PM & Cabinet - Structure, role, powers of cabinet

Question 1

Cabinet is important

Answer 1

Discusses governments plans and goals
Makes key decisions sometimes - 2017 GE
Some Cabinet ministers in charge of their own departments are powerful - Chancellor of the exchequer
PM requires their support and exert huge influence - Mays cabinet deciding on the type of brexit
Cabinet can overrule or remove PM – Thatcher’s cabinet
Disagreements between ministers in private
Under coalition, differences are discussed here, very important
COBRA in emergencies

Question 2

Cabinet is not important

Answer 2

PM Has power of patronage over cabinet (can fire/hire)
PM Prefers policy advisers for input
Collective responsibility gives PM ability to silence cabinet
Cabinet meets to rubber stamp decisions made elsewhere
PMs control the agenda
PMs control committees
Growth of committees makes an inner cabinet
Cabinet behind PM gives enormous power.

Question 3

Powers of the Executive

Answer 3

Royal Prerogative Powers
Do not require parliament’s approval
Patronage - Fire/Hire cabinet
Make treaties with other countries
Head of the Civil Service
Deploy the military - Altho recent convention to consult
Used to call election then FTPA now its gone so they can again