The Prime Minister And The Executive Flashcards
Cabinet
The prime minister and senior ministers, most of whom are heads of government departments. It is formally the key decision-making body in British government.
Executive
The branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation. In the U.K., the executive comprises the prime minister, cabinet and junior ministers who make up the government.
Government department
An administrative unit of the executive that is usually responsible for a particular area of policy.
Minister
An MP or member of the House of Lords who is appointed to a specific position in the government by the prime minister.
Prime minister
The head of the government and of the executive branch. The prime minister chairs the cabinet.
Royal prerogative
A set of powers exercised by government ministers, or by the monarch, which do not require parliamentary approval.
Coalition government
A government comprising two or more political parties formed after an agreement between them on policy and the allocation of ministerial positions.
Majority government
A government consisting of members of one political party which has an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons.
Minority government
A government consisting of members of one political party which does not have an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister’s Office
The senior civil servants and special advisers based at 10 Downing Street, who provide advice and support for the Prime Minister.
10 Downing Street
The residence and office of the prime minister.
Patronage
The power of an individual to appoint someone to an important position.
Cabinet reshuffle
A series of changes to the personnel of the cabinet and the positions they occupy, instigated by he prime minister.
Core executive
The heart of government, consisting of those organisations and actors who coordinate central government activity.
Bilateral meeting
A meeting between the prime minister and a departmental minister in which policy is agreed.
Cabinet committees
Sub-committees of the cabinet appointed by the prime minister to consider aspects of government business.
Cabinet Office
A government department responsible for supporting the cabinet system and the prime minister, and managing the civil service.
Cabinet system
The cabinet and its associated bodies, including cabinet committees and the Cabinet Office.
Collective responsibility
The principle that ministers must support cabinet decisions or resign from government.
Individual ministerial responsibility
The principle that ministers are responsible to parliament for their personal conduct and that of their department.
Cabinet government
A system of government in which executive power is vested in a cabinet, whose members exercise collective responsibility, rather than a single office.
Prime-ministerial government
A system of government in which the prime minister is the dominant actor and is able to bypass the cabinet.
Presidentialisation
The idea that UK prime ministers have taken on some of the characteristics of presidents.
Presidential government
A system of government in which a single, directly elected chief executive governs. The executive branch is constitutionally separate from the legislature.
Secretary of State
A government minister in charge of a major government department, such as health or education.
Civil servant
An official employed in a civil capacity by the Crown, responsible for policy advice or policy implementation.
Special adviser
A temporary political appointment made by a government minister.
Spin doctor
A special adviser employed to promote the image of the minister and his or her policy in the media.
