Unit 2: Executive Flashcards
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (+ scrutiny)
Liaison committee - designed to allow the chairs of all the House of Commons select committee to scrutinise and question PM twice a year, utilising their expertise from each select committee.
Blair’s reforms - These reforms were introduced by Blair, copying the Australian model, to allow a less adversarial form of questioning of the PM.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (+Motion of no confidence)
- Margaret Thatcher vs James Callaghan.
- If the government is thought to be ineffective an MP can ask for a vote of no confidence to expel the government.
- Thatcher was successful and won next election.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (+legislation failures)
- Legislation the executive proposed can be voted out by MPs as each piece of legislation must be voted on.
- The government tried to pass a police to have the HoL become an elected chamber but enough conservative and labour MPs voted against it.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (+Rebellions)
- If the MPs of the governing party are unhappy with a policy, they can vote against it and be disloyal to their party.
- Between 2010 and 2015, 239/544 votes had rebellions from backbenchers. 45% of MPs voted against legislation of James Callaghan and Harold Wilson between 1974 and 1979.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (-party loyalty)
- Most backbench MPs want to become ministers
- Most MPs believe in their party/government and therefore will vote in favour of their government regardless of the legislation.
- In order to win elections, MPs need the support of their party and they won’t have this unless they vote in favour of their party’s legislation.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (-whipping system)
- Whips maintain discipline within the party. They ensure that MPs know how their parties want them to vote.
- Whips can reward loyalty by advising on promotions to ministerial positions.
- Can also punish disloyalty by ‘withdrawing’ the whip (suspending membership of parliamentary party)
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (-high majorities)
If a party has a high majority in the HoC, it is difficult to vote out government legislation.
1. Labour party had a 179 seat majority in 1997 and of 168 in 2001.
To what extent does Parliament control executive power? (-lack of education)
MPs may suffer from a lack of political support, expertise and information. Although the govt has political advisers and the civil service to back them, MPs don’t have access to this.
1. Have been instances where government has kept information from Parliament and MPs are therefore misled. (e.g. Tony Blair and ‘dodgy’ dossier during the Iraq War.
Theories of executive power (presidential government)
Presdient controls the direction of the Executive and ministers are directed by him more so than the party.
1. Democratically elected, key leadership role, more separation of powers.
2. - too much power with one person (elective dictatorship), less accountability - no connection to a constituency, influence on Parliament would decrease.
Evidence we have it:
1. More emphasis on leaders (first debate on tv in 2010 between leaders, many debates between leaders in 2015)
2. PM is acting as a head of state in regards to international issues (e.g. Syria, interactions with EU and UN)
3. How Blair directed and controlled government.
4. Growth of spatial leadership, tendency of PMs to distance themselves from parties and government. (e.g. Blairism and Thatcherism)
Evidence we don’t have it:
1. Thatcher was removed by government although she was PM
2. Tend to ask parliament before making military directions (e.g. Cameron in Syria and Blair in Iraq) whereas in the US President Obama can make decisions to take military action and declare war without consent of Congress.
3. PM relies on Parliament backbenchers support to pass legislation.
4. PMs tend to resemble presidents rather than become them. Due to our system or parliamentary government, PMs cannot become presidents.
5. Although there is an increase in personalised election campaigns of leaders, PMs are not elected separately like presidents in the USA are.
Theories of executive power (Prime-ministerial government)
The Prime minister dominates the executive and Parliament. He fuses the legislative and executive branches of government. The cabinet is a subordinate body.
1. You know who the leader of the party is when you vote in constituencies (but don’t know who cabinet will be), quick decision making as only one leader
2. Leads to elective dictatorship, the PM cannot be an expert in all areas, PM is not an absolute position, can be pushed out. (e.g. Thatcher, Blair (with Brown)
Evidence we have it:
1. Prerogative powers e.g. power of appointment to cabinet
2. Tony Blair set the agenda for cabinet’s discussion (demonstrating he dominated cabinet)
3. 1997 landslide victory of Blair
Evidence we don’t have it:
1. Due to 2010 coalition, PM has less power and can’t use his prerogative powers.
2. PM can be removed by Parliament.
Theories of executive power (Cabinet government)
The ‘traditional’ of executive power. Power should be distributed equally throughout cabinet.
1. Limits elective dictatorship, departments are delegated (first amongst equals) each minister is responsible for their own area.
2. Cabinet lacks the time to develop expertise as they are often moved around (re-shuffling), difficult to reach one decision quickly as there are many ministers, difficult to make a decision in a short period of time as well as they only meet once a week.
Evidence we have it:
1. Cabinet has the power to push out the PM
2. sofa government is difficult in coalition government so emphasis is put on cabinet.
2. PM coming from within cabinet (John Major from Thatcher, Gordon Brown from Blair).
Evidence we don’t have it:
1. Blair’s sofa government did not rely on cabinet for decisions.
2. the PM has ultimate power (andrew lansley with NHS reforms)
3. PM can control information going into government - Attorney General was asked by Blair to cut out part of dossier saying that going to war was illegal.
Theories of executive power (core executive government)
Power is spread throughout a web of complex relationships that must be balanced. PM and cabinet have power, but so do junior ministers, civil servants, heads of committees, backbench MPs and the chief executives of government agencies.
1. More democratically legitimate, stops power from being concentrated in one area, more accountability, more focused expertise (civil service is a permanent role)
2. Civil servants aren’t elected - not democratic, slow, complicated decision-making process, can be ineffective if one person disagrees.
Evidence for:
1. Increase in special advisers,
2. PMs are held accountable by liaison committee
3. Coalition encourages this dispersal of power.
To what extent does the PM control cabinet?
- Power of appointments - re-shuffling (e.g. Michael Gove demoted to chief whip from secretary of education and Jeremy Hunt promoted to health secretary)
- Resignations of ministers reflects poorly on PMs e.g. Thatcher had three resign during her time as PM which damaged her public image and standing within the party. And Tony Blair conceding to Gordon Brown.
