The PM And The Executive- The PM And The Cabinet, Ministers And Their Departments Flashcards
The office of the PM has the following features:
+ The prime minister is the leader of the governing party and so usually commands a majority in the House of Commons.
+ The prime minister is assisted and supported by a large collection of bodies and individuals, which include the cabinet secretary, a chief of staff (often their closest aide), their private office (staffed by senior civil servants), the Number 10 Policy Unit (a group of special advisors) and the Cabinet Office.
Cabinet office
A government department that gives policy advice to the prime minister and cabinet. It is staffed by senior civil servants.
PM’s main roles:
+ considered the de facto head of government
+ the government’s chief policy maker + the nation’s chief diplomat
+ appointing the cabinet and chairing its meetings
Main features of the UK Cabinet
+ All its members are appointed by the prime minister, who chairs its meetings, normally held once a week, and sets the agenda.
+ It normally numbers 20-25 members.
+ The members are senior government ministers and a few key officials who run the government’s business.
+ A few senior party figures may not be cabinet members but still attend meetings. The chief government whip is the best example.
+ Much of the detailed work of cabinet is conducted in cabinet committees.
These are small groups of ministers, chaired by the prime minister or another senior cabinet member.
+ Cabinet committees develop policy details and present proposals for the approval of the whole cabinet. In some circumstances, they may be charged with implementing policy.
The Cabinet’s main functions:
+ approving policy and settling disputes within government
+ determining the government’s reaction to crises and emergencies
+ determining the presentation of government policy
Cabinet committee
Groups established by the prime minister that are able to reduce the burden on the full cabinet by allowing a smaller number of ministers to take decisions on specific policy areas.
The membership of these committees is decided by the prime minister.
Ministers are ranked into what?
Senior and junior posts
Ministers are ranked into senior and junior posts:
+ Secretary of state
+ Minister of state
+ Parliamentary under-secretary of state
+ Parliamentary private secretary (PPS)
Secretary of state
+ Secretary of state: a senior minister who runs a large department and is
most likely also to be a cabinet member.
Minister of state
Minister of state: they will run a subdivision of the department and will not be a cabinet member. They are often referred to as junior ministers.
Parliamentary under-secretary of state
Parliamentary under-secretary of state: a very junior minister who runs a specialised section of the department.
Parliamentary private secretary
Parliamentary private secretary (PPS): an MP who acts as a link between ministers and MPs. This position is the first rung on the ministerial ladder.
What are all these ministers knows as ?
+ Secretary of State
+ Minister of state
+ Parliamentary under-secretary of state
+ Parliamentary private secretary (PPS)
known as the government ‘front bench’.
All ministers are subject to collective ministerial responsibility.
All ministers are
subject to collective ministerial responsibility
Minister
Minister:
An MP or a peer who takes a position in government, usually in a specific government department.
