The Prime Minsister Flashcards
What is the executive?
This is the collective name for the prime minister, cabinet, junior ministers, gov departments and their staff
What is the structure of the executive?
. The prime minister and their close advisors
. The cabinet
. Junior ministers
. Government departments
. Senior civil servants. Cabinet secretary is the most senior.
What is the cabinet?
20-25 ministers appointed by the prime minister
What are junior ministers?
They usually run a specific part of a gov department
What are government departments?
They are a part of the executive with a specific responsibility over a policy area. Many heads of these departments are members of of the cabinet.
What are senior civil servants?
They are officials which give advice to ministers and implement ministers decisions.
What is the cabinet secretary?
The most senior civil servant in the UK. They serve the PM and then the cabinet.
Features of the prime ministers office?
. The PM is the leader of the governing party and so usually commands a majority in the house of commons.
. The PM is assisted and supported by a large collection of bodies and individuals. EG. Cabinet secretary, Chief of staff, Their private office, The number 10 Policy unit and the Cabinet Office
What roles does the UK executive have?
. Proposing and securing the passage and implementing legislation
. Proposing a budget and maintaining the states finances
. Developing/making policy decisions
. Conducting foreign policy
. Responding to major problems or crisis
. Organising/managing the services provided by the state
What is the cabinet office?
A gov department that gives policy advice to the PM and cabinet
The Prime Ministers main roles?
. Head if Gov
. Governments chief policy maker
. Nations chief diplomat
. Appointing the cabinet and chairing it!s meeting’s s
Main features of the UK cabinet?
. 20-25 members
. The members are senior government officials and a few key officials who run the government’s business.
. A few senior party figures may not be cabinet members but still attend meetings.
. A lot of detailed work in cabinet is conducted by cabinet committees
What are cabinet committees?
Groups established by the PM to reduce the burden on the full cabinet by allowing a small amount of ministers to take decisions on specific policy areas.
Cabinets main functions?
. Approving policy and settling disputes within government
. Determining the togs reaction to crisis and emergencies
. Determining the presentation of the governments policy
How are ministers ranked?
Senior and junior
What is the Secretary of State?
A senior minister who runs a large department and is most likely also to be a cabinet member.
What is the minister of state?
Usually referred to as junior ministers. They will run a subdivision of the department and will not be a cabinet member.
What is parliamentary under secretary of state?
a very junior minister running a specialised section of a department.
What is the parliamentary private secretary?
An MP which acts as a link between ministers and MPs
What are the roles of ministers and their departments?
. to draft/write legislation when needed
. to speak in debates on legislation
. organise the passage of legislation
. take decisions using the powers they have under secondary legislation
. answer to parliament through questions and appearing in front of select committees
What is a green paper?
It is a consultation document which allows people inside and outside of parliament to give feedback on policy or legislative proposals
What is a white paper?
Sets out specific proposals for future legislation which can include a draft version of a planned bill
What are the stages to get proposed legislation introduced into parliament?
. Gov publishes a green paper
. White paper is published and normally is debated in parliament
. party whips check if there is enough support for legislation among governing MPs
. Legislation is now formally introduced into parliament
What is individual ministerial responsibility (IMR)?
ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for the work of their department
What is the first main element of individual ministerial responsibility?
Ministers need to prepare to be accountable to parliament for the policies and decisions made by their department.
What is the second main element of individual ministerial responsibility?
If a minister makes a serious error of judgement they should be required to resign.
What is the third main element of individual ministerial responsibility?
If a ministers department makes a serious error of the minister should be required to resign.
What is the fourth main element of individual ministerial responsibility?
If a ministers conduct falls below standards required of someone in public office, they should leave office and may face dismissal by the PM
An example of individual ministerial responsibility eroding (ministers not taking responsibility)?
Priti Patel (Home Secretary) refused to resign over evidence of her bullying civil servants in 2020.
Why is individual ministerial responsibility eroding?
. Can make the government look weak
. Ministers show loyalty to the PM so they expect support in return when things go wrong
What is collective ministerial responsibility (CMR)?
It is an unwritten convention that ministers must support the Govs opinion in public despite any private reservations. If they are unable to do so they should resign
The principles of collective ministerial responsibility?
. All members off gov are jointly responsible for gov policies
. Ministers support Govs policies in public even if they disagree with them
. If a minister opposes a gov policy in public should resign
Example of ministers resigning over gov policies which they cannot agree with in public (against CMR)?
Theresa May saw 17 ministers resign over her Brexit strategy between July 2018 and April 2019
Why is collective ministerial responsibility important?
. Projects government unity
. Can help keep the PMs dominant position
. It can stop protest against official policy in the gov
. Protects ministers from pressure if the gov uses CMR
. help ministers express their opinions privately
Example of ministers who have refused to take collective ministerial responsibility?
Said Javid (chancellor) resigned because he refused to replace his advisors with those chosen by the PM (2020)
