The Prime Minister And Cabinet 1

Question 1

The government consists of about ____-plus members these are ___________ and senior-party officials who are appointed by the _________ __________

Answer 1

100
Ministers
Prime minister

Question 2

What are the roles within the cabinet

Answer 2

Prime minister
Heads of large government departments
A small number of other senior party members

Question 3

What are the roles within the government

Answer 3

Cabinet members
Senior non-cabinet members
Junior ministers not in the cabinet
Whips

Question 4

What is the role of whips

Answer 4

Whips have the task of ensuring party discipline among MPs and peers
Running the administration of debates and votes on Parliament
Keeping MPs and peers informed

Question 5

The Chief _______ sits in the cabinet

Answer 5

Chief Whip

Question 6

Role of senior non-cabinet posts

Answer 6

The holders of important offices, such as Attorney General, who are not quite senior enough to be in the cabinet

Question 7

Role of junior ministers that are not in the cabinet

Answer 7

These are subordinates of those cabinet ministers who run departments. Most are known as ‘Ministers of State’

Question 8

Characteristics of the government

Answer 8

All members of the govt. must sit in parliament
MPs from the party that is in government are not members of the govt.. They are known as backbenchers
All members of the government are appointed by the prime minister
All members of government are bound by the principle of collective responsibility
The full government would never normally meet together in one body

Question 9

Define: Political leadership

Answer 9

A general term to all individuals who hold some power within a political system. It refers not only to government, but also to leading members of other parties and political associations

Question 10

Qualities of ministers

Answer 10

Reliable
Potential
Shared ideology
Managerial skill

Question 11

Conditions that must be met under coalition governments

Answer 11

Ministerial posts must be shared E.g 18 - 5

Agreement on which policies can be accepted

Question 12

What are the 4 types of coalition

Answer 12

Majority coalition
Grand coalition
Rainbow coalition
National coalitions

Question 13

Describe: Majority coalition

Answer 13

Normally formed by just 2 parties, formed simply to create a parliamentary majority. E.g 2010

Question 14

Describe: Grand coalition

Answer 14

Coalitions between two major parties. Normally considered in times of national crisis

Question 15

Describe: Rainbow coalition

Answer 15

Agreements between a large number of parties, often of greatly varying philosophies. It would normally be one large party and several other smaller parties

Question 16

Describe: National coalition

Answer 16

Coalitions where all parties are invited to participate. They occur at times of national crisis and are designed to create unity. E.g Second World War

Question 17

Features of a cabinet government

Answer 17

The cabinet represents the collective identity of the government
All important domestic an many foreign policy decisions made within the cabinet
In order for a policy to be official, it would need full cabinet approval
Prime minister considered ‘first among equals’ - meaning that he had higher status than his colleagues, but could be outvoted within the cabinet

Question 18

Define: Cabinet government

Answer 18

A system of government where the cabinet is the central policy-making body

Question 19

What is a cabinet committee

Answer 19

A small group (around 5) of cabinet ministers who meet regularly to discuss a specific area of government policy

Question 20

Example of a temporary cabinet committee

Answer 20

Olympics

Question 21

Example of permanent cabinet committee

Answer 21

Foreign Affairs

Question 22

Ways that cabinet power has diminished

Answer 22

PM is more dominant
Departments which are more independent
policy making now takes place within committees (that May chairs)
Much decision making has moved to the 10 Downing Street organisation
PM conducts business on ‘bilateral basis’ - by discussing policy with an individual minister

Question 23

Functions of the cabinet nowadays:

Answer 23

Settling disputes which cannot be resolved elsewhere may be brought to the cabinet
Making important decisions -
(Sometimes the PM decides an issue should be resolved in cabinet)
Dealing with domestic emergencies
Publicity - to ensure policy is represented in the best light
To legitimise all proposed legislation
Settling coalition disputes

Question 24

Why may a PM decide an issue should be resolved in parl.

Answer 24

May have no personal interest

May prefer not to commit themselves to a decision that may later cause him personal embarrassment

Question 25

In what ways does cabinet remain the same under coalition govt.

Answer 25

It remains dominated by the PM
Meetings are still secret
Remains the collective identity of the govt.
All members are expected to defend all cabinet actions

Question 26

Ways in which cabinet is different under coalition

Answer 26

‘Agreements to differ’
Lib Dem appointments or movements within cabinet the PM must agree the move with his deputy
Rules of collective responsibility became weaker
PM must take more account of differing options

Question 27

What is individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 27

The convention that a minister should resign if that department makes a serious political or personal error

Question 28

What is the importance if individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 28

Ensures act responsibly and are held accountable by parliament

Question 29

How many members in a cabinet committee

Answer 29

5