The executive (textbook) Flashcards
What is the executive?
The branch of government concerned with the formulation and implementation of policy. Provides the highs of national government and the relative lows of day-to-day administration
Who makes up the executive?
The PM, cabinet and junior ministers, who collectively make up the government
List the 4 main institutions of the executive
The PM, government departments, the cabinet and ministers
What is the PM?
The head of government and the executive branch, they chair the cabinet
What is the cabinet?
The PM and senior ministers, most of whom are heads of government departments. Formally the key decision making department
What are ministers?
An MP or peer who is appointed to a specific government position by the PM
What are government departments?
An administrative department of the executive that is responsible for a particular policy area
What is the difference between the political and administrative executive?
The PM, cabinet and ministers make up the political executive, they enter office as MPs or peers. Government departments make up the administrative executive and oversee the day-to-day administration of government. Civil servants are not political appointments and remain in post when the government changes
List the three core functions of the executive
- Making policy decisions
- Proposing the budget
- Proposing legislation
How does the executive make policy decisions?
The cabinet and PM make political priorities and determines the country’s overall policy direction. They make day-to-day decisions on policy. The administrative executive is responsible for policy implementation and oversees the day-to-day administration of the state
How does the executive propose legislation?
The executive devises and initiates legislation. Most primary legislation is devised by the executive. Government bills enact manifesto pledges. The executive has law making powers in terms of secondary legislation, as the provisions of an Act of Parliament can be brought into force or altered by ministers directly
Describe how the executive proposes the budget
Makes key decisions on economic issues and policy and proposes the budget. The chancellor sets out the proposed levels of taxation and government spending in the budget, following negotiations in cabinet and with government departments
List the three main powers of the executive
- Prerogative powers
- Control of the legislative agenda
- Powers of secondary legislation
What are prerogative powers?
Powers exercised by ministers without the approval of parliament
What are royal prerogatives?
Powers the monarch can exercise without the consent of parliament, like appointing the PM and giving royal assent to legislation
How has the royal prerogative changed?
The monarch will now act under the guidance of ministers to avoid controversy
List some of the prerogative powers that the executive will exercise on the behalf of the monarch
- Making and ratifying treaties
- International diplomacy
- Deploying the armed forces overseas
- Organising the civil service
- The PM’s ability to dissolve parliament
How have prerogative powers become more limited this century?
The executive is now more inclined to seek approval before deploying forces overseas. Blair looked for parliamentary approval before invading Iraq and Cameron did not bomb Syria in 2013 because parliament voted against it but did in 2015 when parliament gave approval
Give an example of when Theresa May used prerogative powers
She ordered missile strikes against Syria in 2018 without the consent of parliament, arguing that fast action was needed and that parliament could hold her to account afterwards. She won a posthumous vote on the issue and admitted that parliament should be consulted in the case of major military operations
How did the fixed terms parliament act limit prerogative powers?
It removed the convention that the PM could dissolve parliament and call a GE, with the act requiring 2/3 approval in the commons
How did Johnson strengthen prerogative powers>
H replaced the fixed terms parliament act with the 2019 early parliamentary general election act, which demanded only a simple majority, allowing a government with a strong majority control over when GEs are held
What two recent Supreme Court decisions have limited the power of parliament?
- They ruled that the government did not have the power to trigger article 50 without the consent of parliament
- They ruled that Johnson advising the Queen to prorogue parliament for 5 weeks during a crucial period of Brexit was unlawful
Explain the idea that the executive has control of the legislative agenda
Most bills are proposed by the government and it has control of the legislative timetable. Most public bills are approved by parliament and become law. PMBs that do not enjoy government support are unlikely to succeed. The government will whip party MPs when there is an important vote. Collective security means ministers must support the government absolutely when voting
Explain the executive powers over secondary legislation
Gives ministers the power to make more detailed rules and regulations through statutory instruments. SIs do things like state when provisions of an act will come into force and provide broader detail on the provisions of an act. They will be scrutinised by a committee but are very rarely rejected. Brexit and COVID rules were introduced as SIs so that they could come into effect at short notice
Why is the executive seen as the dominant branch of government?
Because it is responsible for creating laws and making them happen
Why is the executive limited by parliamentary sovereignty?
Because it must answer to parliament and gain its approval
When is the executive most dominant?
When the PM has a strong majority and tight control of their party
Explain the role of a junior minister
Assist senior ministers in the running and policy decisions of a government department. They are appointed by the PM but are not a part of the cabinet
Explain the role of the civil service
Permanent officials who oversee the day-to-day running of government departments. Advice ministers and enact their policy decisions. Expected to act in a neutral fashion and have no influence on policy as they do not answer to parliament or the people. They cannot help with party work or be affiliated with a party in any fashion
Who controls the executive?
By name it is the monarch, but in practise this is the PM
What are SPaDs?
Civil servants employed for the purpose of giving political advice to a minister
What is the core executive?
The organisations and people who coordinate central government activity. The model claims that the PM and senior ministers all have resources at their disposal, and that power is based upon dependence rather than command
Who makes up the core executive?
The PM, cabinet, cabinet committees, bilateral meetings between the the PM and ministers, the PM’s office and senior civil servants
What made Dominic Cummings a controversial SPaD?
Despite being a civil servant, he managed the 2019 election and seemed to be making political decisions for Johnson
How many government ministers are there?
200
How many people have some kind of influence over government policy?
4000
How big is the core executive?
Several hundred people large
What does the treasury do?
Manage government finances
Who is the PM supported by?
- Cabinet
- Cabinet secretary
- PMs office
- Policy unit
Who is the cabinet supported by?
- Cabinet committees
- Cabinet office
- Cabinet secretary
Who is the treasury supported by?
- Senior civil servants
- SPaDs
- Think tanks
Who are government departments supported by?
- Senior civil servants
- SPaDs
- Think tanks
