The Prime Minister And The Cabinet: The Origins, Structure And Powers Of The Core Executive Flashcards
Who was the first and longest serving prime mister?
Robert Walpole
How was the role of the prime minister ‘formed’?
It emerged opposed to being formally created
What codified guide, created in 1992, fully set out the duties and expectations of the prime minister and government ministers?
The Ministerial Code
What does the term ‘core executive’ refer to?
The prime minister and their cabinet and senior civil servants. cabinet committees and the Cabinet executive
What is cabinet committees?
Specialist subdivisions of the cabinet comprising fewer members who focus on particulate policy areas
What is the civil service politically?
Is politically neutral and senior figures normally remain in post when the government changes
What is the key roles of the core executive?
Making policy, passing legislation, financing, being the national first responder
How is the core executive involved with making policy?
It is the role of the executive first to set politic priorities and then decide upon policy often at cabinet meetings or in cabinet committees, the civil service has the job of implementing these policies and running the state on a day-to-day basis
How is the core executive involved with passing legislation?
Major acts are first discussed and approved at cabinet level and then sent to parliament
How is the core executive involved with financing?
The Chancellor and the Treasure are especially involved with making decisions on taxation and government spending, this decisions normally being announced in the annual budget, with cabinet being used as a forum of arbitration, overseen by the prime minster
How is the core executive involved with being the national first responder?
In times of national emergency, the executive is required to quickly and efficiently to put together emergency measures to deal with the threat as best it can, and reassure the public and calm fears
What are the key powers of the executive?
The appointment of minister by the trimester and other patronage powers
The deployment of UK armed forces overseas
Relations with international powers and international diplomacy
Making and ratifying treaties
The organisation and structure of the civil service
Issuing directives and statements during national crises and emergencies
The ability to get its legislative agenda through parliament and control of the parliamentary timetable
What is patronage powers?
The ability of the executives to appoint individuals to key offices
What are the powers held by the executive that derive from the royal prerogative called?
Prerogative powers
