Unit 4 - The Executive Flashcards
Where are the powers of the prime minister laid down?
The powers of the prime minister are not laid down anywhere because they are based on convention.
In the UK does the electorate elect the prime minister?
No. The electorate elect MPs and the leader of the party that has won over 50% of the seats in the House of Commons is appointed prime minister by the monarch. After the election in May 2010, when no party won 50% of the seats, a coalition government was formed.
List and briefly explain the main powers of the prime minister, indicating the constraint to each power. Which is the key power?
- Leader of the majority in the House of Commons.
- normally leader of party that has over 50% of the vote in the House of Commons.
- party loyalty means that PM can count on support of majority of MPs for government policy or legislation.
- constraint: support is not unconditional. MPs can revolt and vote against leadership.
- Appoints and dismisses members of government.
- has significant power to make or break political careers
- makes politicians beholden and loyal to PM in hope of gaining/retaining a position
- constraints on power to appoint: PM must ensure all sections of his/her party are represented; every political party has individuals who, because of their status, must be appointed; every PM has political debts to pay to people who ensured that he became party leader and therefore PM
- constraints on power to dismiss: PM must avoid alienating key sections of the party as could lead to revolts; PM must avoid precipitating other more important ministers from resigning in support of a colleague; when a minister is removed, it must not lead to questioning of the original appointment
- Chairman of the cabinet
- Cabinet = board of management for British government
- determines agenda for meeting, what will and will not be discussed
- PM’s summing up constitutes Cabinet decision
- PM chooses cabinet committees and membership
- constraints: abuse of power leads to resignations and denouncement of PM for dictatorial behaviour
- Prime Minister’s office and advisers
- has sizeable office of civil servants and special advisers
- constraint: if PM is too dominant and ignores colleagues, ministers will resign
- Represents the government
- PM’s position means lots of prestige.
- constraint: if PM abuses position, ministers will resign.
- Powers of patronage
- advises monarch on numerous appointments
The key power is being the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, which will usually mean that the policies and legislation of the prime minister are approved.
In one sentence, sum up how powerful you believe the post of a modern prime minister to be. What is the ultimate check to any prime minister?
The modern prime minister is very powerful but the checks and balances ensure that we have yet to reach prime ministerial rule or an elected dictator (government by one person). The ultimate check is the electorate and the need to win the next general election.
What do you feel to be the main factors that determine the powers of a specific prime minister?
There is no right answer to this but any of the following would be valid: The personality and leadership style of the individual prime minister; the majority of seats the prime minister’s party has in the House of Commons; the success of the prime minister’s policies; the unity of the government and the governing party; the effectiveness of the opposition parties in challenging the policies and competence of the government; the general attitude of the media.
Consider recent prime ministers and indicate which ones you consider to have been powerful and which were not. Of the powerful ones, what brought about their downfall?
Thatcher and Blair strong; Major and Brown weak; Cameron weak during the Coalition because he lacked an overall majority in the Commons. Thatcher and Blair were brought down by their own MPs.
What is the difference between ministers and civil servants?
Ministers are the politicians who determine policy; civil servants are full-time officials who are responsible for running the administration.
What does the term government denote?
Collectively, all the ministers (around 100), together with the prime minister, constitute the government – the executive branch. The ministers also sit in the legislature (parliament) – the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The majority come from the Commons.
Outline the difference between secretary of state, minister of state, permanent secretary.
Secretary of State is the most senior minister in any department and is a member of the cabinet. The minister of state is the next rung down – deputy minister. The permanent secretary is the most senior civil servant in any department.
What is a coalition government?
A coalition government is a government comprising ministers from more than one party. Between 2010 and 2015 the UK had its first peacetime coalition for 70 years.
Explain the difference between the convention of collective responsibility and the convention of individual ministerial responsibility. What is a convention and how is it enforced?
Convention of collective responsibility holds that all members of the government, as long as they remain in the government, are deemed to agree with the policies of the government. [2014 Conservative minister, Lady Warsi resigned from the government over its policy on Gaza. David Davis and Dominic Raab both resigned as Brexit ministers unhappy at the EU negotiated deal] The convention of individual ministerial responsibility holds that ministers are responsible for the operation of their department and if a serious error occurs, even if they were unaware of it, they must take responsibility and resign from the government. Conventions are generally accepted principles of government that can only be enforced by public opinion.
What are quangos and NDPBs?
Organisations set up, and funded by, government but act independently of government. Members are appointed by government.
What are executive agencies?
Attached to departments and administer government services at arms length from ministers. Operate like commercial bodies, headed by chief executive.
What are policy advisers?
People who provide policy advice to prime ministers and ministers independent of the civil service. Not bound by civil service requirement of impartiality and salary paid by taxpayers.
What are spin doctors?
(Media) advisers who put a positive spin on briefing media on policies to put the government in a positive light.
