UK GOVERNMENT - Prime Minister and The Executive Flashcards
Define the ‘Core Executive’.
The Prime Minister, Cabinet, and junior ministers, or ‘the government’
Define each part of the executive.
- PM: Head of the executive
- Cabinet: Senior Ministers often responsible for running government departments
- Junior ministers: those who assist the cabinet ministers in policy and department running
- Civil service: permenant, neutral, and anonymous officials who carry out the day-to-day of government departments
What is the importance of the Core Executive being in Parliament?
Members must be able to face sufficent scrutiny from either MPs or Lords and be held to account by elections.
Outline the one type of civil servant that is arguably un-neutral.
The Special advisors or SpAds are civil servants who are employed directly to give political advice to ministers.
Outline the downfall of Theresa May’s SpAds.
Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill were consistently questioned for how ‘neutral’ they were, writing and making manifesto decisions and organising her 2017 campaign; ultimately they were fired for the loss, an irregularity for a civil servant to be considered responsible for.
How was Dominic Cummings’ role peculiar?
Cummings held an unprecedented amount of power as Chief of Staff, leading campaigns and making policy decisons, being considered the “second Prime Minister” within the Cabinet (Kunnesburg “State of Chaos”).
What are the three legislative roles of the executive?
- Proposing legislation
- Proposing a budget
- Making policy decisions withing the law and budget
Outline the ‘legislation proposal’ portion of the Executive’s role.
Most legislation that passes through Parliament are Government Bills developed by the Executive and based on the policy decisions of ministers.
Outline the ‘budget proposal’ portion of the Executive’s role.
Twice a year the government will roughly calculate how much money is needed to run the country and carry out proposals, and how much is possible to raise.
When has the Budget been denied?
Never, the government has to resign if it is not approved so its often a 3 line whip.
Outline the ‘policy decisions within the law and budget’ portion of the Executive’s role.
All legislation needs to be made more detailed so it can be realized, the Executive is given the responsibility to create this secondary/delegated legislation. Additionally, in response to circumstance changes, the Executive can quickly amend finances without the express will of parliament, such as during COVID.
What are the 5 other roles of the executive?
- Conducting foreign policy
- Organising national defence
- Responding to major problems or crisis
- Controlling and managing law and order
- Organising and managing public services
What are the 5 bases of Prime Ministerial power?
- Traditional authority
- Party
- Parliament
- Patronage
- The People
How does ‘traditional authority’ give the PM power?
Although the Monarch doesn’t hold power, as the Head of State, legally they do. The act of delegating the PM prerogative powers essentially makes the PM temprary head of state, though merely formally.
How does the party give the PM power?
The PM is the leader of the largest party in the Commons; if they’re voted out, the next guy becomes PM. The last person to be taken out by their party was Liz Truss.
Give an example of a PM using the Party to boost their own authority.
Major, outraged at backbencher disloyalty, resigned as party leader and then won the relection, reaffirming himself as the party’s choice.
How does Parliament give the PM power?
Parliament unofficially recognizes the authority the PM to run the government, though the Budget approval can be seen as the stamp. They also have power as the head of the largest party so is often able to pass legislation easily.
How does patronage give the PM power?
The PM’s ability to appoint people to public office incentivizes loyalty by PMs and enjoys a level of forced loyalty from ministers, a large amount of their party. However, this can backfire: May was unable to reshuffle Hunt into the Health department.
How do the people give the PM power?
Given the rise of presidentialism, the question of who will run the country is essential to people’s vote. This provides the PM legitimacy within the deomcratic system.
How did the role of Prime Minister come to be?
As the power of the Monarch decayed, the question of who would be wield their prerogative powers was asked: not the divided Parliament or even the Cabinet could provide the singularity of purpose needed. As such, the role of PM evolved with time.
What are the 6 main roles and powers of the Prime Minister?
- Patronage
- Negotiation of foreign treaties
- Commander-in-chief of the armed forces and can commit them to action (technically)
- Conducting foreign policy and deciding relationships with other states
- Head of the Cabinet
- Setting the tone for economic policy
Give 3 examples of the PM exercising prerogative powers.
- Blair sending troops to invade Iraq in 2003
- May calling an early general election in 2017
- Johnson signing the ‘EU Divorce Treaty’ in 2020
How has the prerogative power of committing the military to action changed?
Before Cameron, it was a direct prerogative power that did not require Parliamentary consent. However, his respect of the denial by Parliament for action against the Syrian government due to their use of chemical warfare set a precedent that you needed Parliamentary consent to go to war.
How is the Cabinet a ‘rubber stamp’? How is it not?
Cabinets can often amount to a confirmation of decisions already made a presidential Prime Minister (Blair)
- For a weak Prime Minister, Cabinet is full of Big Beasts that you can’t argue with (May and Hunt)
What are the 4 great offices of the cabinet? Who are the current?
- The PM - Starmer
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer - Rachel Reeves
- The Foreign Secretary - David Lammy
- The Home Secretary - Yvette Cooper
How may a person speak at the cabinet if not a member?
People who have special knowledge or represent important views may be brought to give their piece but will not take part in full discussions.
What member of the civil service sits in Cabinet meetings? Who is it currently?
The Cabinet secretary, the highest member of the civil service, currently Simon Case.
Are Cabinet meetings public?
No, they are only published after 30 years.
What are the 4 consistent roles of the Cabinet?
- During crisis situations, the PM may fall back on the collective wisdom of the Cabinet, especially during military situations such as Thatcher did before the Falkland liberation
- To discuss how policy will be presented to Parliament
- To solve disputes between individual ministers, often about the budget
- To settle the government’s agenda
How are cabinet disputes resolved?
Often outside the actual cabinet, with ministers often taking issue with the PM or Cabinet Secretary before the meeting - ‘cabinet rows’ are uncommon.
