4. Prime Minister and the Executive

Question 1

What is the executive?

Answer 1

The decision making branch of government

PM and Cabinet

Question 2

Explain the structure of the executive

Answer 2

Prime Minister

Cabinet

Government Departments

Executive Agencies

Junior Ministers

Question 3

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

Answer 3

Head of the executive
Chairs Cabinet
Appoints ministers
Leads government

Question 4

What is the role of the Cabinet?

Answer 4

20-23 senior ministers
Help to deliver policy
Each in charge of a government department

Question 5

What is the role of government departments?

Answer 5

Responsible for different areas of policy, each headed by a Cabinet minister

Question 6

What is the role of executive agencies?

Answer 6

Semi-independent bodies that carry out some functions of government departments
DVLA = Department for Transport

Question 7

What are the main roles of the executive?

Answer 7

Proposes legislation
Proposes the budget
Makes policy decisions
Represents UK on a global level

Question 8

Proposing Legislation

Answer 8

Introduces proposals for laws or amendments
Announces a programme in the Queen’s Speech
Introduce legislation to contend with emergencies

Question 9

2015 Queen’s Speech

Answer 9

Conservative Government would hold an EU Referendum, legislate to protect essential public services against strikes and make sure the devolved nations and England agree on legislation together.

Question 10

Proposing the Budget

Answer 10

Raise revenue in order to fund public services

Chancellor of the Exchequer - annual statement of the government’s plans for taxation and spending

Question 11

Making Policy Decisions

Answer 11

Decide how to give effect to its aims for the future of the country

Question 12

Royal Prerogative Powers

Answer 12

Royal Prerogative Powers historically belong to the monarch
PM exercises them on their behalf
Conventions
Declare war and authorise use of armed forces, sign treaties, issue passports, legal pardons, appoint ministers, award honours and act in emergencies

Question 13

Examples of abolished Royal Prerogative Powers

Answer 13

2011 Fixed Term Parliaments act removed the right of the PM to determine the date of general elections

Governments accepted that military action requires prior parliamentary approval

Question 14

Power of Patronage

Power and Limits

Answer 14

Appoint ministers and reshuffle cabinet

Needs to be an ideological balance and done carefully

Question 15

Authority in the Cabinet System

Powers and Limits

Answer 15

Chair cabinet meetings and manage the agenda

Requires cabinet support on major issues

Question 16

Party Leadership

Powers and Limits

Answer 16

Authority as leader of a political party

Support of party is not unconditional with backbench rebellions possibility

Question 17

Prime Minister

Powers and Limits

Answer 17

Unpopularity with the electorate undermines authority

Question 18

Policy Making Powers of the PM

Answer 18

Digest government policy 
Set agenda 
Takes key role in times of crisis 
Introduces proposals 
Proposes budget

Question 19

Limitations on powers of the PM

Answer 19

Small parliament majority possibly 
Loss of party support
Cabinet opposition 
Cabinet splits 
House of Lords
Opposition 
Lack of media and cabinet support

Question 20

How is legislation initiated?

Answer 20

Executive controls most of the parliamentary timetable

Government majority allows for the whipping system and patronage to push through its programme effectively

Question 21

What is known as the ‘guillotine’ in initiating legislation?

Answer 21

Allocation of time motion
1887
Procedure that allows the government to curtail debate on the individual cases of a bill
APPLIES ONLY TO THE HOC

Question 22

What is secondary legislation?

Answer 22

Power to change or amend the laws
Statutory instruments - modify or repeal existing legislation every time the government needs to amend without a new bill

Question 23

Example of statutory instruments

Answer 23

2016 used to abolish maintenance grants for university students and to allow fracking in national world

Question 24

How does the PM gain powers?

Answer 24

Popular mandate

Popular support

Question 25

What is the cabinet?

Answer 25

Represents collective identity of the government Makes all important decisions Resolves disputes

Question 26

Functions of the Cabinet

Answer 26

Present policy proposals Resolves disputes Sets agenda Makes decisions

Question 27

How is Cabinet formed?

Answer 27

Possibly need a balance d cabinet Include the big party rivals Political allies for support

Question 28

Weakness of the Cabinet

Answer 28

PM is now dominant in it Decisions mostly come from committees Meetings are shorter and stage managed

Question 29

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 29

Ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments Form of accountability

Question 30

Examples of IMR in action

Answer 30

Amber Rudd Resigned as Home Secretary in 2018 following the Windrush Scandal and the failure of her government department 2019 Secretary of Transport Chris Grayling refused to resign despite criticism Ferry contract awarded to a company with no ferries

Question 31

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 31

Convention by which ministers must support all decisions of the government in public. They are responsible as a group to Parliament and thus to the people United front presented

Question 32

Examples of CMR in action

Answer 32

2016 - Ian Duncan Smith resigned as DWP Secretary as he did not support cuts to disability benefits 2019 Women and Equalities Minister Amber Rudd resigned as she did not agree with Boris Johnson and his policy on Brexit

Question 33

Exceptions to CMR

Answer 33

Modified in allowing a free vote in: 1. Liberal Democrats not bound by CMR in 2010-2015 2. 2011 AV Referendum 3. 2016 EU Referendum

Question 34

What constrains the PM Power?

Answer 34

``` Cabinet Media Pressure of events Parliamentary majority PM's style of governance ```

Question 35

What determines how much power the PM can exercise?

Answer 35

``` Devolution EU NATO Cabinet Control Events ```