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Politics Paper 2 > PM and the executive > Flashcards

PM and the executive Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Executive in the UK government?

A

the branch of government responsible for implementing laws and running the country.

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2
Q

What are the main components of the Executive?

A

Prime Minister, Cabinet, junior ministers, government departments.

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3
Q

What are the three main roles of the Executive?

A
  1. Proposing legislation
  2. Proposing the budget
  3. Making policy decisions.
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4
Q

What are Royal Prerogative powers?

A

Traditional powers once held by the monarch, now exercised by ministers. Include deploying troops, appointing ministers, granting pardons.

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5
Q

What is secondary legislation?

A

Laws made by ministers under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament

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6
Q

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

A

Leads the government, chairs Cabinet, represents UK internationally, sets policy direction, appoints ministers.

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7
Q

Define the Cabinet.

A

group of senior ministers, mostly heads of departments, selected by the PM to coordinate government policy.

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8
Q

Who are junior ministers?

A

Ministers who support Cabinet ministers and take responsibility for specific areas within departments.

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9
Q

Give an example of individual ministerial responsibility.

A
  • Matt Hancock
  • 2021 cctv footage of him kissing collegue
  • breaking covid social distancing laws he helped implament
  • resigned in 2022
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10
Q

What is a government department?

A

A part of the Executive focused on a specific area of policy, e.g. Home Office, Department for Education.

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11
Q

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

A

The principle that ministers are accountable to Parliament for their personal conduct and the actions of their department.

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12
Q

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

A

The principle that all Cabinet members must support government decisions or resign.

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13
Q

Give an example of collective ministerial responsibility.

A

Robin Cook resigned in 2003 over opposition to the Iraq War.

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14
Q

What influences PM’s selection of ministers?

A

Loyalty, experience, ability, party unity, diversity, balance of views.

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15
Q

Example of PM promoting loyalty:

A

Boris Johnson appointed loyalists like Priti Patel in 2019.

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16
Q

How does the PM control the Cabinet?

A
  • Sets agenda
  • chairs meetings
  • appoints ministers
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17
Q

What strengthens Cabinet power?

A
  • Divided party
  • weak PM
  • crisis
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18
Q

What weakens Cabinet power?

A

Strong majority, weak opposition, loyal Cabinet.

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19
Q

What is a presidential government?

A

A system where the PM acts more like a president, dominating the executive and decision-making (e.g., Tony Blair).

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20
Q

Example of PM acting presidential

A

Tony Blair’s decision to go to war in Iraq with limited Cabinet consultation.

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21
Q

Example of Cabinet pushing back against PM:

A

Theresa May’s Cabinet divisions over Brexit, e.g. Boris Johnson resigning in 2018.

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22
Q

How does Parliament check the Executive?

A

Through select committees, PMQs, scrutiny of legislation, votes of no confidence.

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23
Q

Example of Executive being defeated:

A

Theresa May’s Brexit deal defeated three times in 2019.

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24
Q

How can the Executive dominate Parliament?

A

Large majority, party discipline, control over timetable, whips.

