The pm- what is the executive

Question 1

What is the executive?

Answer 1

A branch within the govt that’s concerned with the formulation and implementation of policy

Question 2

What are the main institutions of the executive?

Answer 2

-The prime minister
-Cabinet
-Ministers
-Gov departments

Question 3

Who is the prime minister?

Answer 3

The head of government and and the chair

Question 4

What are the key functions of the prime minister?

Answer 4

-Political leadership (decides political direction of gov)
-National leadership (provides national leadership in crisis and is responsible for natural security
-Appointing gov- determines membership of gov
-Charing gov- appointing ministers, setting agenda and steers decisions
-Managing executive- responsible for organisation of govt and head of civil service
-Prerogative powers- deploying armed forces and recommending some public appointments
-Managing relations with parliament (makes and answers q’s in commons, shapes legislative programme)
-Representing UK in international affairs -represents Uk in international diplomacy

Question 5

What is the cabinet?

Answer 5

A committee of senior minister, ultimate decision making authority

Question 6

Who are ministers?

Answer 6

members of parliament who are appointed by the pm to specific policy portfolio within gov
either in HoL or HoC e.g. David Cameron foreign secretary

Question 7

What are the government departments?

Answer 7

The main administration units of central govt that each deal with particular policy area

Question 8

Who is in the govt departments?

Answer 8

staffed with civil servants who are administrations executive and oversee daily administrations of the govt. Not political and remain no matter who is in govt

Question 9

What is the core executive?

Answer 9

They coordinate the central govt such as the P.M, Cabinet committees, bilateral meetings between PM and other ministers, the PMs office and top civil servants

Question 10

What are the roles of the executive?

Answer 10

-Make policy decisions- PM and team make policy’s in cabinet its administration’s executive who implements this and oversee administration of the state
-Proposing legislation- devising and intimate legislation, mostly primary but has secondary power
-Proposing a budget- key decisions about economic budget
-First responder- in national emergency executive is required to quickly put together emergency to deal with threats in best way and respond to public to calm fears

Question 11

Does the cabinet have prerogative powers?

Answer 11

yes, specifically the prime minister
acting on behalf of the crown

Question 12

Examples of prerogative powers?

Answer 12

making and ratifying treaties
International diplomacy
deployment of armed forces
Pms ability to dissolve parliament
organisation of civil service
Granting a pardon
Convention of deploying the armed forces

Question 13

What is the cabinet?

Answer 13

The Cabinet is the most senior, formal decision-making body of government
-The Cabinet is intended to provide a forum for the Prime Minister and their ministers to discuss and decide together on the government’s policies and what approach it should take to issues.

Question 14

How is cabinet made up?

Answer 14

-It is chaired by the Prime Minister and made up of the most senior ministers.
-The Prime Minister decides who can attend Cabinet.
-Only 22 on cabinet salary but you can be invited to attend and not be a permeant member

Question 15

What are the most important departments in the cabinet?

Answer 15

The treasury- government’s economic and finance ministry
The home office- immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police.
The Foreign office-safeguarding the UK’s national security by countering terrorism and weapons proliferation, and working to reduce conflict

Question 16

What are cabinet meetings like?

Answer 16

Formal- fixed seeting plan and agenda
Meet once a week when parl is in session chnaged from 2 to 1

Question 17

In cabinet where are the decisions usually made?

Answer 17

In cabinet committees- ministerial standing (peranant for PMs term in office) and sub (report back for standing),HoC committee implant (temporary committee dealing with particular issue), implemaentarion tax forces

Question 18

The roles of the cabinet?

Answer 18

-Register and ratify decisions taken elsewhere in cabinet system
-discussing and making decisions on major issues
-Receiving support on key decision
-Settling disputes in gov departments e.g. theresa may taking Leon Britain’s side one Michael Hesalton and his dispute

Question 19

Powers of cabinet- registering and ratifying decisions?

Answer 19

matters of critical imposition
decisions on disputes in parliament, these can be done in cabinet meetings (PM is having less cabinet meetings so less under control)

Question 20

Powers of cabinet- Decision making on major issues?

Answer 20

Cabinet has ultimate decision making power
However can be criticised as PM is now making decisions without cabinet (Blair and the euro)

Question 21

Reasons to say the cabinet is submissive to the PM?

Answer 21

-PM apoints cabinet ministers
-PM has controll over agenda, sterring discussion
-PMs office has expanded and plays a great role in directing and corridianting policy acros gov
-Many decisions now taken outside gov
-PM can claim a personal mandate from pubic and private party

Question 22

Reasons to say the cabinet is more dominant then the PM?

Answer 22

-Practical limits on the p.ms patronage powers
-Senior ministers in gov may receive substantial influence over policy s=decisions e.g. Boris in Theresas gov
-Senior ministers can trust PM policy preference by working together to oppose these of threaten to resign
-Ministers with concerns about policy that affect department can go to cabinet as a final court appeal
-Gov departments provide ministers with expertise and support

Question 23

Does the cabinet still exist?
Points for

Answer 23

-Cabinet can still influence policy
-Cabinet remains the key forum for high policy decisions
-Senior ministers can be impossible to remove or sack e.g. gordon brown in blair
-To many cabinet resignations can be a sign of weakness
-Gov departments have their own senior civil servants who provide ministers with policy support and expertise, ministers also have own political advisers

Question 24

Does the cabinet still exist?

Answer 24

-Meetings are brief if they even occur 30 mins
-Many decisions made in bilateral meetings
-The cabinet office and special advisers play a huge role in research and policy advice across departments so can bypass formal gov structure
-PMs can appear strong by removing gov ministers
-Cabinet ministers appointed by PM so must do their bidding, those resistant sen as poor parliamentary performers who can be sacked

Question 25

What are big beasts?

Answer 25

MPs with a significant base within party

Question 26

What makes MP’s big beasts?

Answer 26

A big power base within paty and public e.g. Boris Johnson

Question 27

Examples of big beast in recent govs?

Answer 27

Sunak- Suella Bravaman
Blair- Gordon Brown
Thatcher- Nigel Lawson, Michael Heselton and Geoffrey Howe (all resigned leading to her downfall

Question 28

How can someone become the prime minister?

Answer 28

Has to be
-An MP
-A leader of a political party
-Have a majority in the commons

Question 29

Where is the PM office?

Answer 29

10 downing street, 190 staff mix of civil servants and special advisors

Question 30

Two aspects of the PM office?

Answer 30

Policy advice
Communication- presentation of gov 24 hr media,