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UK Politics (Government Sector) > The UK Executive > Flashcards

The UK Executive Flashcards

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1
Q

Who was technically the first Prime Minister ?

A

Sir Robert Walpole

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2
Q

How was the role of the PM Created?

A

-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

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3
Q

What is making policy as a role of the core executive ?

A

-Split between cabinet meetings and committees deciding upon policy and the administrative civil service to implement them.
-E.g The Scotland Act 1998

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4
Q

What is Passing legislation as the role of the core executive?

A

-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

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5
Q

What is Financing as the role of the core executive?

A

-They must make decisions on taxation and govt spending (a particular focus of the Treasury and the Chancellor)

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6
Q

What is the National first responder as the role of the core executive?

A

-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

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7
Q

What is the significance of the Deployment of armed forces as a main power of the Executive ?

A

-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.

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8
Q

What is the significance of Diplomacy as a main power of the Executive?

A

-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

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9
Q

What is the significance of Treaties as a main power of the Executive?

A

-Making and Ratifying treaties.
-E.g The European convention of Human Rights

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10
Q

What is the significance of Co-ordinating the Civil Service as a main power of the Executive?

A

-The executive has the power over the structure and and organisation of the civil service.

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11
Q

What is the significance of issuing statements and directives in national crisis as a main power of the Executive?

A

-Boris Johnson and COVID19

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12
Q

What is the Royal Prerogative?

A

-The monarchs powers given to the PM

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13
Q

What is the significance of the Royal Prerogative?

A

-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

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14
Q

What is the insignificance of the Royal Prerogative?

A

-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.)

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15
Q

What makes up the Core Executive?

A

-PM
-The cabinet
-Senior civil servants
-Cabinet committees
-cabinet office

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16
Q

How is the PM chosen?

A

-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

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17
Q

When was the ministerial code published?

A

1992

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18
Q

What does the ministerial code do?

A

-explains the duties and expectations of the PM, Cabinet and Ministers

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19
Q

How can a PM leave office?

A

-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

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20
Q

What is a coalition govt ?

A

When two parties join together to create stable govt

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21
Q

What is a govt through a “confidence + Supply” agreement?

A

-One party in govt, joins with another with a deal for the other party to support their deals and ideas. (Theresa May and DUP)

22
Q

Who is involved in policy making?

A

-PM
-Cabinet
-Senior civil servants
-Special advisors

23
Q

What is the PMs role in Policy making?

A

-They enter Downing Street with a clear policy agenda
-The policy agenda often has a catchy strip line

24
Q

What is an example of a PM entering with a clear policy agenda?

A

Boris Johnson and the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

25
Q

What is an example of a catchy strip line?

A

-David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’
-Tony Blair’s ‘Education,Education,Education’
-Boris Johnson’s ‘Let’s get Brexit done’

26
Q

What is the significance of strip lines and clear policy agendas on PMs?

A

-Ensure a PM makes their mark
-Leave a tangible legacy

27
Q

What is the role of cabinet in policy making?

A

-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.

28
Q

What is the significance of Cabinets role in policy making?

A

If a policy is controversial it may lead to divisions within the cabinet and the party e.g Brexit withdrawal agreement.

29
Q

What does Primus inter Pares mean and who does it apply to?

A

-First Among equals
-The pM

30
Q

What is the role of senior civil servants in policy making?

A

-Offer guidance about policies and how they can be delivered.
-Influence govt ministers by ‘speaking truth unto power’

31
Q

What is the significance of a Senior civil servant’s role in policy making?

A

-Advice should be unbiased and objective
-Advice on implementation not right or wrong

32
Q

What is the role of SPADS servants in policy making?

A

-handpicked by the PM
-Do not have to offer political impartiality
-Give advice

33
Q

What is the significance of Senior civil servants role in policy making?

A

-Seen to have the ‘ear of the PM’
-Often come up with Big vision initiatives

34
Q

What is an example of Special advisors in policy making?

A

-Alistair Campbell
-Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson
-Big society was the idea of Cameron’s SPAD Steve Hilton

35
Q

What are the influences on policy making known as ?

A

PPPES

36
Q

What does PPPES stand for?

A

-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)

37
Q

What is a Personal influence on Policy making?

A

-PM’s values and beliefs
-Personal experiences
-Political aspect

38
Q

What is a Political influence on Policy making?

A

-Interest groups advocate for their interest and lobby the govt to support their cause
-Political parties and policy (specific agendas)
-Political climate

39
Q

What is a Popular influence on Policy making?

A

-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

40
Q

What is a External influence on Policy making?

A

-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

41
Q

What is a Social influence on Policy making?

A

-Views attitudes and preferences of the public
-Analyse polls and consult with focus groups
-Interest groups
-Media

42
Q

What events show the ability of the PM to dictate policy and events?

A

-The Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Tony Blair
-The Poll Tax 1990 by Margaret Thatcher

43
Q

What was the Invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Tony Blair?

A

-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

44
Q

What was the introduction of the poll tax in 1990 by Margaret Thatcher?

A

-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

45
Q

What are the arguments for the role of the PM becoming more presidential?

A

-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

46
Q

What are the arguments against the role of the PM becoming more presidential?

A

-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

47
Q

What institutional powers are available to PMs?

A

-Appointing and dismissing ministers
-Undertaking cabinet meetings
-Passing legislation through parliament
-Issuing honours such as life peerages

48
Q

What are the PMs personal and political powers?

A

-Using political capital to persuade and lead more effectively
-Management of colleagues
-Ability to unite and rally their party
-Skills in managing unexpected challenges

49
Q

What are circumstances that can effect the PMs powers?

A

-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

50
Q
A

UK Politics (Government Sector) (6 decks)

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