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A Level Politics > The Prime Minsister > Flashcards

The Prime Minsister Flashcards

1
Q

What is the executive?

A

This is the collective name for the prime minister, cabinet, junior ministers, gov departments and their staff

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2
Q

What is the structure of the executive?

A

. The prime minister and their close advisors
. The cabinet
. Junior ministers
. Government departments
. Senior civil servants. Cabinet secretary is the most senior.

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3
Q

What is the cabinet?

A

20-25 ministers appointed by the prime minister

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4
Q

What are junior ministers?

A

They usually run a specific part of a gov department

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5
Q

What are government departments?

A

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.

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6
Q

What are senior civil servants?

A

They are officials which give advice to ministers and implement ministers decisions.

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7
Q

What is the cabinet secretary?

A

The most senior civil servant in the UK. They serve the PM and then the cabinet.

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8
Q

Features of the prime ministers office?

A

. 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

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9
Q

What roles does the UK executive have?

A

. 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

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10
Q

What is the cabinet office?

A

A gov department that gives policy advice to the PM and cabinet

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11
Q

The Prime Ministers main roles?

A

. Head if Gov
. Governments chief policy maker
. Nations chief diplomat
. Appointing the cabinet and chairing it!s meeting’s s

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12
Q

Main features of the UK cabinet?

A

. 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

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13
Q

What are cabinet committees?

A

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.

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14
Q

Cabinets main functions?

A

. Approving policy and settling disputes within government
. Determining the togs reaction to crisis and emergencies
. Determining the presentation of the governments policy

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15
Q

How are ministers ranked?

A

Senior and junior

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16
Q

What is the Secretary of State?

A

A senior minister who runs a large department and is most likely also to be a cabinet member.

17
Q

What is the minister of state?

A

Usually referred to as junior ministers. They will run a subdivision of the department and will not be a cabinet member.

18
Q

What is parliamentary under secretary of state?

A

a very junior minister running a specialised section of a department.

19
Q

What is the parliamentary private secretary?

A

An MP which acts as a link between ministers and MPs

20
Q

What are the roles of ministers and their departments?

A

. 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

21
Q

What is a green paper?

A

It is a consultation document which allows people inside and outside of parliament to give feedback on policy or legislative proposals

22
Q

What is a white paper?

A

Sets out specific proposals for future legislation which can include a draft version of a planned bill

23
Q

What are the stages to get proposed legislation introduced into parliament?

A

. 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

24
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility (IMR)?

A

ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for the work of their department

25
Q

What is the first main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

A

Ministers need to prepare to be accountable to parliament for the policies and decisions made by their department.

26
Q

What is the second main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

A

If a minister makes a serious error of judgement they should be required to resign.

27
Q

What is the third main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

A

If a ministers department makes a serious error of the minister should be required to resign.

28
Q

What is the fourth main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

A

If a ministers conduct falls below standards required of someone in public office, they should leave office and may face dismissal by the PM

29
Q

An example of individual ministerial responsibility eroding (ministers not taking responsibility)?

A

Priti Patel (Home Secretary) refused to resign over evidence of her bullying civil servants in 2020.

30
Q

Why is individual ministerial responsibility eroding?

A

. Can make the government look weak

. Ministers show loyalty to the PM so they expect support in return when things go wrong

31
Q

What is collective ministerial responsibility (CMR)?

A

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

32
Q

The principles of collective ministerial responsibility?

A

. 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

33
Q

Example of ministers resigning over gov policies which they cannot agree with in public (against CMR)?

A

Theresa May saw 17 ministers resign over her Brexit strategy between July 2018 and April 2019

34
Q

Why is collective ministerial responsibility important?

A

. 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

35
Q

Example of ministers who have refused to take collective ministerial responsibility?

A

Said Javid (chancellor) resigned because he refused to replace his advisors with those chosen by the PM (2020)

A Level Politics (11 decks)

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