UK GOV: PM and cabinet- intro Flashcards
(45 cards)
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
The leader of the Government (the executive) and the leader of the party that wins the most seats at a General election.
Who is the current Prime Minister as of October 2022?
Rishi Sunak MP.
What is the historical significance of Robert Walpole in relation to the Prime Minister’s role?
He was the first de facto Prime Minister in 1721.
What are the formal roles of the Prime Minister? List them.
- Powers of patronage
- Commander-in-chief
- Chairing Cabinet
- Leads on foreign policy
- Signs treaties and international agreements
- Call an early General Election
What is one of the informal roles of the Prime Minister?
Controlling and setting government policy.
True or False: The Prime Minister has the authority to commit the armed forces to action.
True.
What is the royal prerogative in relation to the Prime Minister?
Powers traditionally held by the monarch but now exercised by government ministers.
List three key prerogative powers of the Prime Minister.
- Prorogue Parliament
- Appoint or dismiss a Prime Minister
- Give Royal Assent to bills
How does the Prime Minister draw power from support within the party?
The PM’s position comes in virtue of being the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons.
Fill in the blank: Most of the PM’s formal powers are rooted in the _______.
[royal prerogative]
What is one way the Prime Minister’s powers may be amplified?
Support from the Party.
What is one way the Prime Minister’s powers may be weakened?
Challenges from outside events.
Who was Harold Macmillan and what was his view on challenges faced by the government?
Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963; he referred to challenges as the ‘opposition of events.’
What can we learn from Rishi Sunak’s premiership regarding external events?
Outside events have significantly impacted his premiership.
What is a power of patronage?
The power to make appointments to public offices which encourages loyalty.
What is the significance of the Dissolutions and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 for the Prime Minister?
It allows the PM to call an early General Election.
True or False: The Prime Minister cannot influence public perception through the media.
False.
What is the role of the Prime Minister in foreign policy?
Leads on foreign policy as the chief diplomat.
What did Rishi Sunak suggest in January 2024 regarding elections?
The UK should expect an election by the second half of the year.
Who did Rishi Sunak appoint as a peer in November 2023?
David Cameron.
What did the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) confirm about David Cameron?
He has been vetted for suitability.
What significant action did Boris Johnson take in 2020?
He signed the Withdrawal Agreement.
What was the result of earlier versions of the Withdrawal Agreement?
They had been rejected by Parliament on three occasions.
What did Tony Blair guarantee for his Chancellor Gordon Brown in 1994?
Freedom to manage his own economic platform.
