uk executive Flashcards
what is the uk exec made up of ?
-PM
-cabinet
-ministers
-goverment deparment
main roles of exec?
-introducing the budget- this is the revenue needed to fund everything- this is proposed by chancellor of the exchequer
-proposing legislation and amendmants
-making policies decisions e.g boris during corona introduced scheme and budget of 300bn
what are (royal) preogrative powers?
-powers that historically belonged to the crown, but which over time have been transferred to the PM or other ministers.
-Many of there are not properly defined but these are conventions
what are the PM’s main pregrative powers ?
-declare war, authorise use of force
-sign treaties
-appoint minisers and senior post holders
-grant legal pardns
-take action in emergency
-award honours
examples of the executive prerogative powers being limited ?
-both 07-10 and coaltion agreed a number of the pretrogrative powers should be parlimentary decisions
-e.g 2011 fixed term parliment act
-e.g since iraq om 2003 and syria debates in 2013 it is now convention that exec seeks parliemntary support before using military
exec roles on initiaing legislation ?
-exec controls most of parliamentary time for passing legislation
-if gov has majority in the house it can rely on whip system to pass throuh legislation - rebellions can occur but defeats are rare
what is secondary legislation ?
-when a law is made without passing a new act legisilation.Instead a goverment used powers created by an earlier act
-for example no legislation exsists that makes face covering compulsory
-but section 45R (emergency procedure) of 1984 public health act allowed matt hancock to put in staturoy instrument enforcing this
what is ministeral responsibility ?
-the idea that ministers are responsible for the running of their department and their own conduct
-the defintion of it is set out in ministerial code issued at the start of the new gov
-the concept of ministerial responsibility is a convention not a law
example of ministers failing to take individuals responsibility ?
-damien green sacked as fist secraty of state in 2017 after he admitting he lied about hacving porn images on his HOC computer in 2008
what determines whether minister stays in office ?
-as long as they retain the confidence of the PM not breaking in ministerial code
-it is now accepted that ministers cannot know everything that is happening in their deparement whole time as many deparment functions are delegated agencies this also means minsters can shift to blame them
-fate of the minister depends on serious of the issue, level of critisim by parliment and media and attitutude of PM at the time
what is collective responsibilty ?
-that ministers support all decisions laid out by the goverment and that discussions are confidential
what happens if defeated ?
-if defeated in a vote of no confidence govt must resign
-in 1979 james callaghen lost a vote of no confidence and resigned
why are these pratices used ?
-to maintain the unity of the goverment
why did robin cook resign ?
-over the iraq war 2003
what are some exceptions to collective responsibility ?
-lib dem minsisters were not bound by collective responsibilty during coaltion (AV referendum)
-in spring 2016 cameron suspended collective responsibilty over the EU referendum
-in 1975 harold wilson had to allow anit -EEC as people in his party opposed him
importance of ability and experience of powers of PM ?
-backbenchers as MP’s do not have enough ideas which are to far out mainstream
-ability as an administrator and cominucater are valued higher than policy
-a PM who wins leadership contest will apoint rivals as they are able
-boris appointed michal glove
-establish primeministers authority ?
-a new PM will want to stamp there authority on new cabinent
-in 2016 teresea may was determined to distance herself to distance herself from Cameron’s goverment and sacked chancellor george osbourne
rewarding loyalty ?
-in 2019 boris johnson appointed a pro-brexit cabinent
-reshefulled in 2019
-in 2020 he replaced javid with rishi sunak for more loyalty
maintain unity of the party ?
-in 2016 theresa may attempted to maintain party unity by including remain and leave voting cabinet ministers
-appoint boris as foreign secrtary who led leave campaign
diversity ?
-PM’s can be critised if they dont have lots of different types of sections in soceity
-john mayor criticised not having enough women
-boris had most diverse cabinent ever in 2019
management of the PM ?
-a good pm will use elatisticity of the office to assert control over the cabinent.
-in early 80’s thatcher promoted supporters to build a cabinet in her own image
-however she alienated her cabinet and when chancellor left loyalty evaporated
prime ministers ability to set cabinet agenda ?
-between 1964-67 harold wilson redfused to dicuss the devalutation of the pound
-in spite of many including barbara castle
the use of cabinent committees and informal groups to make decisions ?
-since 1945 PM’s cabinent committees to make decisions
-theresa may used one of these for brexit negotations chaired by her
-during coalition 2010-15 two parties made agreement harder the parties met regularly to resolve differences
development of PM’s offices ?
-job of the office support PM on decisions and governing
-leads to policy legislation being passed more efficiently
what does the cabinet do ?
-cabinet approves government decisions so gives legitimacy
-a minister that doesn’t accept this should just resign
-robin cook in 2003 by jack straw over Iraq war
why is it important for the PM to need government support ?
-in 2018 Theresa may presented her brexit deal to cabinet for support those that didn’t resigned
-cabinent also meet in crisis in 2020 met to discuss the national respone of corona
disagreements in the cabinet ?
-chris huhne and Vince cable let to Cameron intervening over carbon emission targets in 2011
example of priminister not using the cabinet ?
-in 1997 the decision of Blair and brown to hand control interest rates to the bank of England without consulting the cabinet
example of prime minister solving dispute ?
-2014 education gov gove and home secretary Theresa may over security threat posed by some free schools
-cameron interviend and give apologised for comments to Theresa
example of PM power ?
-appointment and dismissal of government ministers
-managment of cabinent
-leads largest party in HOC
-responsable for overall shape and structure of gov
-provides national leadership
factors which inhibit PM powers ?
-extent to which governing party and cabinent are united
-impact of external pressure economy,crisis and foreign affairs
-popularity of the PM and size of governing party’s parliamentary majority
