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Politics Paper 1 > The Prime Minister And Executive > Flashcards

The Prime Minister And Executive Flashcards

1
Q

What is the executive?

A

The beach of government concerned with the formulation and implementation of policy

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2
Q

What are the main institutions of the executive?

A

Pm, cabinet, ministers and government departments

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3
Q

What makes up the core executive?

A

Pm, cabinet, cabinet committees and civil service

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4
Q

What makes up the executive?

A

Pm and cabinet

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5
Q

What is important to know about government departments?

A

They are staffed by civil servants, and are the administrative executive and oversee the daily administration of government

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6
Q

What happens when the government changes to civil servants?

A

They remain in post as they are not political appointments

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7
Q

What are the three roles of the executive?

A

Making policy decisions, proposing legislation and proposing a budget

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8
Q

What happens in making policy decisions? (3 things)

A

The pm and cabinet set political priorities and determine the country’s policy direction- administrative executive is in charge of policy implementation and oversees day to day admin of the state

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9
Q

What does proposing legislation involve?( 4 things)

A

Executive devises and initiates legislation. Most primary legislation (bill) are proposed by the executive. Government bill put into effect the policies proposed in manifesto and has law making powers on secondary legislation

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10
Q

What happens in proposing a budget? (2 things)

A

Executive makes key decisions on economic policy and proposes a budget. Chancellor sets out proposed levels of taxation and public spending in budget

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11
Q

What are prerogative powers and where did they come from?

A

Powers exercised by ministers that don’t require parliamentary approval- known as royal prerogative and date from when monarch was involved in government

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12
Q

How does the monarch still have some prerogative powers?

A

Appointment of PM and giving royal assent to legislation but PM seeks to avoid controversy and acts under direction of ministers

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13
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: making and…

A

Ratifying treaties

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14
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: internationals diplomacy, including …

A

Recognition and relations with other states

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15
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: deployment of..

A

The armed forces overseas

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16
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: the prime ministers patronage powers and …

A

Ability to recommend the dissolution of Parliament

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17
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: the organisation of…

A

The civil service

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18
Q

Finish the prerogative power acting on behalf of the crown: the granting …

A

Of pardons

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19
Q

How prerogative power has changed : what has become constitutional convention with an example?

A

Parliament votes on deployment of armed forces overseas- parliament voted against air strikes in Syria in 2013 then gave approval in 2015

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20
Q

What changed due to the Parliament acts 2011 regarding prime minister asking the monarch to dissolve parliament and call an early election with an example?

A

An early election can only be called if two thirds of MP’s approve in a vote in the House of Commons- in April 2017, mps approved motion for early election by 522 votes to 13

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21
Q

How does the executive have control of the legislative agenda?

A

Most bills are proposed by the gov, controls legislative timetable, most gov bills approved by parliament.

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22
Q

How does the executive have control over the legislative agenda regarding private members bills?

A

Those that don’t have gov support are unlikely to succeed alongside it enforcing party discipline (all ministers just support gov in parliament)

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23
Q

What is secondary legislation?

A

Also known as delegates legislation which allows the provisions of an act of Parliament to be bring into force or mended by ministers without requiring a further act

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24
Q

How does the executive have more powers over secondary legislation ?

A

Ministers can make more detailed rules and regulations through statuary instruments- can be technical( starting when act comes into force) or provide greater detail

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25
Q

On average how many statuary instruments issued per year?

A

3500

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26
Q

Who are statuary instruments scrutinised by?

A

Parliamentary committees but most aren’t debated and it’s unusual for them to be rejected (exception of H of L amending two on tax credits in 2015)

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27
Q

Who is the prime minister?

A

The head of U.K. government

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28
Q

What does the prime minister provide?

A

Political leadership within the cabinet system and chairs cabinet, appointments ministers and is leader of largest party in the commons

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29
Q

When did the office of prime minister emerge?

A

Early 18th century and became the accepted title of the first Lord if the treasury, Robert Walpole( 1721-42)

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30
Q

What is the Cabinet Manual and what does it describe?

A

It is the workings of the executive l, described the pm as ‘head of government’

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31
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of political leadership?

A

PM decides political direction taken by government, setting out its priorities and strategy- determines policy on high profile issues

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32
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is national leadership?

A

PM is the predominant political figure in the U.K. and provides national leadership in times of crisis. Responsible for national security

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33
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of appointment?

A

PM determines the membership of government by appointing and dismissing ministers

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34
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of chairing the cabinet?

A

PM chairs meetings of the cabinet l, sets it’s agenda and steers it’s decisions . Creates cabinet committees and holds bilateral meetings with ministers

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35
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of managing the executive?

A

PM is responsible for the overall organisation of the government and is head of the civil service

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36
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of prerogative powers?

A

PM exercised prerogative powers such as deploying the armed forces oversees and recommending public appointments

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37
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of managing relations with parliament?

