The Prime Minsister

Question 1

What is the executive?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the structure of the executive?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is the cabinet?

Answer 3

20-25 ministers appointed by the prime minister

Question 4

What are junior ministers?

Answer 4

They usually run a specific part of a gov department

Question 5

What are government departments?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What are senior civil servants?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is the cabinet secretary?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Features of the prime ministers office?

Answer 8

. 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

Question 9

What roles does the UK executive have?

Answer 9

. 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

Question 10

What is the cabinet office?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

The Prime Ministers main roles?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Main features of the UK cabinet?

Answer 12

. 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

Question 13

What are cabinet committees?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Cabinets main functions?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

How are ministers ranked?

Answer 15

Senior and junior

Question 16

What is the Secretary of State?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is the minister of state?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is parliamentary under secretary of state?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is the parliamentary private secretary?

Answer 19

An MP which acts as a link between ministers and MPs

Question 20

What are the roles of ministers and their departments?

Answer 20

. 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

Question 21

What is a green paper?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is a white paper?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

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

Answer 23

. 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

Question 24

What is individual ministerial responsibility (IMR)?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What is the first main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What is the second main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What is the third main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What is the fourth main element of individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Why is individual ministerial responsibility eroding?

Answer 30

. Can make the government look weak | . Ministers show loyalty to the PM so they expect support in return when things go wrong

Question 31

What is collective ministerial responsibility (CMR)?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

The principles of collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 32

. 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

Question 33

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

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Why is collective ministerial responsibility important?

Answer 34

. 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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

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