The Prime minister and executive

Question 1

What are the main institutions of the executive?

Answer 1

Main

• Prime minister
• Cabinet
• Ministers

Admin Executive
- Government departments

Question 2

What is the role of the executive?

Answer 2

• Making policy decisions
• Proposing legislation
• Proposing a budget

Question 3

What are the powers of the executive?

Answer 3

Prerogative powers; most exercised by ministers including ratifying treaties, international diplomacy; deployment of armed forces over seas, organisation of civil service
BUT some have been limited over recent years; constitutional convention that Parliament votes on deployment of armed forces oversees (voted against airstrikes on Syria 2013) Also Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011 limited power.

Control of legislative agenda; control legislative timetable e.g. limit debate on bills. Also seen in its position of party discipline on important votes and requirement that all ministers must support gov in parliament.

Powers of secondary legislation; average of 3,500 SIs a year however recent years have saw a decline but in 2015 the HoL amended two regulations on tax.

Question 4

What is the role of the PM?

Answer 4

Not set out in statute law.

• Political leadership; Theresa May is limited due to reliance on DUP, no majority and a political coup.
• National leadership; Winston Churchill WW2 and Blair with Iraq
• Appointing the gov; Jeremy Hunt as health secretary.
• Chairing the cabinet
• Managing executive
• Managing relations with Parliament; Thatcher, Cameron and Blair = effective at answering questions.- – Representing UK in international affairs.

Question 5

Three main requirements for someone to become PM?

Answer 5

• Must be a member of Parliament
• Must be leader of a political party
• Normally have a majority in House of Commons

Question 6

What resources are available to the PM in regards to power?

Answer 6

• patronage
• authority within the cabinet system
• policy making input
• party leadership
• public standing

Question 7

What do patronage powers include?

Answer 7

• appointing ministers
• life peers; Blair appointed 162 Labour peers to increase representation
• the Honours system ended in 2007 ‘cash for honours’ e.g. Lord Sainsbury

Question 8

How have some areas of power of patronage been limited?

Answer 8

Due to Blairs reforms

PM no longer plays role in judicial appointments and is given only one name to approve for ecclesiastical appointments.

Question 9

Explain the PM power in regards to the cabinet system.

Answer 9

• Appointing ministers
  In practice, PM does not have a free hand as do not want to alienate factions, sometimes criticised on representation e.g. race. 2010 coalition required 5 Lib Dem to be appointed.
• Cabinet reshuffle
  PM decided timing of reshuffle. 1962 Harold Macmillan sacked 7 cabinet ministers, Howe demotion in 1989 led to downfall of Thatcher.