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25
What role do government departments play in policymaking?
Develop, implement, and manage policy in specific areas.
26
What is the Cabinet Office?
A department that supports the PM and Cabinet, coordinating government policy.
27
Example of effective ministerial leadership:
Rishi Sunak’s management of the furlough scheme as Chancellor during COVID-19.
28
When did the UK last deploy Royal Prerogative powers controversially?
2018: Theresa May used Royal Prerogative to begin Brexit negotiations without full parliamentary consultation.
29
What is the significance of PMQs?
Provides a weekly opportunity for scrutiny of the PM by MPs.
30
Who is the PM accountable to?
Parliament, the public, and their party.
31
What affects balance of power between PM and Cabinet?
- Personality - party unity - events
32
Define minister.
A member of government with responsibility for specific policy areas or departments
33
Define individual vs collective responsibility.
Individual: own actions/department. Collective: support Cabinet decisions.
34
Example of Parliament checking the PM:
2019 Supreme Court ruling Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament unlawful.
35
Example of the executive dominating Parliament through majority
Boris Johnson’s 80-seat majority (2019) allowed the government to pass legislation with little resistance, including the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Act (2020).
36
Example of presidential-style leadership
Tony Blair was often described as having a 'sofa government' approach—preferring informal meetings with advisers over full Cabinet discussion.
37
Example of a minister refusing to resign despite criticism
Matt Hancock (2021) did not initially resign after breaching COVID rules; he stepped down later due to public pressure.
38
Who is the head of the Executive in the UK?
Prime Minister
39
What is the primary role of the Prime Minister?
Chairs the cabinet and manages the agenda
40
How many senior ministers are typically in the Cabinet?
20-23 senior ministers
41
What is the role of the Cabinet Office?
Provides administrative support headed by the Cabinet Secretary
42
Who is the most senior civil servant in the UK?
Cabinet Secretary
43
What is the responsibility of Government Departments?
Each is responsible for an area of policy (transport, defence, energy, etc)
44
What is the relationship between cabinet members and Government Departments?
Each Government Department is headed by a cabinet member and supported by junior ministers
45
What are Executive Agencies?
Semi-independent bodies that carry out some functions of government departments
46
Give an example of an Executive Agency.
DVLA
47
Which department oversees the DVLA?
DfT (Department for Transport)
48
roles of the executive
Proposing Legislation: - Executive proposes new laws or amendments Proposing the Budget: - created by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister - annual statement of the government’s plans for tax changes and public spending. Making Policy Decisions: - has to decide how to make its future aims effective for the country
49
Powers of the Executive
Royal Prerogative: - historic powers of the monarch now exercised by the prime minister and ministers without parliamentary approval - eg foreign affairs, military action and granting passports Initiating Legislation: - The Executive controls the agenda and timing of legislation and can push their bills through Parliament with a large majority. Secondary Legislation: - a law that is made without passing an Act of Parliament
50
What is the official term for the rules governing ministers?
Ministerial code
51
How can ministers be held accountable for their department's actions?
* Question Time * Select committee scrutiny
52
What is a point of principle in relation to ministerial responsibility?
A minister should resign if they cannot agree with something on principle.
53
What must discussions in Cabinet be?
Confidential ## Footnote This confidentiality is crucial for maintaining unity and open dialogue.
54
How should the Cabinet appear in public despite private disagreements?
United ## Footnote This appearance helps convey strength and unity to the public.
55
What are non-abiding members expected to do?
Resign or be sacked
56
What significant action did PM David Cameron take during the 2016 EU referendum campaign?
Suspended collective responsibility
57
What does it mean when collective responsibility is suspended?
Ministers can vote with their conscience rather than with a party line
58
Should collective responsibility be abolished?
YES: - encourages open debate - greater accountability - transparency NO: - weakens government unity - reduces government efficiency - gives opposition an advantage
59
What are the basic requirements to become Prime Minister?
- An MP - Over 18 - A commonwealth citizen - A party leader
60
Can a Prime Minister take office without an election?
Yes, they can take office by becoming leader of the majority party or without an overall majority
61
List the roles of the Prime Minister.
* Leader of the party in parliament and country * Appoint government ministers to a cabinet * Direct and influence government policy
62
What does the Director of Communications do?
Manages internal and external communications of the Prime Minister
63
What is the function of the Press Secretary?
Gives news and information to the Prime Minister to manage public perception
64
How can events influence a Prime Minister's power?
Leadership during events can boost their popularity at elections
65
What role does the team around the Prime Minister play in their effectiveness?
Stronger civil servants and ministers can enhance the PM's strength and provide better advice
66
key members of the cabinet (march 2025)
- Prime Minister: Keir Starmer - Chancellor: Rachel Reeves - Home secretary: Yvette Cooper
67
prime minister and cabinet relationship
- cabinet is responsible for policy making - leadership is becoming more personalised and the PM is distant from traditional institutions like the cabinet
68
factors affecting the PM-Cabinet relationship
Prime ministerial style: A dominant PM may marginalise the Cabinet (e.g. Thatcher in the early 1980s). Cabinet Unity and Loyalty: A united Cabinet strengthens the PM’s authority. Special Circumstances: coalition: cameron had to share power with Lib Dem ministers
69
Is the cabinet still important?
YES: - formal decision making body of gov - major issues still discussed in cabinet - expertise NO: - power has shifted to PM and lobbyists - some PMs ( Blair) sidelined cabinet - Presidential style of leadership reduces cabinet influence
70
what was the first successful coalition government since wwII
- 2010 coalition government between the conservatives and lib dems - david cameron became PM and Nick clegg became deputy PM
71
what did the 2011 fixed-term parliaments act do?
- set five year election cycles and required 2/3 of MPs to vote for an early election - repealed in 2022
72
what is the 2015 recall of MPs act?
- allowed constituents to trigger a by election if an MP committed a crime or was suspended for 10+ days - requires 10/ of constituents to sign a petition
73
how did the 2010 coalition affect parliament?
- 2014 Lords reform act: peers could retire or be removed for crimes - 2015 lords spiritual act: allowed female female bishops in the lords
74
what electoral reform did the Lib Dems want
- STV but settled for AV referendum
75
How do political rivals in Cabinet affect the PM
Strong rivals can constrain PM power (e.g. Johnson vs Sunak; Blair vs Brown).
75
How does majority size affect the PM?
A large majority (e.g. Blair 1997, Johnson 2019) gives more authority over Cabinet; a small or no majority limits control (e.g. May 2017).
76
How did Brown differ from Blair?
Promised more collective Cabinet government, but remained dominant due to economic crisis and centralised control.
77
How has Johnson affected Cabinet power?
Used loyalty tests and reshuffles to centralise control; sidelined opposition voices post-2019.
78
How do special advisers affect PM-Cabinet relations?
PMs often rely more on advisers than Cabinet (e.g. Dominic Cummings under Johnson), weakening collective decision-making.
79
Arguments for PM dominance over Cabinet
- PM controls appointments - Can bypass Cabinet via bilateral meetings - Media focus on PM - Strong majorities enhance authority
80
Arguments for Cabinet influence over PM
- Can force resignations (e.g. Thatcher 1990, May 2019) - Rival ministers can pressure PM - Cabinet unity needed to govern effectively - Crises and divided parties reduce PM power

Politics Paper 2 (7 decks)

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