Prime minister and the executive Flashcards
(21 cards)
what are the functions of government departments?
a sector of the gov that is specifically responsible for for a certain area of policy
- drafting legislation and prepare bills for parliament to turn into policy
- for example,the home office helped to draft the illegal migration bill (2023) a controversial law about asylum and small boat crossings - some departments are in charge of regulating sectors
- for example, the department for business and trade regulates minimum wage and workers’ rights - giving ministers expert advice to help them make informed decisions
- for example, officials in the foreign commonwealth advised on uk foreign policy in response to russian invasion of ukraine in 2022
what are features of royal prerogative?
- powers originally held by the monarch by are now mostly exercised by gov ministers, especially the MP
- for example, declaring war, signing treaties etc - used by the PM and ministers
- for example, in 2021, PM boris Johnson used royal prerogative powers to shut down parliament; though this was later ruled unlawful by the supreme court - can be exercised without approval ( a vote in parliament)
- for example, the PM can appoint ministers using prerogative powers
what is secondary legislation?
used to fill in the details of primary legislation
describe the concept individual ministerial responsibility?
- ministers must answer to parliament for all actions of their department
- for example, a minister may be questioned in the commons after a policy failure - ministers may resign due to serious errors or ethical breaches
- for example, in 2020, matt hancock resigned as health secretary after breaking covid rules - ministers are responsible for the actions of their staff and civil servants
- for example, in 2022, home secretary suelle braverman resigned after a security breach, taking responsibility for her actions
describe the concept of collective ministerial responsibility?
- ministers must support all cabinet decisions in public
- for example, in 2022, minsters defended liz truss’ mini budget, until her resignation, even amid economic turmoil - ministers who disagree with gov policy must resign
- for example, in 2018, johnson resigned as foreign secretary over theresa may’s brexit plan - if the gov loses a vote of no confidence, the whole cabinet is expected to resign or seek a general election
- for example, in 1979, callaghan’s labour gov lost a vote of no confidence by one vote, triggering a general election
what is a presidential government?
a style of gov dominated by the PM, where power is increasingly concentrated in the office of the PM
what is the structure/role of the PM
- head of the executive and manages its agenda
- chief policy maker
- appoints and fires cabinet ministers
what is the structure/role of the cabinet?
- composed of senior ministers
- provides support for approving policy
- helps enable conflict resolution between departments
what is the structure/role of the treasury?
- manages government finances
what is the structure/role of the gov departments?
- each department is responsible for an area of policy
- develops and implements specialised policies
what are the powers of the executive?
- royal prerogative powers
- for example, in december 2020, boris johnson announced 16 new peerages, many of whom are cons donors or supporters - they have secondary legislative powers
- for example, in 2020-2021, the gov used secondary legislation (statutory instruments) under the public health act to introduce covid 19 lockdown rules
- shows how the executive can make legal rules quickly in emergencies without parliamentary debate - they can initiate legislation
- for example, in 2023, the gov introduced the illegal immigration act to stop people arriving in small boats claiming asylum
- shows how the executive proposes new laws, using its parliamentary majority to pass them
what are examples of the personal failings of individual ministerial responsibility?
