3.1 Structure, roles and powers of the Executive

Question 1

Give 4 roles of the executive?

Answer 1

• development of policy
• conducting foreign policy
• organising the defence of the country
• managing the finances

Question 2

What is the core executive?

Answer 2

The central part of government, where key decisions are made and it is made up of elected ministers or unelected advisors

Question 3

What is a civil servant?

Answer 3

An employee of the government whose role it is to implement government policy

Question 4

How many senior ministers are members of the cabinet?

Answer 4

20-25

Question 5

What is the treasury?

Answer 5

Controls governmental departments finanaces

Question 6

What are the 3 main roles of the government?

Answer 6

• proposing legislation
• proposing a budget
• making policy decisions that are within the budget

Question 7

What are prerogative powers?

Answer 7

Powers formally enjoyed by the monarch, but have gradually transferred to the Prime Minister

Question 8

What 5 prerogative powers are enjoyed by the Prime Minster?

Answer 8

• declare war
• appoint ministers
• deal with emergencies
• authorise the use of the armed forces
• sign treaties

Question 9

What is a cabinet government?

Answer 9

A situation whereby the main decisions undertaken by the country happen between a group of people

Question 10

How many times does the Cabinet meet and when?

Answer 10

Once a week for 2 hours on a Thursday

Question 11

Who chairs cabinet meetings?

Answer 11

The Prime Minister

Question 12

What are the 4 functions of the cabinet?

Answer 12

• plan in emergency situations
• set out the way policy will be presented to parliament and the media
• acts as a ‘final court of appeal’ when conflicts arise between minsters
• decides what business will be brought before parliament

Question 13

What is a cabinet committee?

Answer 13

Small sub-committees branching from the cabinet and they establish the details of government policy

Question 14

What are the powers of the Prime Minister over cabinet?

Answer 14

• the leader of the country so has great authority
• PM has patronage meaning they can demand loyalty over ministers
• controls the agenda of cabinet meetings
• enjoys prerogative powers

Question 15

What are the powers of the cabinet over the Prime Minister?

Answer 15

-a majority of members can overule the PM
-can remove a PM from office (Thatcher and Blair)
-cabinet can control powerful ministers of can rival the
PM
-if the PM leads a divided party, difficult to assert dominance

Question 16

Which people in the government are elected?

Answer 16

• the Prime Minister
• the Cabinet
• over a hundred junior minsters

Question 17

Which people in the government are unelected?

Answer 17

• civil servants
• chief of staff for PM
• policy advisors (Number Ten Policy Unit and think tanks)

Question 18

List 5 functions of government?

Answer 18

• develop policy
• draft legislation in order to implement policy
• manage the passage of legisaltion
• maintain relations with external bodies
• manage of the operations of the state; education e.c.t.

Question 19

What are the 6 main powers of the executive?

Answer 19

• prerogative powers
• initiating primary legislation
• proposing secondary legislation
• proposing legislation
• proposing a budget
• making policy decisions

Question 20

What are prerogative powers?

Answer 20

Powers formally enjoyed by the monarch but are now of the Prime Minister

Question 21

Explain the role of initiating primary legislation function?

Answer 21

Starting the process of a new law. The government has access to the majority of the Parliamentary timetable.

Question 22

What is another name for secondary legislation?

Answer 22

Statutory instruments