The structure, role and powers of the executive - 3.1 Prime Minister and Executive - UK Government

Question 1

Executive

Answer 1

The decision-making branch of government, centred on the prime minister and Cabinet and its committees

Question 2

Cabinet definition

Answer 2

The group of senior ministers, chaired by the Prime Minister, which is the main collective decision-making body in the government

Question 3

Minister

Answer 3

A member of either the House of Commons or House of Lords who serves in Government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department - can be cabinet ministers (about 22) or other

Question 4

Government department

Answer 4

A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health of defence

Question 5

The Prime minister

Answer 5

Head of the executive, chairs cabinet and manages its agenda. Appoints all members of the cabinet and junior Ministers & decides who sits on Cabinet committees. Can create abolish or merge departments

Question 6

Cabinet office

Answer 6

A government department responsible for supporting the cabinet system and the prime minister, and managing the civil service. Headed by Cabinet Secretary

Question 7

Cabinet secretary

Answer 7

The most senior civil servant in the country - provides policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Currently Mark Sedwill

Question 8

Government departments

Answer 8

Bodies that are responsible for an area of policy (e.g. Department of Transport). Headed by a cabinet minister & supported by junior ministers

Question 9

Junior ministers / Minister of State

Answer 9

Members of a department but not in cabinet - will be in charge of a specific area of policy (e.g. Minister of State for Universities). In Government but not cabinet

Question 10

Executive agencies

Answer 10

Semi-independent bodies that carry out the functions of government departments

Question 11

Example of executive agency

Answer 11

DVLA - is overseen by Department for Transport

Question 12

Secretary of state

Answer 12

Leads a department - in cabinet (e.g. secretary of state for Education)

Question 13

Main roles of the executive

Answer 13

Proposing legislation
Proposing the Budget
Making Policy decisions
Responsible for public services
Represents UK abroad & manages defence

Question 14

Proposing legislation (as a role of the executive)

Answer 14

Executive proposes new law or amendments to existing laws.

Announces a programme at the start of each session (Queen’s speech) but they are not limited to these proposals

Question 15

Example of executive proposals announced in Queen’s speech

Answer 15

Cameron’s Government 2015. Proposed:
EU Referendum
Measures to solve English Votes for English laws
Legislation to protect public services from strikes

Question 16

Example of executive consulting with interested parties (pressure groups / professional bodies) before introducing legislation

Answer 16

2015 Cameron government consulted with employers on proposal to introduce an apprenticeship levy - introduced in 2017

Question 17

Proposing the budget (as a role of the executive)

Answer 17

Created by Chancellor of Exchequer in consultation with PM.

Presented to Cabinet and then House of Commons for approval in November

Question 18

Example of budget being redone due to new party taking power

Answer 18

2010 George Osbourne delivered an emergency budget 90 days after Labour’s one

Question 19

Making policy decisions (a role of the executive)

Answer 19

Executive has to decide how to make policy decisions - how to implement its aims etc

Question 20

Main powers of the executive

Answer 20

Royal Prerogative powers
Initiation of legislation
Secondary legislation
- Some executive powers are collective whereas some belong to PM (who consults with senior ministers & officials)

Question 21

Royal prerogative powers (powers of executive)

Answer 21

Based largely on practice of previous governments
Sign treaties
Take action to maintain order in emergency
Grant & withdraw passports
Grant legal pardons
Appoint ministers & senior office holders
Award honours (some are given by monarch)
Declare war & authorise use of armed forces

Question 22

Royal prerogative powers definition

Answer 22

A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the Prime Minister or Cabinet. Such as granting honours or legal pardons

Question 23

Reforms to Prerogative powers

Answer 23

Brown’s Labour gov & Cameron’s coalition wanted to place some prerogative powers under Parliament authority.

• 2011 Fixed Term Parliament Act removed right for PM to determine date of election
• Governments have accepted that military action requires prior government approval (in emergency government can deploy troops and gain approval afterwards)

Question 24

Initiation of legislation (power of executive)

Answer 24

Executive controls all but 20 days of parliamentary time.
With a majority government can usually rely on whips & power of patronage to push through legislation
Guillotine / allocation of time motion - procedure allowing government to reduce debate on individual clauses of a bill. In Commons only.
Programming motion (introduced by Blair) enables executive to set time limits for each stage in the process

Question 25

Secondary legislation (power of executive)

Answer 25

Law made without passing a new act of parliament - government uses powers created by an earlier act. Most common form is statutory instruments - can be controversial.
(government’s just make amendments of current laws/ acts rather than introducing brand new ones)
Sometimes called Henry VIII clauses because enable government to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. Parliament can debate & reject statutory instrument but 2/3 of them become law without being put before MPs

Question 26

Example of secondary legislation being controversial

Answer 26

2016 - statutory instruments used to abolish maintenance grant for Uni students & to allow fracking in national parks. Opposers argued government was sneaking in changes through the backdoor