A

PM makes statement to, and answers questions in the House of Commons. Also shapes legislative programme

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38
Q

Generally accepted key functions of PM: what is the role of representing the U.K. in international affairs?

A

The PM represents the U.K. in high level international diplomacy

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39
Q

What is primus inter pares?

A

The traditional notion that the prime minister is merely ‘first among equals’ among fellow members of the cabinet. In reality, modern prime ministers have far more power

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40
Q

Who must the prime minister be a member of?

A

Parliament

41
Q

Up until the late nineteenth century who was the pm normally a member of?

A

The House of Lords

42
Q

What happened when Harold Macmillan resigned as prime minister in 1963?

A

The earl of home succeeded him as Conservative party leader and thus pm - he renounced his hereditary peerage to be knows as Alec Douglas Home and stood at by elections for the commons

43
Q

Who must the pm be a leader of?

A

A political party- if forced to step down as party leader , they also relinquish office of pm

44
Q

In 1990, why did Margaret Thatcher have to resign?

A

She failed to win the Conservative party leadership election

45
Q

What are three examples of prime ministers who took office when the incumbent resigned?

A

John Major, Gordon Brown and Theresa May

46
Q

Is the new prime minister required to call an immediate general election?

A

No

47
Q

What does the party the pm leads need?

A

A majority in the House of Commons

48
Q

How does the monarch ‘appoint’ pm?

A

Monarch invited leader that can command majority in the commons to form a government - pm accepts office at a private audience with the sovereign

49
Q

What is a hung parliament?

A

Occurs when no party has an absolute majority of seats - incumbent pm is not required to resign immediately

50
Q

In a hung parliament what course of action is usually taken?

A

Pm is given opportunity to negotiate with other parties to form a minority government or a coalition government

51
Q

What did the 2010 and 2017 election?

A

2010 produced Conservative Lib Dem coalition and 2017 produced minority government after losing their parliamentary majority

52
Q

What dosent the prime minister head?

A

Government departments nor is there a formal prime ministers department

53
Q

How many people are staffed by the prime ministers office?

A

190 people with a mixture of career civil servants and special advisers

54
Q

What is the role of policy advice from the prime ministers office?

A

Provides pm with policy advice which may differ from advice given by ministers alongside future direction of policy

55
Q

Since Tony Blair’s premiership what has the prime ministers office had an important role in and who scaled it back?

A

Coordinating policy making and implementation across government- Cameron scales it back then strengthened number 10’s oversight of Whitehall by establishing a policy and implementation unit

56
Q

Who is the chief of staff?

A

The most influential adviser and works at the centre of operations in Downing Street

57
Q

What is the second role of prime ministers office communications?

A

It is responsible for the presentation of government policy

58
Q

How has the function of communication in the prime ministers office grown in importance?

A

With the intensification of the media

59
Q

Why was responsibility for government communications transferred to a senior civil servant?

A

Criticism on the politicisation of communications under Blair’s communications director, Alastair Campbell

60
Q

What are the five main resources available to the prime minister to give him or her greater power?

A

Patronage, authority within the cabinet system, policy making input, party leadership and public standing

61
Q

What is the most significant in powers of patronage ?

A

Appointing government ministers

62
Q

What does appointing life peers involve ?

A

Appointing life peers who may include former Mp’s or party support who have made significant contributions in other areas of public life

63
Q

Who makes recommendations and and nominations for life peerages ?

A

An independent Appointmemts committee makes recommendations on non party appointments to the Lords, but the pm makes political nominations

64
Q

How has the power to nominate life peers enabled the prime minister to alter party balance?

A

Blair increased Labour’s representation in the Lords by appointing 162 labour peers alongside Gordon Brown giving government portfolios and life peerages to 5 prominent figures including former CBI head sit Digby Jones

65
Q

Why was there a police inquiry into allegation for ‘cash for honours’ and what was the result of it?

A

Donors to the Labour Party were rewarded with peerages- ended in 2007 without criminal charges being brought

66
Q

How was the honours system changed after the investigation of ‘cash for honours’?

A

Nominations are now considered by honours committees made up of civil servants and people independent of government- PM accepts their lists

67
Q

How have powers of patronage for judicial appointment been changed?

A

They have no role in judicial appointments and is given only one name to approve for ecclesiastical appointment

68
Q

What did the 2010 coalition agreement require David Cameron to appoint to his cabinet?

A

Five Liberal Democrat’s

69
Q

What was the agreement Brown and Blair made in 1995 Labour leadership election?

A

Brown agreed not to stand against Blair and in return received assurances that he would become chancellor of the exchequer in a future Labour government

70
Q

What changed in 2016 from the 2015 cabinet under May ?

A

15 ministers who had attended under Cameron including Osborne and Gove, were not appointed to May’s first cabinet

71
Q

How did Thatchers government prove ideological considerations are important?

