UK PM and executive 3.1 and 3.1

Question 1

Who makes up the cabinet?

Answer 1

Heads of departments of state + few others eg chief whip,

Eg. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care runs Department of State for Health and Social Care

Question 2

What is the core executive?

Answer 2

Most important elements of the government including cabinet, senior civil servants and key political advisors

Question 3

Who else is part of executive?

Answer 3

Senior civil servants

Question 4

What does the cabinet office do?

Answer 4

Civil servants supporting the work of cabinet and the PM

Question 5

What are the 4 main roles of the executive?

Answer 5

1. Proposes new legislation to parliament based on the manifesto
2. Proposes legislation in response to changing circumstances ‘doctors mandate’
3. Introduces a budget which determines how the govt. will raise revenue – drawn up by chancellor of exchequer and PM
4. Introduce secondary legislation = process by which primary legislation can be amended by govt departments without requiring another Act of Parliament through statutory amendments
   Eg. In 2016 statutory amendments allowed fracking in national parks with a vote 298-261

Question 6

Sources of power of the PM

Answer 6

• Asked by the queen to form a government on her behalf
• Normally leader of the largest party in the House of Commons
  Eg. When Major replaced Thatcher as leader of Conservative party he automatically became PM
• Elected and accountable MP

Question 7

Who decides broad policy aims?

Answer 7

PM

Question 8

Where is policy made?

Answer 8

Government departments

Question 9

Where is policy approved?

Answer 9

Cabinet committees

Question 10

Where is ‘rubber stamp’ to policy given?

Answer 10

Cabinet meetings

Question 11

What is the royal prerogative?

Answer 11

The executive power of the monarchy that has been transferred to the prime minister due to the UK being a constitutional monarchy, who wields them on behalf of the Queen without requiring the consent of the legislature

Question 12

Name royal prerogative powers:

Answer 12

• Determines cabinet and cabinet committees
• Senior appointments to civil service and judiciary
• Appoints life peers to HOL
• Negotiates foreign treaties
• Directs military forces in combat
• Controls Trident missiles

Question 13

What is a cabinet minister?

Answer 13

A senior member of government, most are heads of a department of state with a major policy-making function, they are bound by collective ministerial responsibility

Question 14

What is a government department?

Answer 14

An executive branch of government eight the role of implementing govt policy in its areas of interest

Question 15

What are the functions of government departments?

Answer 15

• Manage area of government
• Propose major primary legislation for their policy area
• Amend existing legislation – secondary legislation

Question 16

Why is the civil service not held accountable?

Answer 16

Civil service is defined by principles of neutrality, anonymity and permanence so provide impartial advice to any govt

Question 17

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 17

The principle that members of the cabinet take ultimate responsibility for what occurs within their department, including both ADMINISTRATIVE FAILURE and POLICY FAILURE + also individually responsible to the prime minister for their personal conduct

Question 18

Example of administrative failure:

Answer 18

1954 Sir Thomas Dugdale resigned as minister of agriculture over Crichel Down affair- land failed to be returned to rightful owner after being compulsorily purchases during WWII

Question 19

Example of policy failure:

Answer 19

1982 Lord Carrington resigned as foreign secretary from Thatchers govt in aftermath of Argentina’s invasion of Falklands

Question 20

Recent example of resignation under May:

Answer 20

In 2018 Amber Rudd resigned when she admitted she had lied to HOCs after stating there were no Home Office targets for removing illegal immigrants

Question 21

Ministers also accountable for personal conduct eg, MATT HANCOCK

Answer 21

Resigned on 26th June after leaked CCTV footage o him having an affair with a women working as director at the Department of Health - cronyism
Hancock breached his own social distancing guidelines

Question 22

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 22

All members of the govt must publicly support the govt and should not disclose the contents of private ministerial discussions + if administration loses a vote of no confidence they all must resign

Question 23

Vote of no confidence:

Answer 23

In 2019 Theresa May defeated a vote of no confidence by 325-306

Question 24

Why is requiring all members of govt to publicly support the govt important?

Answer 24

Maintain unity of government so PM is not undermined and gov.can survive

Question 25

Example of high-profile ministerial resignation due to not supporting govt:

Answer 25

In 2003 Robin Cook resigned from Blair’s government after opposing invasion of Iraq

Question 26

What government was collective ministerial responsibility limited?

Answer 26

In 2010 during Conservative-Liberal Democrat campaign when each party had vastly different manifestos
Agreed that areas covered in Coalition Agreement would operate collective ministerial responsibility, but areas not covered it would not operate
Eg. Construction of new power stations was vigorously opposed by Lib Dems and wasn’t covered by agreement so no collective ministerial responsibility required

Question 27

Recent example of collective ministerial responsibility being suspended:

Answer 27

In 2016 Cameron faced a very divided party over membership of EU
High profile ministers would resign if he demanded support for EU membership eg. Micheal Gove a eurosceptic