralized,
Resigned in 2007 under pressure from cabinet “coup”
Case study of Cameron
David Cameron came to power in 2010
Has taken “hands off approach” (IDS and Osborne given autonomy in welfare and economy respectively) and returned to Primus Inter Pares.
Number of special advisers decreased to 18.
