The UK Executive Flashcards
Who was technically the first Prime Minister ?
Sir Robert Walpole
How was the role of the PM Created?
-Emerged without being formally created
-The British constitution does not set out the role of the PM
-Overtime it has evolved due to influence from previous PM’s
What is making policy as a role of the core executive ?
-Split between cabinet meetings and committees deciding upon policy and the administrative civil service to implement them.
-E.g The Scotland Act 1998
What is Passing legislation as the role of the core executive?
-Laws for major statutes are first discussed and approved at cabinet level and then sent to parliament for a vote.
-E.g Human Rights Act 1998
What is Financing as the role of the core executive?
-They must make decisions on taxation and govt spending (a particular focus of the Treasury and the Chancellor)
What is the National first responder as the role of the core executive?
-In times of national emergency e.g. war, pandemic or terrorist attacks, the executive is required to put together emergency measures to deal with the situation quickly and efficiently.
-Must be calm and collected to the public.
-E.g COVID19
What is the significance of the Deployment of armed forces as a main power of the Executive ?
-Prime Minister can declare war without the cabinet E.g Tony Blair and the Iraq war
-Gordon Brown passed that a dec of war has to go through parliament.
What is the significance of Diplomacy as a main power of the Executive?
-Allows bonds between leaders of other countries to build connections with the UK for many different purposes
-Special relationship between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
What is the significance of Treaties as a main power of the Executive?
-Making and Ratifying treaties.
-E.g The European convention of Human Rights
What is the significance of Co-ordinating the Civil Service as a main power of the Executive?
-The executive has the power over the structure and and organisation of the civil service.
What is the significance of issuing statements and directives in national crisis as a main power of the Executive?
-Boris Johnson and COVID19
What is the Royal Prerogative?
-The monarchs powers given to the PM
What is the significance of the Royal Prerogative?
-The opportunity to deploy forces is important and does not need Parliamentary approval ( Blair and the Iraq war)
-PMs enjoy unlimited choice over who joins and leaves their government (Rishi Sunak with David Cameron and the removal of Suella Braverman)
-The executive plays a crucial part in negotiating treaties and agreements with other nations (Trade and defence) These do not need parliamentary approval
What is the insignificance of the Royal Prerogative?
-By Convention, all military action has to be put before parliament (e.g Air strikes on Syria under Rishi Sunak)
-The difficulty in achieving Brexit shows the limited actions of the prerogative powers.
-The PM and executive must also rely on Parliament to pass legislation in an emergency (e.g COVID restriction laws.)
What makes up the Core Executive?
-PM
-The cabinet
-Senior civil servants
-Cabinet committees
-cabinet office
How is the PM chosen?
-The PM is the leader of the majority/ largest party in the HOC (Not chosen directly by the electorate)
-The Monarch invites the leader of the largest party to form and lead the govt
-When there is no party majority (as in 2017), the monarch must exercise some caution and abide by convention
When was the ministerial code published?
1992
What does the ministerial code do?
-explains the duties and expectations of the PM, Cabinet and Ministers
How can a PM leave office?
-Resign due to rule breaking (Boris Johnson resigned in 2021 after breaking ministerial code after breaking COVID laws at the Party Gate scandal)
-Loss in an election
-resignation due to illness
-removed by the party (Vote of no confidence)
-Finishing their term
What is a coalition govt ?
When two parties join together to create stable govt
What is a govt through a “confidence + Supply” agreement?
-One party in govt, joins with another with a deal for the other party to support their deals and ideas. (Theresa May and DUP)
Who is involved in policy making?
-PM
-Cabinet
-Senior civil servants
-Special advisors
What is the PMs role in Policy making?
-They enter Downing Street with a clear policy agenda
-The policy agenda often has a catchy strip line
What is an example of a PM entering with a clear policy agenda?
Boris Johnson and the withdrawal of the UK from the EU
What is an example of a catchy strip line?
-David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’
-Tony Blair’s ‘Education,Education,Education’
-Boris Johnson’s ‘Let’s get Brexit done’
What is the significance of strip lines and clear policy agendas on PMs?
-Ensure a PM makes their mark
-Leave a tangible legacy
What is the role of cabinet in policy making?
-debate policy initiatives “Rubber stamping” them.
