the prime minister q1

Question 1

what is the executive

Answer 1

decision making branch of government, centred on the pm and cabinet and its committees

Question 2

what’s the structure of the executive

Answer 2

the pm
the cabinet
government departments
executive agencies

Question 3

what are the main roles of the executive?

Answer 3

• proposing legislation: announces new programme at start ion each parliamentary session in the queens speech
• proposes the budget: created by the chancellor of the exchequer in consultation with the pm
  -making policy decisions

Question 4

what are the main powers of the executive

Answer 4

• royal prerogative power: a set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the pm of a cabinet
• award honours
• declare war
• sign treaties
• grant legal pardons
• grant and withdraw passports

Question 5

what is secondary legislation?

Answer 5

• ## a law made without passing a new act of parliament

Question 6

what is ministerial responsibility?

Answer 6

• ministers are responsible for running their own departments
  eg amber Rudd, her department made mistakes with immigration to do with people who came in the windrush

Question 7

why may individual ministers resign

Answer 7

• personal misconduct
• depatametal errors

Question 8

what is collective responsibility

Answer 8

• principle by which ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive

Question 9

what are exceptions to collective responsibility

Answer 9

• it has on occasions been modified for political reasons
  eg: was a need to find a compromise between the Lib Dems and the conservatives in order to form coalition in 2010, it was agreed at the outset that the lib dems would not be bound by collective responsibility

Question 10

what are the factors governing the pm selection of ministers

Answer 10

• importance of including ppl with ability and experience
• establishing a PMs authority
• rewarding loyalty, also conciliating potential rivals
• maintaining a balance between different factions within the governing party
• meeting expectations of diversity

Question 11

what is a presidential government

Answer 11

• an executive dominated by one individual
• may be a president but can also describe a strong, dominant pm

Question 12

what are factors which could affect the relationship between the pm and the cabinet

Answer 12

• the management skills of the pm
• the PMs ability to set an agenda
• the use of cabinet committees and informal groups to take decisions
• impact of wider political and economical situation