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Flashcards in EXTRA-The Core Executive Deck (50)
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1
Q

What is the core executive?

A

the core executive in Britain is the network of key institutions, people and practises at the heart of government, including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and its committees, the PM’s Cabinet Office and the governments law officers and the security and intelligence services.

2
Q

Where does the term executive derive from?

A

the latin ex sequi meaning ‘to follow’ or ‘carry out’

3
Q

What is the role of the executive branch of government in the political system?

A

to make policies and administer laws

4
Q

As long as there has been political systems, there have been individuals or small groups who assume the role of what?

A

leadership, formulating and implementing public poly

5
Q

What do many writers use the phrase ‘core executive’ to refer to?

A

to refer to the complex network of institutions and people at the centre that between them are charged with the day to day running of governing the country

6
Q

Who does the core executive comprise of?

A
  • PrimeMinister
  • Cabinet and its committees
  • the offices that serve the first minister and Cabinet
  • the departments headed by senior ministers
7
Q

What do the groups in the core executive represent?

A

the pinnacle of the decision making process

8
Q

Who was involved of the membership of the core during the build up to and invasion and occupation of Iraq?

A

members of the intelligence services and leaders among the military

9
Q

In some listings who can be in the core executive (2)?

A

the chief whip and even those who chair back bench parliamentary committees

10
Q

In the British system, in theory, what provides executive leadership and political direction?

A

the Cabinet

11
Q

Although in theory the executive leadership and political direction is provided by the Cabinet, who in practise actually has this?

A

the PM

12
Q

What does Moran say in 2005?

A

“There is no fixed agenda of business”

13
Q

What does the idea of the core executive useful in helping us to understanding?

A

that the government is a fluid process in which many different people, offices and relationships are involved

14
Q

Who does the term ‘Cabinet’ relate to?

A

this relates to the group of the most senior ministers who are chosen by the PM and are at the centre of the British political system

15
Q

What are the Cabinet collectively empowered to do?

A

to make all decisions on behalf of the overnemtn

16
Q

Who are most members within the Cabinet?(what do they do)

A

they are heads of government departments with the title of Secretary of State

17
Q

Who are the Cabinet drawn from?

A

either chamber of parliament

18
Q

In the traditional constitutional theory, who were the key formal decision making body of the Executive?

A

the Cabinet

19
Q

In the traditional constitutional theory, what did the Cabinet do?

A

they directed the work of government and coordinated the activities of individual departments

20
Q

What was the Cabinet described as by Walter Bagehot in the 19th century?

A

as the ‘efficient secret’

21
Q

What was the Cabinet referred to as in the early-mid 20th century?

A

the ‘core of the British constitutional system’

22
Q

What do academics now often debate government is after the reduced role of the Cabinet as a decision making body?

A

Prime Ministerial government

23
Q

What is a Cabinet Government?

A

this is a system in which the government forms a collective political executive with each member having in theory an equal influence other than the PM who is ‘first among equals’. The Cabinet makes or is consulted about all important political decisions

24
Q

What is Prime Ministerial government?

A

this is a system in which the office of PM has become a power house, executive power being concentrated in his or her hands. Policy making is dominated by the PM rather than by the collective will of the cabinet

25
Q

where are most cabinet members drawn from?

A

the HOC

26
Q

What are 2 examples of non departmental cabinet positions?

A
  • Lord Privy Seal

- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

27
Q

How many Cabinet ministers do we currently have?

A

23

28
Q

When do we especially have experiments with smaller cabinets?

A

at times of war

29
Q

What does Kavanagh 1994 say regarding the size of Cabinets?

A

“It has to be small enough to allow ministers the opportunities to discuss, deliberate and coordinate major policies”

30
Q

during WW1 how many members were there in the small War Cabinet?

A

5

31
Q

With government achieved its goal in its experiment with a number of super ministries each of which encompassed large areas of government?

A

the Heath government 1970-74

32
Q

What would a smaller cabinet consist of?

A

chiefly of five or six coordinating ministers

33
Q

In a smaller cabinet of chiefly five or six coordinating ministers who would ministers be appointed?

A

on a functional basis to cover such matters as defence and economic affairs

34
Q

If there was a smaller cabinet how would this be beneficial in terms of members being freed from departmental responsibilities?

A

they would now see national problems as a whole and be mentally fresh to formulate and implement national policy

35
Q

How would a smaller Cabinet be more beneficial in terms of time?

A

there would be less members and so could meet more frequently

36
Q

What would be easier for the PM if the Cabinet was smaller?

A

to act as a driving force of such a body

37
Q

Why would it be beneficial to have a smaller cabinet in order for Cabinet members to direct policies of departments under their supervision?

A

as in the light of broad topics they would be able to coordinate their work and settle any disputes that may arise between them

38
Q

Why is it not always possible to separate policy from administration which is a disadvantage of smaller Cabinets?

A

as in making broad decisions the Cabinet would lack the experience of those involved in day to day administration

39
Q

How could the arrangements blur responsibility which is a disadvantage of smaller Cabinets?

A

as Cabinet supervisors are not actually being in charge of much of the departmental work

40
Q

What would a small cabinet deprive up and coming young ministers of?

A

valuable experience at the highest level

41
Q

What could be a problem of not being able to represent all shades of opinion in the PM’s Cabinet?

A

there would be a danger that the Cabinet could easily lose touch with the party and public opinion

42
Q

According to who in 2007 did the Heathite super ministries not work dye to the burdens on the secretary of state?

A

Lord Butler

43
Q

who are the 3 most important figures in the Cabinet ?

A

PM
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Home Sectary

44
Q

Why does the chief whip attend the cabinet?

A

to advise the Cabinet ministers of the feeling on the back benches of the party in order to ensure that the leadership does not lose touch with other MPs

45
Q

What were Blair Cabinets noted for?

A

the number of women they included

46
Q

How many women were in the first cabinet?

A

5

47
Q

How many women were in the Cabinet after the reshuffle in 2002?

A

6

48
Q

How many women were in Blair’s final cabinet after a reshuffle in 2007?

A

8

49
Q

Who set a precedent for a women becoming Foreign Secretary?

A

Margret Beckett

50
Q

How many ministers did the Brown Cabinet have and how many further ministers attended its weekly meetings?

A

22

7