The structure, role and powers of the executive

Question 1

PM government under Cameron

Answer 1

• Able to start the process of austerity despite it being controversial
• Key decisions were made by the Quad who were clearly led by Cameron

Question 2

Cabinet Gov under Cameron

Answer 2

• AV referendum 2011

- Nature of the coalition government (5 members were lib dems)

Question 3

PM government under May

Answer 3

• Personally chaired cabinet committees including a Brexit one

Question 4

Cabinet government under May

Answer 4

• 2017 lost her majority after a snap election

- Had to balance brexiteers (Johnson) and remainers (Rudd)

Question 5

Cabinet Government under Johnson

Answer 5

-Due to COVID-19 Johnson has had to consult with cabinet more regularly eg health secretary

Question 6

PM government under Johnson

Answer 6

• Consistently bypasses cabinet eg 2019 prorogation of Parliament was not discussed with cabinet
• Through Johnsons use of his advisor eg Cummings
• Through patronage, he has surrounded himself with his supporters and people who will agree with him eg Patel, Raab etc

Question 7

What are some roles of the Executive?

Answer 7

• Create domestic and enact foreign policy
• defend the country
• oversee law and order
• coordinate state finances
• implement and pass legislation
• provide public services
• deal with crises.

Question 8

Who controls the UK Executive? Who is this on behalf of?

Answer 8

• The PM controls the UK executive, on behalf of the monarch due to the delegation of prerogative powers by the monarch.

Question 9

What different groups is the UK Executive comprised of?

Answer 9

• The PM, Cabinet, Ministers, Government Departments, Executive Agencies, Civil Servants, Advisors, Party Officials, Think Tanks.

Question 10

What are executive agencies?

Answer 10

• Executive agencies are divisions of government departments which carry out specific functions

Question 11

What is a civil servant? What are their political decisions?

Answer 11

• A civil servant is an individual employed by a government department to aid and advise decision making, as well as execute policy
• They are permanent roles INDEPENDENT OF PARTY LOYALTY.

Question 12

What are the 8 prerogative powers of the PM?

Answer 12

• the PM can appoint/dismiss ministers
• grant legal pardons
• sign treaties
• take action to deal with crises
• declare war
• authorise military action
• award honours
• grant/withdraw passports.

Question 13

What examples are there of the PM appoint/dismiss ministers, granting legal pardons, signing treaties and dealing with crises?

Answer 13

• PM can reshuffle cabinet (Boris Johnson 2020 reshuffle)
• David Cameron pardoned Alan Turing posthumously following his conviction for being gay
• 2020 EU Trading agreement
• Coronavirus Act and Government actions in 2020.

Question 14

What examples are there of the PM declaring war, authorising military action, awarding honours and granting/withdrawing passports?

Answer 14

• Chamberlain in 1939 declaring war on Germany
• Blair authorised military action in Iraq in 2003 with the US
• Boris Johnson awarded peerages to his brother, Kate Hoey and others
• Shamima Begum had her passport withdrawn following her ISIS links.

Question 15

How has the prerogative power to declare war/authorise military action changed in recent years?

Answer 15

• The prerogative power to authorise military action has changed since 2003 due to the Iraq War, with the convention being that Parliament must be consulted to approve military action.

Question 16

How did the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act alter the prerogative powers of the PM? How did this disadvantage the PM?

Answer 16

• The FTPA removed the power from the PM to decide when to call an election, with the Act automatically deciding the date of the next election
• This removed the PM having a political advantage by calling an election at a suitable time
• However 2017 - May called a snap election and all major parties want to remove the fixed terms parliament act

Question 17

In what circumstances can an early General Election be called under the FTPA 2011?

Answer 17

• An early general election can be called if 2/3 of Parliament agrees to call it or if a vote of no confidence is passed and a government is not formed in 2 weeks.

Question 18

Why do the Conservatives and Labour wish to abolish the 2011 FTPA?

Answer 18

• Conservatives wish to repeal the act as it delayed the formation of a new Parliament
• Labour claim they do not wish to stifle democracy or prop up weak governments.

Question 19

In the event of the abolition of the 2011 FTPA, where would the power to call an election lie?

Answer 19

• The current government has reiterated its intention that following the abolition of the Act, the power to call an election would revert to the PM, hence strengthening the power of the Executive.

Question 20

What is the core executive?

Answer 20

• The core executive is the central part of government
• where key decisions are made.
• It is made up of a selection of elected ministers, appointed advisers and senior civil servants.

Question 21

What arguments are there that the PM is not effectively a President?

Answer 21

The PM is not head of state, the PM is not directly elected, the PM cannot commit the army without Parliamentary approval, a PM can be removed from office by Parliament or their own party, powers of the PM are not codified in a Constitution.

Question 22

What arguments are there that the PM is effectively a president?

Answer 22

The PM takes on many roles of the head of state, the PM is the chief foreign policy maker, the PM makes strategic military decisions, the PM controls intelligence and security services, the PM negotiates and agrees foreign treaties, the PM is a large factor in the election of the governing party.