Unit 2.3 The Prime Minister & Cabinet

Question 1

What is the role of cabinet members?

Answer 1

The most important 20-22 ministers in the government (executive). They are the ultimate source of official government policy.

*Includes the prime minister, heads of large government departments.

Question 2

How is government formed in the UK?

Answer 2

As long as one party has an absolute majority in the House of Commons after a general election, the leader will be invited by the monarch to form a government.
If no party holds a majority then a coalition (2010)/minority government (1974) is formed.

Question 3

What is the role of the whips?

Answer 3

They ensure party discipline among MPs and peers, running the administration of debates and votes in parliament, and keeping MPs and peers informed.

Question 4

What are the 5 characteristics of Government?

Answer 4

1. All members of government must sit in Parliament as well as being ministers.
2. All members are bound by collective responsibility.
3. Full government never normally meet together in one body.
4. All members are appointed by the Prime Minister.
5. MPs from the party that is in government are not members of the government (backbenchers).

Question 5

Define: collective responsibility

Answer 5

Cabinet members share consequences and outcomes of any cabinet cabinet members actions.

Cabinet can disagree privately but must take responsibility in public even if they had nothing to do with the formulation of the policy. If they disagree publicly they are expected to resign or face rapid dismissal.

Question 6

What does royal prerogative include?

Answer 6

• Declare war
• Appoint and dismiss ministers
• Sign treaties
• Recall Parliament
• Final word in appointing judges
• Dissolve parliament
• Restrict parliamentary oversight of MI5/MI6
• Appoint Anglican bishop

Question 7

What are the main functions of Cabinet?

Answer 7

•Forum for debate and discussion - IMF crisis
•Develop government agenda and decisions - finance bills
•Review legislative time table for Parliament
—- (Remaining functions) —-
•Provide unity, direction and leadership to government - collective responsibility
•Settling coalition disagreements - renewing trident and promoting nuclear energy
•Provide emergency decisions/control - Iraq/Terrorist attacks
•Training ground for future MPs
•Legitimise and present policy
•Settling ministerial disputes
•Constrain PM

Question 8

To what extent have UK Prime ministers become more presidential?

Answer 8

Increased use of political advisors - tony Blair peaked to 80.
Spatial leadership, eg thatcher
—-
After Brown SPADs can no longer instruct social servants and commission work from them.

Question 9

Define: Patronage

Answer 9

The power of the PM to appoint and dismiss cabinet members.

Question 10

What personalities are usually seen in cabinet?

Answer 10

• Political allies.
• Potential rebel.
• Potential Junior.
• Personal friends.
• Popular figures of public and media.
• Those who symbolise that ideology of the government.
• Those who are genuinely good at their job.

Question 11

How has cabinet been marginalised over recent years?

Answer 11

~Power of the PM has grown.
~Cabinet meetings are less important now than they were before.
~Shift in policy making functions to 10 Downing Street itself.

Question 12

Explain some of the weaknesses of Cabinet

Answer 12

• PM patronage means he is now dominant.
• Most decisions made in Cabinet committees.
• Meetings are shorter and state managed usually 45 minutes long.
• Large departments have become more independent which can lead to a lack of cohesion in gov.
• Decision making has mostly moved to 10 Downing Street organisation.

Question 13

Describe how Callaghans cabinet fulfilled their role in IMF crisis.

Answer 13

In 1976 the UK needed to find money so Callahan wanted to borrow money from IMF. Before he did this he unified his cabinet behind him by encouraging debate or discussion where he sat and listened to all their views before coming to a conclusion.

Question 14

What is the night of the long knives?

Answer 14

Harold McMillan sacked a third of his cabinet to reinforce his dominance.

Question 15

Identify 4 key bodies that make up the executive branch?

Answer 15

Prime Minister, cabinet, civil servants, ministers outside of cabinet.

Question 16

Identify 5 sources of the PMs power

Answer 16

Royal prerogative 
Patronage 
Majority in parliament
Support from political party
Personality (charisma attracts media)

Question 17

What are the 4 principles of the civil service?

Answer 17

• Impartiality - serve the crown not the gov.
• Anonymity - not identified publicly or held directly accountable. Sign the official secrets act.
• Permanence - stay in their posts, expected to serve govs of different political persuasions.
• Meritocracy - staffed by generalists rather than people with professional enterprise.

Question 18

Identify 7 differences between government ministers and civil servants

Answer 18

Elected vs. Appointed 
Temporary vs. permanent 
Public figures vs. anonymous 
Party members vs. neutral
Run department vs. work in them 
Make policy vs. advise on policy 
Accountable to Parliament vs. ministers

Question 19

What are the 4 theories of executive power?

Answer 19

Cabinet government
Prime ministerial government
Presidentialism
The core executive

Question 20

What is the criteria for cabinet government?

Answer 20

• No public disagreement on policy from Cabinet ministers.
• Members of cabinet announce key policies.
• No cabinet minister resignations.
• Ideological range within cabinet.
• Frequency of cabinet meetings.

Question 21

What is the criteria for Core executive?

Answer 21

• Team image - no single body appears independent from the others.
• PM, advisers, cabinet, outside organisation, MPs and peers have an input.
• Networking and relationships.
• More heavily influenced by circumstances (eg. Economic).
• Members outside PM and cabinet are visible (media).

Question 22

What is the criteria for presidentialism?

Answer 22

• Growth of spatial leadership (distance from party, separate identity).
• Tendency to populist outreach (media, photo opps, intimate interviews).
• Personalised election campaigns - solely between leaders.
• Personal mandate/agenda.
• Strength of cabinet office.

Question 23

What is the criteria for Prime ministerial government?

Answer 23

• PM dominates policy making process.
• Cabinet is subordinate (less meetings, no meaningful role).
• PM influences all policy areas and makes key decisions.
• Figurehead of party/government.
• Increased use of non cabinet advisers.

Question 24

Give an example of a cabinet government

Answer 24

James Callaghan (1976-79). 
IMF crisis, collective responsibility.

Question 25

Give an example of a core executive government

Answer 25

National/Wartime government led by Clement Attlee (1945-51).
Highly experienced members, no long term goals.

Question 26

Give an example of a presidential government

Answer 26

Tony Blair (1997-2007). 
Cabinets role can either be decreased or increased, sofa government.

Question 27

Give an example of a prime ministerial government

Answer 27

Margaret Thatcher (1979-90). 
Poll tax, little debate, collective responsibility lacking.

Question 28

Give an example of the importance of collective responsibility

Answer 28

March 2016, former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith resigned from his position as Secretary of State for work and pensions.
In response to the Govs latest budget cuts to disability benefits - he wasn’t prepared to defend this (collective responsibility).