cabinet

Question 1

cabinet government

Answer 1

where the main decision making of government takes place in cabinet
alternative is prime ministerial government

Question 2

features of cabinet

Answer 2

• only members of the governing party are cabinet members –> coalition exception
• meets once a week, emergency meetings can be called, with PM chairing the meeting
• proceedings are kept a secret and will not be revealed for 30 years
• PM sets final agenda and approves minutes
• cabinet doesn’t vote on issues, PM seeks a general consensus and any member who disagrees must publicly dissent and will normally be required to leave cabinet and resign
• ministers are bound by collective and individual ministerial responsibility

Question 3

functions of cabinet

Answer 3

• emergency and crisis management —> Afghanistan intervention 2001 under Blair or lockdown
• policy presentation —> Alastair Campbell weekly media grid to plan policy announcements to the press to avoid different departments competing for press coverage
• resolving disputes
• setting the governments agenda
• ratifying decisions made elsewhere

Question 4

what is secondary legislation

Answer 4

powers given to the executive by parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules

Question 5

collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 5

ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive

Question 6

what is individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 6

ministers are responsible for their own personal conduct and for their departments

Question 7

3 examples of exceptions to collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 7

• coalition 2010-15 –> impossible for ministers from 2 different parties to agree for example over Trident
• EU referendum 2016 –> conservative ministers were allowed to express views to remain, without sanction such as Michael Gove
• Theresa May’s weak leadership 2017-2019 –> not an official suspension but she failed to fire ministers who spoke out against her brexit deal

Question 8

what are the 4 principles of individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 8

1. held accountable to parliament for the policies and decisions of their department, in MQT, select committees or UQ
2. if a minister makes a serious error of judgement in terms of running their department or policy
3. if a serious error of judgement is made in the department
4. if their conduct falls below standard, breaking ministerial code of conduct