Responsible Government Flashcards
Does the PM have lot of legal power?
No - very few powers in law. However, office carries powers by convention;
- Advising PM to appoint/remove ministers.
- Size/composition of cabinet
- Subject matter/composition of cabinet committees
- When cabinet meets and agenda
What responsibility does the Cabinet Office have?
Purpose is to support PM and Cabinet.
- Political and constitutional reform
- Civil Service
- Supporting National Security Council and Joint Intelligence Organisation
- Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Role of the Privy Council?
Advises the monarch on the exercise of the royal prerogative. Meets to secure monarch’s formal approval of documents which have already been approved by Cabinet.
What’s an example of the Privy Council at work?
Sep 2019 - Privy Council meet’s at Balmoral, then requests Queen to prorogue Parliament - Supreme Court subsequently ruled unlawful, Miller v The Prime Minister (No2) [2019].
Is Cabinet’s powers found in legislation?
No - they are established by convention. It’s function is based on the principle of collective responsibility.
What are Cabinet committees?
They are committees set up to deal with specific areas of gov administration to relieve pressure on decision-making.
What does ‘ultra vires’ mean?
‘beyond [the] powers’ - i.e. limits of government power and where gov has overstepped this power.
Where are the (individual) ministerial principles set out and what are they?
The Ministerial Code:
1. selfishness, 2. integrity, 3. objectivity, 4. accountability, 5. openness, 6. honesty, 7. leadership
Are the rules of the Ministerial Code enforeceable?
No - they are entirely at discretion of the PM
What does the Ministerial Code cover and who does it apply to?
- collective responsibility
- proper and transparent engagement with Parliament
- avoiding potential conflicts of interest
- proper. use of gov resources.
Applies to: gov ministers (in full) parliamentary private secretaries (some parts) special advisers (some parts)
Where is the role of the Civil Service set out?
Ministerial Code 2011: function of Civil Service is to support the government … central to this is the requirement for political impartiality.
What are the constitutional principles of the civil service?
Permanence - do not change with gov
Political neutrality - requirement of permanence
Anonymity - not public facing (with some exceptions)
The personal accountability of the Accounting Officer…
…forms the foundation of Parliament’s ability to hold the Executive to account for public spending.
What’s a Senior Responsible Owner? (SROs)?
Politically neutral senior civil servants; para 5.6 of Cabinet Manual. - responsible for gov’s main projects - may be called to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees etc.
What are the ‘core values’ of the Civil Service Code?
Integrity
Honesty
Objectivity
Impartiality
