The executive and holding the government to account Flashcards
1
Q
what are the powers of the executive
A
- Patronage powers
- authority in cabinet
- policy making
- scrutiny
2
Q
what are patronage powers ?
A
- appoints ministers
- allocates cabinet posts
- reshuffles cabinet
- dismisses ministers
encourages loyalty and discipline - most MPs seek premotion, rebels cab be recruited from the backbench and therefore bound by collective responsibility (must support government or resign).
3
Q
authority in cabinet ?
A
- agenda setting constraints
- requires cabinet support on major or controversial issues
- senior ministers have authority and may challenge the PMs policy’s.
4
Q
example of authority in cabinet.
A
the difficulty Teresa may had in gathering support for her Brexit deal led to several cabinet resignations.
5
Q
Policy making
A
directs government policy and sets agenda, most successful bills are government, authority to become included in policy areas of choosing
6
Q
how cam the prime minister be scrutised ?
A
PMs questions committees and judicial branch.
7
Q
prime ministers questions
A
- shapes new agenda
- PMs accountability to parliament
- ministers accountability to PM
- forces policy development
- measures leadership
8
Q
Committees
A
Two types of committees : developmental select committees e.g. home affaires, foreign affairs.
- non-departmental select committees e.g. public account, environmental.
9
Q
Committees limitations
A
- they cannot forces the government to adopt a motion and many of their respects are largely ignored
- they have no power to force witness to attend.
- composition committees are still made up in proportion to the size of the parties in the house.
