the PM and executive pt 1

Question 1

definition of the executive

Answer 1

• also known as ‘the government’
• governs the country and implements laws passed by parliament
• includes PM, cabinet, junior ministers, civil servants and gov departments

Question 2

key roles of the executive

Answer 2

• propose and implement legislation
• managing public finances - budges, taxes and public spending
• making policy decisions and strategies
• conducting foreign policy - relations with other countries and international organisations eg NATO, EU, UN
• responds to emergencies eg terrorism, health, economic
• oversees public services - education, NHS, police etc

Question 3

structure of the executive

Answer 3

1. PM - head of executive and chair of cabinet
2. CABINET - 20-25 senior ministers. chaired by PM + meets weekly
3. JUNIOR MINISTERS - support cabinet + focus on specific areas within a department. dont sit in cabinet
4. GOV DEPARTMENTS - each have responsibility over specific policy areas eg Home Office. headed by sec of state
5. SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS - top-level peranent officials (not elected) who advise ministers and implement gov policy

Question 4

roles of the PM

Answer 4

1. cheif executive –> oversees machinnery of gov
2. cheif policy maker –> sets all policy agenda + decides gov priorities eg on key issues like economy, health, foreign affairs
3. party leader –> reps and leads ruling party in parliament and country - central role in elections, party conferences and shaping party image
4. cheif diplomat and spokesperson –> reps uk globally - takes charge in internaltion crisies
5. appointer of minister and cabinet chair –> power to appoint reshuffle and cdismiss ministers

Question 5

roles of the cabinet

Answer 5

members appointed by PM, most secretaries of state and meet once a week.
1. policy approval –> refines/ confirms decisions made by PM
2. coordinating departments –> ensures departments work toegther eg environment and transport
3. crisi management –> responds to major events - eg COVID-19
4. settling disputes –> resolves disagreements between ministers or departments

Question 6

ministers and their departments

Answer 6

ministers lead gov departments helping develope gov policy. central role in executive branch and accountable to parliament
- draft and propose legislation
- Steering legislation through Parliament.
- take decisions on policy and departmental issues.
- Speaking in debates and answering questions.
- Using powers granted through secondary legislation.

Question 7

4 types of ministers

Answer 7

1. secretary of state - senior ministers leading major department eg home sec - probs sit in cabinet
2. minister of state - junior to sec of state - handles specific areas of dept - not in cabinet
3. parliamentary under-sec of state - very junior minister responsible for narrow/ technicle areas
4. parliamentary private secretary PPS - unpaid MP acting as link between ministers and backbenchers

Question 8

proposing legislation

Answer 8

executive plays role in initiating new laws
1. green paper –> consultation doc presenting initial policy ideas + seeks feeback from MPs, experts and public

2. white paper –> sets out gov firm policy intentions - based on green paper
3. introducing bill –> once white paper is agreed upon - bill formally drafted and introduced into parliament
4. party discipline –> whips ensure MPs support bill in parliament. bill can be dropped or amedned if lacks majority support

Question 9

what are the 4 principles of individual ministerial responsibility (IMR)

Answer 9

1. accountibility to parliament - must explain decisions, asnwer questions and appear infront of selected committees
2. resign for serious mistakes - Amber Rudd 2018 - resigned as Home Sec after misleading parliament on deportation targets
3. resign if department fails - Estelle morris resigned 2002 after failings in literacy standards and A-level grading
4. resign for poor persoal conduct - Michael Fallon 2017 resigned after allegations of inappropriate behaviour

Question 10

what are the limits to individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 10

• govs fear resignations make them look too weak
• ministers show loyalty to the PM so are protected ion return for their loyalty
• theres a growing culture of clame deflection where civil servants or external bodies take the fall

Question 11

3 examples of ministers avoiding responsibility (undermining IMRs)

Answer 11

1. error of judgement –> Gavid Williamson 2020 approved a algorithm that downgraded thousands of A level results - stayed in after this scandal
2. departmental error –> Chris Grayling 2019 didnt resign despite awarding ferry contract to firm with no ships - big mistake
3. personal misconduct –> Priti Patel 2020 stayed in office after bullying civil servants claims upheld by an inquiry

Question 12

principles of the collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 12

this is unwritten convention of the constitution and requires all ministers to publically support gov policy - if not tey should resign

• must publically support all gov policy
• ppl who oppose must reign
• it promotes gov unity, loyalty and confidential internal discussion
• allows PM to dismiss ministers who breach it
• ministers privately express doubts but must look united in front of public

Question 13

examples of ministers reigning due to collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 13

1. Robin Cook - Foreign Sec - Labour - opposed UK invasion of Iraq 2003
2. Lady Sugg - Junior Foreign Office Minister - Cons - opposed cut to foreign aid budget 2020

Question 14

limits to collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 14

1. coalitions limit CMR - during con-lib dem coalition 2010-15, CMR only applied policies both parties agreed on
2. internal party division - brexit caused serve cabinet splits under May - ministers advocating radically dif outcomes - not united
3. refs divide cabinet sometimes - 2016 eu ref - 5 ministers supported leave which rest backed remain - CMR suspended
4. PM weakness - after May losing majority 2017 - couldnt sack disloyal ministers without weakening her leadership further
5. personality breaches - blair and brown fighting and disagreements led to leaks and tensions but no dissmisals

