Component 2: PM and the Executive

Question 1

Executive

Answer 1

the decision-making branch
of government, centered
on the prime minister and
Cabinet and its committees.

Question 2

Cabinet

Answer 2

the group of senior
ministers, chaired by the
prime minister, which is the
main collective decision
making body in the
government.

Question 3

Minister

Answer 3

a member of either the
House of Commons or
the House of Lords who
serves in government,
usually exercising specific
responsibilities in a
department.

Question 4

Government department

Answer 4

a part of the executive,
usually with specific
responsibility over an area
such as education, health or
defence.

Question 5

Royal prerogative

Answer 5

a set of powers and
privileges belonging to
the monarch but normally
exercised by the prime
minister or Cabinet, such as
the granting of honours or
of legal pardons.

Question 6

Secondary legislation

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Individual responsibility

Answer 7

the principle by which
ministers are responsible
for their personal conduct
and for their departments.

Question 8

Collective responsibility

Answer 8

principle by which ministers
must support Cabinet
decisions or leave the
executive.

Question 9

Presidential government

Answer 9

an executive dominated by
one individual. This may
be a president but can also
describe a strong, dominant
prime minister.