A

Her cabinet included economic ‘dries (Thatcherites) and ‘wets’ (one nation) but have key positions to her allies

72
Q

What was Theresa May’s first cabinets stance on the EU?

A

Most had campaigned to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum, but campaigners such as Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis we’re put in charge of departments that would deliver Brexit

73
Q

When and why can a cabinet reshuffle be called?

A

They are used to promote successful ministers, demote those who have underachieved - timing is chosen by the PM

74
Q

What was Harold Macmillan’s 1962 reshuffle named?

A

The night of the long knives in which he sacked seven cabinet ministers

75
Q

How was Margaret Thatcher’s reshuffle bad and triggers a downfall a year later?

A

She demoted foreign secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe in 1989

76
Q

What is an example of a minister thwarting a PM plans by refusing to change posts?

A

Gordon Brown planned to make Ed Balls chancellor of the exchequer in 2009, but the incumbent, Alastair Darling, let it be known that he would refuse to accept another post and Brown relented

77
Q

How does the prime minister have authority within the core executive?( 7 things)

A

Chairs cabinet meetings, manages agenda, directs and sums up cabinet discussion, creates cabinet committees( appoints ministers), holds bilateral meetings with ministers, appoints civil servants and organised structure of government

78
Q

in 2016, what new cabinet committee did May establish?

A

a new Economy and Industrial Strategy Committee

79
Q

what is involved in the role of agenda setting?

A

they control information presented to ministers, keep potentially difficult issues off the cabinet by dealing with them in a cabinet committee or bilateral meeting and decide the chair, membership and remit of cabinet committees

80
Q

what is important to note about the prime ministers policy making role?

A

it is not confined to a specific field and he or she has a license to get involved in issues across the political spectrum

81
Q

how is the PM the most important actor when crisis occurs?

A

the chancellor and foreign secretary are powerful positions but the PM is likely to set objectives, and direct and coordinate policy in these areas

82
Q

how was it proved in 1989 that the PM needs the backing of senior ministers on major issues?

A

Chancellor Nigel Lawson and foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe forced Maggie Thatcher to shift government policy on the European Exchange rate Mechanism by threatening to resign

83
Q

what are examples of active roles Margaret Thatcher played in different policy fields?

A

success in the 1982 Falklands War but in the case of the poll tax, policy failure undermined her authority

84
Q

when was Blairs authority undermined due to policy failure?

A

the 2003 Iraq invasion when doubts about the governments case for war raised questions about his judgement and trustworthiness

85
Q

what does a working majority mean for the position of the party leadership?

A

strengthens their position because they are better able to enact the governments programme

86
Q

how was it proved in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that the government can’t always rely on party support?

A

the coalition governments proposals on reform of the House of Lords were dropped after a rebellion by Conservative MP’s , and conservative rebellions on EU issues contributed to the decision of an in/out referendum

87
Q

what are examples of two prime ministers that had high public profile and influence on UK international affairs?

A

Thatcher and Blair who both had strong relationship with the president of the United States

88
Q

how has it been proved that public satisfaction strengthens the role of the PM?

A

Thatcher’s rating fell to just above 20% when she introduced poll tax in 1990

89
Q

how has the importance of the cabinet waned in the modern era?

A

it now plays only a limited role in decision making as many key policy decisions are taken elsewhere in the executive - BIG GOVERNMENT

90
Q

how is the PM dependant on the cabinet proved through Thatchers resignation?

A

it proved that a prime minister who fails to recognise his or her dependence on senior cabinet colleagues risks losing office

91
Q

what is the composition of cabinet?

A

consists of senior ministers in government. salary is limited to 22 ministers. PM can invite members to attend without making them full members

92
Q

how many ministers did Cameron give the right to attend in 2012, May in 2017?

A

10 in 2012 and 5 in 2017

93
Q

how many women were in May’s cabinet?

A

8- equalling the record number appointed by Tony Blair in 2006

94
Q

what are the most important government departments?

A

Treasury, Foreign office and home office, ministers who head these departments have the highest profile and most influence

95
Q

what is an example of a cabinet post being a more recent creation?

A

the department for exiting the European Union was established after the 2016 referendum

96
Q

what is the role of deputy prime minster with 2 examples?

A

its not fixed with no specific powers or responsibilities- Blair gave it to John Prescott (his deputy as party leader) and Nick Clegg as leader of junior party in the coalition

97
Q

what are requirements to become a cabinet minister?

A

must be members of parliament, most sit in the commons and its unusual for members to sit in the Lords to head major government departments

98
Q

what are expectations of ministers who head governments departments sitting in the house of Lords?

A

Brown government- Lord Mandelson, secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform (2008-10) and Lord Adonis secretary of state for transport (2009-10) and Nikki Morgan

Politics Paper 1 (8 decks)

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