Topic 4 - The PM and Executive

Question 1

What are the main institutions of the executive?

Answer 1

• Prime Minister
• Cabinet
• Government departments
• Civil service

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Question 2

What is the role of the executive?

Answer 2

Implements laws, proposes legislation, runs government departments, makes policy decisions, and manages the state’s day-to-day affairs

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Question 3

Who has been Prime Minister since the Second World War?

Answer 3

• Atlee (1945-51)
• Churchill (1951-55)
• Eden (1955-57)
• Macmillan (1957-63)
• Douglas-Home (1963-64)
• Wilson (1964-70, 1974-76)
• Heath (1970-74)
• Callaghan (1976-79)
• Major (1990-97)
• Blair (1997-2007)
• Brown (2007-10)
• Cameron (2010-16)
• May (2016-19)
• Johnson (2019-22)
• Truss (2022)
• Sunak (2022-present)

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Question 4

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

Answer 4

• Leads government
• Sets overall direction
• Chairs cabinet
• Represents UK internationally
• Appoints ministers and controls legislative agenda

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Question 5

What criteria is needed to become Prime Minister?

Answer 5

• Leader of the largest party in the Commons
• Must be an MP
• Must be able to command a majority in the Commons

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Question 6

What does the Prime Minister’s Office do?

Answer 6

Supports PM with policy advice, media management, and political strategy (e.g. Number 10 Policy Unit and Press Office)

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Question 7

How does the PM use the following resources: Policy-making input?

Answer 7

Sets agenda (e.g. Sunak’s priorities on AI and NHS reform)

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Question 8

How does the PM use party leadership?

Answer 8

Controls party discipline and direction

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Question 9

How does the PM use public standing?

Answer 9

Media presence enhances authority (e.g. Blair’s personal appeal in 1997)

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Question 10

Do the resources available to the PM bring them significant power?

Answer 10

Yes — especially with a majority and media support. However, power is constrained by cabinet, Parliament, and events (e.g. May’s Brexit failures)

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Question 11

What are cabinet meetings?

Answer 11

Weekly gatherings where ministers discuss and approve key policies, chaired by the PM

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Question 12

What are cabinet committees?

Answer 12

Sub-groups of ministers focused on specific policy areas (e.g. National Security Council), reducing burden on full cabinet

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Question 13

Is the Cabinet subservient to the PM?

Answer 13

Often yes - PM sets agenda and dominates discussion, but strong ministers or crises can challenge this (e.g. Johnson’s cabinet conflict over COVID)

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Question 14

What are the 2 main elements of collective responsibility?

Answer 14

1. Ministers must publicly support government policy.
2. Must resign if they can’t.
3. Discussions in cabinet are confidential.

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Question 15

What exceptions to collective ministerial responsibility are there?

Answer 15

• Coalitions (e.g. Lib Dems allowed to announce tuition fees in 2010)
• Referendums (e.g. 2016 Brexit - ministers allowed to campaign on both sides)
• Temporary suspensions - PMs may relax rules to manage party divisions

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Question 16

How has collective responsibility come under strain?

Answer 16

Frequent leaks, resignations, and public disagreements (e.g. a Johnson cabinet leak during COVID, May’s ministers resigning over Brexit)

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Question 17

What are the differences between cabinet government and prime ministerial government?

Answer 17

• Cabinet government: PM is ‘first among equals’, decisions made collectively.
• PM government: PM dominates policy and decision-making (e.g. Blair’s sofa government)

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Question 18

Has the prime minister become presidential?

Answer 18

To some extent — media focus, personal mandate, and centralised control suggest so (e.g. Blair). However, the PM is still accountable to Parliament and party.

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Question 19

What are the main roles performed by ministers?

Answer 19

• Develop and implement policy
• Manage their departments
• Answer to Parliament
• Represent government in media and Commons

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Question 20

What four principles do civil servants operate according to?

Answer 20

1. Impartiality
2. Anonymity
3. Permanence
4. Accountability (through ministers)

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Question 21

What were Wilson, Thatcher, and Blair like as PMs?

Answer 21

• Wilson: Dramatic coalition skilled in managing labor factions.
• Thatcher: Ideological, centralised power; clashed with cabinet (e.g. Geoffrey Howe’s resignation).
• Blair: Presidential style dominated policy close advisor network.

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Question 22

What were Cameron, May, and Johnson like as PMs?

Answer 22

• Cameron: Consensus-seeking, moderniser, led coalition and then majority.
• May: Continued struggle with divided party and Brexit, weak authority known.
• Johnson: Charismatic, driven mandate in 2010 but faced challenges and resignations.

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