- for example, the Pestminister Scandal where michael fallon resigned as defense minister on november 1st 2017 due to details of previous sexual harassment being picked up in newspapers
- for example, on april 30 2019, amber rudd resigned due to the windrush scandal and she took blame for the scandal where caribbean immigrants were wrongly deported; and was also accused of lying to an enquiry about the scandal
- for example, in 2021, matt hancock resigns after kissing a colleague and breaking social distancing guidelines
Thatcher 1979-1990 [CONS]
- 1979 MAJORITY = 43 (339 seats)
- 1983 MAJORITY = 144 (397 seats)
- 1987 MAJORITY = 102
(376)
CONTROL:
- LEADERSHIP STYLE:
- forced key ministers, like geoffrey howe to resign when they challenged her
- maintained tight control by disciplining dissenters - POLITICAL CONTEXT:
- demonstrated decisive leadership during the falklands war - PARTY/CABINET UNITY:
- her cabinet supported her policies to tackle inflation
- her cabinet supported her decision to send a task force to reclaim the falklands islands in argentina; this victory solidified unity in both cabinet and the party
NO CONTROL:
1. LEADERSHIP STYLE
- she often overrode cabinet discussions, preferring to make decisions through a tight circle of advisors
- ministers felt sidelined which created resentment over time such as senior minister geoffrey howe who felt ignored on key economic issues
- POLITICAL CONTEXT
- she had backlash from her party MP’s on the poll tax; with many fearing that they would lose their seat in the next GE if she proceeded
JOHNSON 2019- 2022 [CONS]
- 2019 MAJORITY = 80 (365 seats)
CONTROL:
1. LEADERSHIP STYLE
- in 2019, was elected with a mandate of “get brexit done”
- was able to break the red wall and gain voters from traditionally labour areas
- PARTY/ CABINET UNITY
- removes the whip from 21 MP’s in 2019 for voting against his no brexit deal
- 2019 GE election victory sees many new “red wall” MP’s elected, who are more socially cons and have hardline views on brexit - POLITICAL CONTEXT
- december 2019 he wins massive election victory on slogan “get brexit done”
- 2020, he passes the EU withdrawal bill, ensuring that britain formally leaves the EU on the 31st of January
NO CONTROL:
1. LEADERSHIP STYLE
- failed to manage party factions and bridge the divides between them
- POLITICAL CONTEXT
- the partygate scandal (2021-2022) undermined his authority as it fuelled public outrage and media outrage emboldened his party to rebel against him; which led to many ministerial resignations (rishi sunak) - PARTY UNITY
- faced many backbench rebellions from cons backbenchers
- mp’s voiced concerns over issues like covid, brexit and partygate; showing fractures in party discipline
what is the structure of the executive?
the executive consists of:
1. the PM
2. the PM’s cabinet
3. The treasury
4. the gov departments
5. the civil service
what are the sources of the PM’s power?
the sources of the PM’s powers are:
1. traditional authority - authority, and their position, is deeply rooted in long standing customs, practices and historical precedents
- party - provides majority support in parliament, helping pass laws and policies
- parliament - provides the PM with the necessary backing to govern effectively
- patronage - helps the Pm build a loyal team, giving them more influence and power to govern effectively
- the people - they empower the PM through elections and public support, giving them authority to lead and govern
what are powers of the PM?
- PATRONAGE
helps the PM gives important jobs to loyal party members important jobs
- For example, when boris johnson became PM in 2019, he appointed prominent brexiteers like Dominic Raab (as foreign secretary) and Priti Patel (as home secretary), which helped consolidate support for those that were hard brexiteers
POLICY MAKING - the PM is the leader of the gov and have the authority to make decisions on how the country should be run
- For example, May took charge of the gov policy to carry out the UK’s exit from the EU following the 2016 EU referendum and set the direction for how the Uk would negotiate with the EU and what the country’s relationship with the EU would look like after leaving
FOREIGN POLICY - the PM decides how the country will interact with other nations
- For example, when David Cameron decided to support military intervention in libya in 2011.
what are the roles of the executive?
- proposing legislation
- for example, the police, crime and sentencing and courts act 2022 which was proposed under the gov to strengthen police powers (law and order) - proposing a budget
- for example, the illegal migration act 2023 which was proposed by the gov to tighten rules on asylum seekers arriving via small boats - making policy decisions within laws
- for example, using the coronavirus act 2020, the gov decided how to roll out covid vaccines, prioritising groups like the elderly and healthcare workers
factors that affect the relationship between a PM and their cabinet?
- the PM’s leadership style
- political context and crisis
- the PM’s relationship with their cabinet and advisors
how has the balance of powers impacted relationships between the PM and their cabinet?
- there has been cabinet resistance
- for example, may struggled with a divided cabinet over brexit strategy
- several ministers resigned or openly challenged her which weakened her authority - there has been strong PM dominance
- for example, johnson often centralised on decision making, relying on close advisors like dominic cummings rather than full cabinet debates - power has been more collaborative
- for example, sunak tried to rebuild cabinet unity, even through facing pressures from influential ministers- by compromisation
describe the term presidential government?
- strong personal leadership, often sidelining cabinet
- for example, johnsons reliance on close advisors during brexit and covid - the pm appeals directly to the public, often bypassing parliament and their party
- for example, theresa may’s use of public speeches during the 2017 snap election - the pm is dominant over cabinet and controls their agenda; dismissing those that dont
- for example, theresa may’s removal of those who opposed her brexit strategy (e,g, johnson’s resignation)
