TOPIC 3 - PM AND CABINET Flashcards
WHAT R THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PM?
- CHIEF POLICY MAKER’
- MANAGEMENT OF CABINET
- HEAD OF GOVT
- APPOINTMENT AND DISMISSAL OF MINISTERS
- PARLIAMENTARY LEADER
HOW CAN A PM USE MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS TO ENSURE SUPPORT?
- APPOINT LOYAL MPS TO KEY MINISTERIAL ROLES
- TO PREVENT DISSENT, PM MAY APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS FACTIONS WITHIN PARLIAMENT TO FOSTER A SENSE OF INCLUSIVITY AND REDUCE LIKELIHOOD OF OPPOSITION
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PM APPOINTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS FACTIONS OF PARLIAMENT TO FOSTER A SENSE OF INCLUSIVITY?
THERESA MAY APPOINTED BOTH PRO BREXIT AND PRO REMAIN MPS TO HER CABINET.
WHAT IS A RESHUFFLE?
WHEN A PM CHANGES THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR CABINET
WHY DO PMS DECIDE TO RESHUFFLE?
- RESPONSE TO PUBLIC DISATISFACTION
- CONSOLIDATE POWER BY PROMOTING ALLIES/SIDELINING RIVALS
WHAT IS THE CABINET COMMITTEE?
SUBGROUP OF GOVT INISTER TASKED WIT
WHAT DOES THE CABINET COMMITTEE DO?
DEVELOP AND REFINE GOVT POLICIES TO ENSURE POLICIES R CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVT’S OVERALL PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES.
HOW CAN A CABINET COMMITTEE BOOST PM POWER?
1.PM OFTEN CHAIRS KEY CABINET COMMITTEES SO CAN CONTROL THE AGENDA. CAN ALSO INCLUDE LOYALISTS AND EXCLUDE CRITICS WHEN SELECTING MEMBERS.
2. SOME CABINET COMMITTEES HAVE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO MAKE BINDING DECISIONS WITHOUT REQUIRING FULL CABINET APPROVAL SO CAN BYPASS POTENTIAL OPPOSITION IN THE BROADER CABINET.
WHAT DOES THE CABINET OFFICE DO?
PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE PM BY ADVISING THE PM ON POLICY PRIORITIES AND COORDINATES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PM, CABINET AND GOVT DEPARTMENTS.
DOES THE PM DIRECTLY CONTROL ANY DEPARTMENT?
NO
HOW CAN A LARGE MAJORITY BOOST A PM’S POWER?
- ENSURES PM HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS GOVT POLICIES WITHOUT OPPOSITION SUPPORT
- CAN DOMINATE PARLIAMENTARY TIME AND PRIORITISE ITS AGENDA OVER OPPOSITION MOTIONS WHICH PROVIDES ROOM FOR LONG TERM STRATEGIC INIATIVES OVER REACTICE GOVERNANCE.
- CAN RESHUFFLE WITHOUT TRIGGERING INSTABILITY.
WHAT IMPACT DOES A COALITION HAVE ON PM POWER?
REDUCES AUTONOMY AS THE PM MUST NEGOTIATE WITH PARTNERS. LIMITS PM’S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT PARTY POLICIES UNILATERALLY.
HOW CAN PUBLIC IMAGE BOOST A PM’S POWER?
- CAN HELP MAINTAIN HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS GIVING A STRONG MANDATE HENCE PROVIDING THE PM WITH LEGITIMACY AND POLITICAL CAPITAL.
- STRENGTHENS STANDING AMONGST MPS AS A POPULAR PM CAN USE THEIR PUBLIC APPEAL TO UNIFY THEIR PARTY AROUND THEIR AGENDA.
WHY IS A STRONG ECONOMY IMPORTANT TO PM POWER?
- ECONOMIC GROWTH BOOSTS PUBLIC APPOVAL - GAIN PUBLIC LEGITIMACY AND INCREASE LIKELIHOOD OF RE ELECTION.
- STRONG ECONOMY GENERATES HIGH TAX GIVING THE PM MORE FISCAL SPACE TO IMPLEMENT THEIR POLICY AGENDA.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A STRONG ECONOMY BENEFITTING A PM?
THATCHER’S ECONOMIC POLICIES IN THE 80S ALLOWED HER GOVT TO FUND PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND PRIVATISATION.
HOW CAN WARS AFFECT PM POWER?
IF A PM LEADS THE COUNTRY TO VICTORY, PUBLIC IMAGE AND LEGITIMACY RISES . PM AUTHORITY WITHIN THEIR PARTY MAY RISE AS THEY R SEEN AS A FIGURE WHO CAN NAVIGATE CRISIS AND DELIVER RESULTS.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PM BENEFITTING FROM WAR?
CHURCHILL’S LEADERSHIP DURING WW2 IS CITED AS THE REASON FOR HIS ENDURING POPULARITY AND RE ELECTION IN 1951.
WHY DOES INCREASED MEDIA COVERAGE FUEL THE IMAGE OF THE PM AS PRESIDENT?
NEWS OUTLETS FOCUS THE PM AS FACE OF THE GOVT CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY R SINGULARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISION MAKING, OVERSHADOWINF THE COLLECTIVE NATURE OF A PARLIAMENTARY CABINET. JOURNALISTS FRAME POLITICAL CONFLICTS AS PM VS OPPOSITION LEADER REINFORCING THE PM AS A SINGULAR AUTHORITY FORCE.
IN WHICH PERIODS DOES PRESIDENTIALISM GROW?
- CRISIS PERIODS - PM BECOMES THE FACE OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT E.G CHURCHILL
- ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS E.G BLAIRS CAMPAIGN WHERE LABOUR’S MESSAGE FOCUSED ON HIS LEADERSHIP
- ECONOMIC BOOM PERIODS - PM RECEICES PRAISE FOR NATION’S PROSPERITY E.G THATCER IN 80S
