The Prime Minister and The Cabinet

Question 1

Who is the Prime Minister and what is their primary role?

Answer 1

• The Prime Minister is the leader of the government.
• They are normally the leader of the largest party.
• The Prime Minister normally lives at Number 10 Downing Street.
• Collectively, the Prime Minister and their ministers form the executive branch of government.
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the second most powerful person in government after the prime minister.

Question 2

What are some of the main duties of the Prime Minister?

Answer 2

• Appointing ministers.
• Chairing meetings of the Cabinet.
• Meeting the King every week (by convention).
• Declaring War (in reality, although nominally the Monarch can do this).
• Appointing senior judges, Church of England clergy, peerages, and other honours.
• Recommending the dissolution of Parliament for a General Election.
• Attending Prime Minister’s Question Time each week to answer questions from MPs (by convention).
• Writing the King’s Speech, which outlines the Bills to be introduced to Parliament.
• The Prime Minister exercises the Royal Prerogative, which refers to notional powers of the King that are actually exercised by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Question 3

What is the Cabinet and who is usually in it?

Answer 3

• The Cabinet is a smaller group within the executive.
• Out of approximately 100 MPs appointed as ministers, only about 20 of the most senior are members of the Cabinet.
• Those ministers who head a department are usually known as Secretaries of State.
• Ministers and members of the Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister.
• These MPs have influence but can be overruled by the PM.

Question 4

What key doctrines must ministers, including those in the Cabinet, adhere to?

Answer 4

• Collective responsibility
• Individual ministerial responsibility

Question 5

What is Collective Responsibilty?

Answer 5

• This means ministers must publicly support the government’s policy, even if they privately disagree with it.
• This includes the cabinet.

Question 6

What is Individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 6

• A minister is expected to take responsibility for the actions of his/her department and should resign if a serious error is made.

Question 7

What is the relationship between ministers (politicians) and civil servants?

Answer 7

• Ministers (politicians) decide on policy.
• Civil servants are permanent, politically neutral employees of the government who are expected to implement that policy.
• The rule is ‘advisers advise and ministers decide’.
• Each government department is headed by a senior civil servant known as a “permanent secretary”.
• Civil servants do not change at election time; they are expected to work with whichever politicians the voters elect.