3 - Executive Flashcards
(18 cards)
What makes up the executive?
- PM
- Cabinet/ Govt Depts/ Treasury
- Civil Service
Is the PM a constitutional role?
Just a convention that PM is the largest party leader
Roles of the PM?
- Chairs the Cabinet
- “Primus inter pares”
- Leader of the Govt
- Can propose legislation
Roles of the Executive?
- Decision-making
- Legislation
-Control timetable - Set budget (Treasury/ Chancellor)
Details around the Cabinet?
- “Collective Responsibility”
e.g. Robin Cook resigned over Iraq War 2003
BUT only convention (e.g. May - BJ, Hunt, Osborne didn’t resign)
What influences PM choice for Cabinet?
- PM free to choose
- Political Beasts
- Party Unity
- Prevent division
Main executive powers?
- Deploy UK army overseas
- Issuing orders during national emergency
- International relations & treaties
How is the PM becoming presidential?
- Loss of cabinet govt (“wets & dries”/”sofa govt”)
- Rise of SpAds (Campbell/Cummings)
- Media Communication (BJ in Covid)
Case against Presidentialism?
- Depends on PM party size (May minority govt 2017-19)
- Elective dictatorships forced out of own party (Thatcher/Blair)
- Need to work with beasts (Blair+Brown)
How is policy made?
- Manifesto promises (
- Personal PM convictions (Thatcher - Poll Tax)
- Referendum outcomes
- Deals with other parties
- Dealing with national emergencies
Does the cabinet govt still exist?
1) Resignations can signal PM weakness
2) Political beasts
3) Ministers are heads of their own departments
Why might a Cabinet government not exist?
1) Cabinet ministers chosen directly by PM
2) PM can appear strong through removing ministers
3) Rise of SpAds
4) Elective dictatorships
How was collective responsibility been undermined?
1) Leakages
2) Ministers opposing convention
3) Suspended during referendums - increased use
How can ministers be powerful?
1) Political beasts
2) Resignations
3) Secondary legislation
4) Heads of their own departments
How can the PM control Parliament (or not)?
1) Party Leader
2) Whips
3) Majority
- Opposition power
- Backbench rebellions
Causes of ministerial resignations?
Ministerial Code 2011
1) Accept blame for dept. error
2) No collective responsibility
3) Inability to deliver dept. policy promise
4) Personal Misconduct
5) Political Pressure
How can Cabinet ministers be powerful?
- Heads of Departments
- Times of crisis increase influence
- Vital support for PM
- Must be appeased to unite the party
Why may Cabinet Ministers not be as powerful?
- Presidentialism
- Less policy decision-making
- PM can remove ministers if strong
- Collective Responsibility
