the sources of prime ministerial authority and power

Question 1

traditional authority

Answer 1

the prime minister inherits the ability to excersise the royal prerogative

Question 2

give 2 examples of party leaders being replaced

Answer 2

1990: Margaret Thatcher replaced with Tony Blair
2007: Tony Blair replaced with Gordon Brown

Question 3

what is the power of patronage

Answer 3

power to make appointments to public offices

Question 4

powers of the Prime Minister

formal powers

Answer 4

• (patronage) appointing/dismissing ministers
• (patronage) appointing/dismissing judges and peers
• chairing of cabinet, including settling the agenda
• foreign policy leader
• commander in chief
• signing foreign treaties and international agreements

Question 5

powers of the Prime Minister

informal powers

Answer 5

• controlling and setting government policy
• economic leadership
• media focus and platform
• national leadership in times of crisis

Question 6

what is the role of commander-in-chief?

Answer 6

the person who has control over the deployment of armed forces, in the UK, the prime minister holds this position

Question 7

2 examples of the exercise of prerogative power

Answer 7

2003: Blair committed UK forces to assist the USA in the invasion of Iraq
2020: Bojo signed the ‘divorce treaty’ with the EU

Question 8

cabinet positions

list the ‘four great offices of state’

Answer 8

1. Prime Minister
2.Chancellor of the Exhequer
3.First Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs
4. Home Secretary

Question 9

name 3 senior ministers

Answer 9

1. secretary of state for education
2. secretary of state for transport
3. secretary of state for housing, communities and local government

Question 10

the powers of the cabinet

Answer 10

• legitimise government policy
• setting the legislative agenda
• supporting the Prime Minister
• deciding on government policy

Question 11

what is the role of cabinet committees?

Answer 11

small committees in cabinet who establish the details of government policy, and they propose amendments

Question 12

what is the role of the chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 12

they present economic and financial policy, like the annual autumn statement and the Budget

Question 13

what is the role of individual ministers?

Answer 13

they present policies that involve their government department