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politics > Chapter 7 - 1/4 - The executive in the UK > Flashcards

Chapter 7 - 1/4 - The executive in the UK Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main roles of the executive?

A
  • Develop government policy.
  • Conducting foreign policy.
  • Managing state finances.
  • Managing the forces of law and order, including the police, courts, armed forces, and intelligence services.
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2
Q

Who is head of the civil service?

A

The prime minister.

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3
Q

What is the role of the civil service?

A

To serve the government while remaining neutral, forbidden from serving the political interests of the governemnt.

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4
Q

What are the main components of the core executive?

A
  • The prime minister and their close advisors.
  • The cabinet - between 20 and 25 senior ministers.
  • Government departments.
  • Senior civil servants such as the cabinet secretary.
  • Think tanks.
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5
Q

What is the ‘efficient secret’ of government in the UK?

A

The relationship between the prime minister and the cabinet.

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6
Q

What are the roles and powers of the prime minister?

A
  • Chief policy maker and chief executive.
  • Patronage - they have the power to appoint and dismiss all government ministers.
  • Negotiate foreign treaties and trade agreements.
  • Conduct foreign policy in general, representing the country internationally.
  • Commander-in-chief and has control of military action (or at least once they have been committed).
  • They head the cabinet system.
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7
Q

What is the role of the cabinet?

A

Approving policy and settling disputes within government.

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8
Q

What is the role of the treasury?

A

Managing the government’s finances.

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9
Q

What is the role of government departments?

A

Developing and implementing specialised policies.

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10
Q

What system of government does the UK use?

A

The cabinet system.

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11
Q

What is ‘cabinet government’?

A

When the main decision making of government takes place in cabinet.

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12
Q

What is cabinet sometimes described as and why?

A

A mere ‘rubber stamp’, because they do not formulate policy but do have to approve all legislative proposals coming from the prime minister for it to become official policy.

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13
Q

How many ministers does the cabinet consist of?

A

20-25

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14
Q

What must all cabinet members be a member of?

A

Either the House of Commons or House of Lords.

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15
Q

What member of the governing party is always invited to cabinet meetings?

A

The chief whip.

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16
Q

What civil servant is always present at cabinet meetings to take the minutes?

A

The cabinet secretary, the UK’s most senior civil servant and key advisor to both the cabinet and the prime minister personally.

17
Q

Who is the current cabinet secretary?

A

Simon Case

18
Q

When does the cabinet meet?

A

Every Thursday.

19
Q

What happens to the proceedings of cabinet meetings?

A

They are secret and will not be revealed for at least 30 years.

20
Q

Does the cabinet normally vote on issues?

A

No, the prime minister seeks a general consensus and then requires all members to agree to that decision. If a member wishes to dissent publicly they must resign.

21
Q

Who sets the agenda of the cabinet meetings?

A

The prime minister.

22
Q

What is the salary of cabinet members compared to junior ministers and MPs?

A

Cabinet minister receive an enhanced salary, emphasising their seniority.

23
Q

Where does the cabinet originate from?

A

Nowhere in particular, it is an unwritten constitutional convention.

24
Q

What did Nicholas Ridley say of Margaret Thatcher’s approach to the cabinet?

A

“not going to have faint hearts in the Cabinet stopping her.”

25
Q

What is meant by the cabinet being a ‘clearing house’?

A

They are used to legitimise decisions taken elsewhere; any objections will be dealt with outside of cabinet meetings before hand so proposals simply go through ‘on the nod’.

26
Q

What are cabinet committees?

A

Small subcommittees of the cabinet formed to establish the details of government policy.

27
Q

Who usually chairs cabinet committees?

A

The prime minister or a very senior minister.

28
Q

What is a fait accompli?

A

A thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.

29
Q

What advantages does the prime minister have when bringing forward proposals to cabinet?

A
  • They see all proposals in advance.
  • They can block proposals they do not like.
  • Control of the cabinet agenda means they can avoid discussing proposals.
30
Q

What 4 reasons give the prime minister the upper hand in the cabinet system?

A
  • The public sees them as the leader of the government, giving them great authority.
  • Patronage means they can demand loyalty and dismiss people when it is lacking.
  • They have a range of advisors to assist them.
  • They chair cabinet and control the agenda.
31
Q

what 3 powers give the cabinet the upper hand in the cabinet system?

A
  • A majority of members can overrule the prime minister if they are determined.
  • They can ultimately remove the prime minister from office (Thatcher 1990, Blair 2007).
  • If the governing party is divided then cabinet has more influence.
32
Q

What are the civil servants and advisors that make up part of government?

A
  • The cabinet secretary.
  • The prime minister’s private office.
  • Chief of Staff.
  • The Cabinet Office, which advises the prime minister and the cabinet.
  • The Number Ten Policy Unit.
33
Q

What is the group that helps formulate policy for the prime minister?

A

The Number Ten Policy Unit.

34
Q

What is secondary legislation?

A

Detailed laws and regulations passed by ministers under powers granted to them by primary legislation. This does not usually concern Parliament.

35
Q

What is meant by the ‘political’ aspects of government?

A

This concerns the development of policy. Advice can be taken from advisors but final decisions are made by accountable elected ministers.

36
Q

What is meant by the ‘administrative’ aspects of government?

A

This is the implementation of policy and organisation of the state, undertaken by unelected officials.

37
Q

Who is the most senior civil servant?

A

Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary.

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