Ministerial Responsibility Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are the two types of ministerial responsibility?
Collective ministerial responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
A convention where all ministers are jointly accountable for government decisions, even if they personally disagreed.
What are the three pillars of collective ministerial responsibility?
Collective ministerial responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
A convention where all ministers are jointly accountable for government decisions, even if they personally disagreed.
What are the three pillars of collective ministerial responsibility?
Confidence, Unanimity, and Confidentiality.
What does the confidence pillar require?
The government must retain the support of the House of Commons or resign after a formal no-confidence vote.
Give an example of a government resigning due to loss of confidence.
1979 – Callaghan’s Labour Government resigned after a no-confidence vote.
When was the unanimity rule temporarily suspended?
During the 1975 EEC and 2016 Brexit referendums.
What is the purpose of confidentiality in Cabinet?
To maintain trust, avoid leaks, and preserve Cabinet unity.
What was the outcome of AG v Jonathan Cape (1975)?
Cabinet discussions are protected by a common law duty of confidentiality, not a legalised convention.
What is individual ministerial responsibility?
Ministers are personally accountable for their conduct, their department’s actions, and their civil servants.
What are ministers expected to follow regarding personal conduct?
The Ministerial Code, requiring honesty, integrity, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Give two examples of resignation over personal misconduct.
John Profumo (1963) and Matt Hancock (2021).
What principle makes ministers accountable for civil servants’ actions?
The Carltona Principle.
What did R v Adams (2020) clarify about Carltona?
Serious decisions like detention must be personally signed by the minister—Carltona didn’t apply.
Are ministers always required to resign after a scandal?
No—resignation depends on severity, parliamentary deception, PM support, media pressure, and willingness to resign.