-If disagreements over policy occur they are often resolved at cabinet meeting as do not want this publicly known.
What is the significance of Cabinets role in policy making?
If a policy is controversial it may lead to divisions within the cabinet and the party e.g Brexit withdrawal agreement.
What does Primus inter Pares mean and who does it apply to?
-First Among equals
-The pM
What is the role of senior civil servants in policy making?
-Offer guidance about policies and how they can be delivered.
-Influence govt ministers by ‘speaking truth unto power’
What is the significance of a Senior civil servant’s role in policy making?
-Advice should be unbiased and objective
-Advice on implementation not right or wrong
What is the role of SPADS servants in policy making?
-handpicked by the PM
-Do not have to offer political impartiality
-Give advice
What is the significance of Senior civil servants role in policy making?
-Seen to have the ‘ear of the PM’
-Often come up with Big vision initiatives
What is an example of Special advisors in policy making?
-Alistair Campbell
-Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson
-Big society was the idea of Cameron’s SPAD Steve Hilton
What are the influences on policy making known as ?
PPPES
What does PPPES stand for?
-Political (e.g Manifesto pledges and promises)
-Personal (e.g Personal convictions of the PM)
-Popular (e.g Outcome of Referendums)
-External (e.g Mounting pressure from the public/media)
-Social (e.g Changing social and cultural attitudes)
What is a Personal influence on Policy making?
-PM’s values and beliefs
-Personal experiences
-Political aspect
What is a Political influence on Policy making?
-Interest groups advocate for their interest and lobby the govt to support their cause
-Political parties and policy (specific agendas)
-Political climate
What is a Popular influence on Policy making?
-Public opinion (shaped by media and interest groups)
-Public protests, petitions and elections
e.g Climate change policy 2019 policy to cut emissions to 0 by 2050
What is a External influence on Policy making?
-Political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors
-Political stability -outside groups
-Inflation and budgets
-Public opinion and cultural norms
-Technological advances
-Based on laws and regulations
What is a Social influence on Policy making?
-Views attitudes and preferences of the public
-Analyse polls and consult with focus groups
-Interest groups
-Media
What events show the ability of the PM to dictate policy and events?
-The Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Tony Blair
-The Poll Tax 1990 by Margaret Thatcher
What was the Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Tony Blair?
-Blair got involved in the United States-led coalition to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
-The bill was passed by parliament with 412/659 votes
-Blair manipulated the bill without approval and threatened to resign if the bill wasn’t passed
-Blair shaped the UKS foreign policy based on his ideas of invasion
-Blair faced extreme criticism both from his party and the public
-He had a lack of justification for his actions
-Robin Cook Foreign secretary resigned
What was the introduction of the poll tax in 1990 by Margaret Thatcher?
-Regressive tax (all taxed at the same level regardless of wealth
-led to concerns about social inequality and unfairness in the tax system
-Large protests and large-scale demonstrations
-15% of individuals in Scotland could not pay their poll tax
-Nigel Lawson chancellor of the exchequer resigned because of his disagreement
-There was a challenge to thatchers leadership
-On 31st March 100,000 protested at Trafalgar Square
What are the arguments for the role of the PM becoming more presidential?
-Blair and Thatcher are claimed to have bypassed full cabinet meetings and discussions and preferred smaller meetings of cabinets and advisors
-Development of social media and the celebrity culture focus on the leader rather than the wider cabinet e.g televised leaders debated from 2010
-Increased media scrutiny - focus of Pm on the popular
What are the arguments against the role of the PM becoming more presidential?
-Thatcher and Blair should be assessed against other PMs such as Cameron, May and Major who did not all follow presidential approaches
-No formal changes to the role of the PM and the use of Prerogative powers remains the same
What institutional powers are available to PMs?
-Appointing and dismissing ministers
-Undertaking cabinet meetings
-Passing legislation through parliament
-Issuing honours such as life peerages
What are the PMs personal and political powers?
-Using political capital to persuade and lead more effectively
-Management of colleagues
-Ability to unite and rally their party
-Skills in managing unexpected challenges
What are circumstances that can effect the PMs powers?
-Opinion poll ratings and recent election results
-Personalities in the cabinet and party
-Potential leadership challenges
-Strength and threat posed by the main opposition party
