PM Roles Flashcards
How did the role of the PM first begin?
As king George 1 had stopped attending cabinet meetings as he spoke poor English
What title do modern PM’s still retain the formal title of?
First Lord of the Treasury
What year did the role of the PM first come about?
1720’s
Why have the powers of the PM evolved gradually?
as a result of the assimilation of royal prerogative powers
What did Walter Bagehot refer to the monarchy as ?
a ‘dignified’ (ceremonial) part of the constitution
What are the 3 main sources of prime ministerial power?
- Powers formally assigned to the monarch under the royal prerogative
- Powers emerged through convention
- Powers based upon the PM’s role as leader of the majority party in the HOC
What 4 powers are examples of Prerogative powers?
- ability to control the armed forces
- declare war
- make treaties
- control workings of the civil service
How has convention gave the PM power?
as citizens, party, parliament, cabinet and key officials have come to submit themselves to prime ministerial authority
How is it illustrated that the powers of the PM rest upon them being leader of the majority party in the HOC?
Margret Thatcher was forced to give up her leadership and therefore her title as the PM
How has the role of the President in the US similarly developed over time through convention?
roles such as “chief legislator” and de facto “head of state” have developed through convention
What are the 5 roles of the PM?
1) Chief executive
2) chief legislator
3) chief diplomat
4) public relations chief
5) party chief