Question 15

5 powers of the PM

Answer 15

1. patronage - appoint / dismiss ministers
2. royal prerogative - appointing ambassadors, declaring war –> now limited by conventions
3. parliamentary majority
4. party leadership and loyalty
5. personal mandate - elect victory

Question 16

what is the importance of patronage

Answer 16

1. shapes ideology of cabinet –> Thatcher appointed New Right Supporters (‘Dries’) to strengthen her neoliberal agenda
2. rewards loyalty –> JB promoted loyalists like Sunak and sacked critics like Julian Smith during his reshuffle in 2020
3. promotes new talent and diversity –> May appointed younger women eg Amber Rudd as Home Sec to broaden cabinet’s appeal
4. secures parliamentary votes –> ministers and junior ministers make up payroll vote - they can be reiled on, to support the gov in key divisions

Question 17

whats payroll vote

Answer 17

all gov ministers expected to vote with the gov in parliament bc they owe their job to the PM - have to support PM or could be sacked

Question 18

factors that limit patronage power - the PMs ability to select ministers

Answer 18

1. PMs have to balance dif fractions within party - Thatcher had to appoint ‘Wets’ (moderate one nation tories) to early cabinets although they opposed new right policies - maintained party unity
2. keeping potential rivals in cabinet bound under CMR than have them speaking as backbenchers - Cameron + May appointed BJ to high-profile roles fearing he’d be more dangerous if left out
3. type of gov effects patronage - COALITION - PMs must appoint members from junior party to ministerial roles. SMALL MAJORITY - PMs rely on powerful fractions to survive eg May appointed high-profile Brexiteeers like David Davis to keep Eurosceptics on board after 2016 ref.
4. ministers can refuse a post - EG jerermy hunt moved to Business dept forcing May to leave him and is Health Sec role - showing MPs dont always get their way

Question 19

whats the royal prerogative

Answer 19

refers to the powers that historically belonged to the monarch but now exercised by ministers - especially the PM

Question 20

3 key prerogative powers

Answer 20

1. military powers - PMs can authorise military action without a vote in parliament. EG May ordered airstrikes on Syria 2018 after chemical attack - without consulting parliament
2. foreign diplomacy + treaty-making - PM is UKs cheif diplomat - EG after 2016 brexit vote May led negotiations wioth EU using prerogative powers to manage the proccess
3. calling elections - PMs used to be able to dissolve parliament + call elections whenever politically advantageous EG - Thatcher called early election 1983 to capitalise her popularity after Falklands War

Question 21

limits of prerogative powers

Answer 21

1. military action - since the 2003 Iraq war its convention that parliament should be consulted
2. traty powers - parliamentary approval is now required to ratify or revoke treaties
3. election timing - fixed term parliament act 2011 removed the PMs ability to call early elections without a 2/3 majority

Question 22

why does parliamentary majority matter?

Answer 22

• large majoirty in commons makes easier to pass legislation and survive votes
• small majority forces compromise and weakens authority and stability

Question 23

PMs with commons majorities

Answer 23

1. Blair 1997-2005 - huge labour majority + passed extensive constitutional and public service reforms without a single defeat in commons for 8 years
2. BJ 2019-22 - used his 80 seat majority to push his brexit withdrawal agreement and post-covid legislation with little resistance

Question 24

PMs without commons majorities

Answer 24

1. MAY 2017-19 - led minority gov + her brexit deal was defeated by 230 votes jan 2019 - the largest commons defeat ever
2. Cameron 2015 - had a small majority but lost votes. - asuch as on sunday trading reforms 2016 - due to back bench rebellion

Question 25

how does party support work

Answer 25

- whips ensure party loyalty and discipline - the payroll vote ususally vote with PM - PMs use patronage to reward loyalty and manage fractions

Question 26

examples where PMs have had support

Answer 26

1. Thatcher 1980s - following large GE wins 1983 and 1987 - passed major economic reforms with little internal resistance 2. Brown 2007-10 - despite being unpopular, Labour MPs never attempted removing him - shows internal loyalty and support 3. BJ 2019 - sacked remainer MPs and filled party with loyal brexiteers. no con MP voted against his EU Withdrawal Agreement 2020

Question 27

examples where PMs have lacked support

Answer 27

1. Thather 1990 - after splits over eu and unpopular poll tax - lost the backing of key MPs. she resigned after this leadership challenge 2. Brown 2010 - when pressure mounted before the GE, few MPs actively defended him in the press 3. May 2018 - declared she would resign once brexit passed - a move to prevent full loss of authority after surving a no-confidence vote 4. BJ 2022 - lost support due to scandals and internal divisions between economic liberals and red wall MPs - over 50 ministers resigned - forcing him out

Question 28

what is personal madate

Answer 28

the political authority a PM gains from winning a GE in their own right - especially with a strong personal popularity

Question 29

examples of PMs with a mandate

Answer 29

1. Blair - huge popularity 1997 - helped him pass reforms that were opposed by parts of his party - his early approval ratings gave him authority in cabinet and parliament 2. cameron - consistently high approval ratings with Cons - helped him push Big Society and national citizen service reforms.

Question 30

examples of PMs without a mandate

Answer 30

1. Brwon - became PM 2007 without winning GE. his legitimacy questioned - weakened his authority and ability to lead 2. May - accused of lacking empathy after 2017 Grenfell disaster - damaged her credibility and connection with the public