The Prime Minister And Cabinet

Question 1

“Primus inter pares” means what?

Answer 1

First amongst equals,

The PM is the first minister, primary minister.
They’re seen as the first authority amongst people voted in as equally as they have been.
This is meant to encourage a collaborative, non tyrannical mentality.

Question 2

“Ultra Vares” means…

Answer 2

The prescient of the supreme courts ability to investigate anyone under the same standards of law whoever they are, even the PM and their cabinet.

Question 3

What are the functions of the PM?
Remember asany as you can.

Answer 3

• To be a chief diplomat (although this is a term given to the U.S president), this means attending global summets, being the face of the U.K
• To select a cabinet and rule on suspensions as well as appointments.
  (Although for the Labour PM, they’re cabinet has to be the shadow cabinet they campaigned with). They are the party leader.
• Public appearances, to be the face of and first line of defence for party policies.
• Chair cabinet meetings, to police them, organise them so that they’re productive and expedient.

Question 4

What are the 3 layers of the PM and cabinet circle? From inner to outer.

Answer 4

• Inner cabinet: the big four.
  . PM
  . Chancellor of the exchequer
  . Home Secretary
  . Foreign Secretary
• The outer cabinet: the smaller ministerial positions.
  Eg: Minster for public health or minister for the environment.
• The civil service.

Question 5

What are the main powers of the PM?
Remember as many as you can.

Answer 5

• To appoint and suspend MPs.
• Being the defacto Commander in chief of the armed forces even if it’s “His majesties armed forces”
• Using a media platform, power to call conferences for news announcements.
• Use the ‘Royal prerogative’, having audience with the monarch.
• Being a major decider on policy approval because of the extent of their influence over their party.

Question 6

What is collective and individual cabinet responsibility?

Answer 6

Collective: the whole cabinet decides to act as a monolith, to take a burden of responsibility for their decisions together.

Individual: A single minister owns the responsibility and consequences for something they have done or by extention they’ve done through government.