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48 Cards in this Set
- Front
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The structure of the executive |
. The UK executive has the following elements: . The prime minister and their close advisers . The cabinet: 20-25 senior ministers appointed by the prime minister . Various bodies that feed information and advice into the cabinet and to the prime minister . Governmnt departments: of these, the Treasury holds a place of special importance as it controls government finances - many heads of these departments are members of the cabinet, others may not be in cabinet but are nonetheless influential . The senior civil servants who serve govenrment ministers: of these, the cabinet secretary is the most senior - they serve both the prime minister personally and the cabinet collectively . Various advisers and policy-developing bodies (think tanks) that serve government departments . There may also be a few very senior officials of the governing party who hold no offficial post but who are intimately involved in policy development |
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The prime minister |
. The official title of the prime ministers is 'First Lord of the Treasury' - although this is an honorary title, it does indicate that the prime minister has ultimate control over economic policy . They are the leader of the governing party and so command a majority in the House of Commons . They enjoy prerogative powers (the royal prerorgative) - these are the powers formerly given to the monarch, as the monarch cannot exercise these powers sin a modern democracy they are exercised by the PM instead . The prime minister is party leader in the House of Commons - This gives them a degree of control over parliamentary business . They can claim some authority from the people as a result of winning the previous general election . The prime minister is chair of the cabinet and is able to dominate its proceedings |
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Assistance to the prime minister |
. The cabinet secretary, the head of the whole civil service, is a personal adviser to the prime minister, assisting them to manage policy formulation (but not involved directly in policy formulation) . The prime minister's private office is staffed by senior civil servants who help the prime minister to handle government business . The chief of staff is the prime minister's closest aide, helping them to secure support for their policies among colleagues . The Cabinet Office is a governmental department - it gives policy advice to the prime minister and cabinet, staffed by senior civil servants . The Number 10 Policy Unit is a group of advisers, not civil servants, who advise the prime minister on various aspects of government policy . Special advisers are hired to advise the prime minister on aspects of policy, media relations and political tactics |
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The cabinet 1 |
. All its members are appointed by the prime minister . The prime minister chairs all its meeting unless them are indisposed . It normally numbers 20-25 members . The memebers are senior govenrment ministers and a few key officials who run the government's business . A few senior party figures may not be cabinet members but still attend meetings - The chief government whip is the best example . The cabinet normally meets once a week . Its proceedings are secret |
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The cabinet 2 |
. The cabinet secretary, the UK's most senior civil servant, handles the administration of the cabinet, attends all meetings and advises the prime minister on cabinet business . Much of the detailed work of cabinet is conducted in cabinet committees . Cabinet committees are small groups of ministers, chaired by the prime minister or another senior cabinet member . Cabinet committees develop policy details and present rpoposals for the approval of the whole cabinet . Tjere is a subcommittee of cabient knwon as COBRA (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A), which meets occasionally when there is a major crisis or emergency |
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Ministers and their departments |
. Most ministers run one of the departments of state . Secretary of state: A senior minister who runs a large department and is most liekly also to be a cabinet member . Minister of state - They will run a subdivision of the department and will not be a cabinet minister . Parliamentary under-secretary of state: A very junior minister who runs a specialised section of the department . Parliamentary private secretary: An unpaid MP who acts as link between ministers and MPs - This is the first rung on the ministerial ladder |
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Additional feautes of ministerial posts |
. Secretaries of state are known as the 'Right Honourable' - This means they are also members of the Privy Council . The Privy Counci was originally the private council to the monarch - Today is metts only to discuss matters onf internal govenrment business and national security . Most ministers are subject to collective ministerial responsibility . Collectively they are known as the government 'front bench' . Ministers are seved by a section of the civil service and by personal advisers and committees paid for from government funds |
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What do ministers and their departments do? |
. Develop policies in their area of responsibility . Prepare the case for the implementation of policy to the cabinet as a whole . Develop a budget, detailing how the funds made available to the department should be allocated . Draft legislation when it is needed . Organise the passage of legislation through Parliament and to speak in debates on the legislation - This include developing secondary (or delegated) legislation . Organise the provision of services under their responsibility . Appear regularly in Parliament and before select committees to answer questions and generally make themselves accountable to Parlaiment . Make key decisions which do not require cabinet or parliamentary approval . Appear before the media or write articles in newspapers and journals explainging the policies for which they are responsible . Less than key decisions are made by civil servants and 'signed off' by ministers |
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UK's core executive |
. Prime minister - Chief policy maker and chief executive - In particular they are the chief economic policy maker . Head of the governing party . Supported by: Cabinet, Cabinet secretary, Private office of civil servants, Policy unit . Cabinet - Approving policy and settling disputes within government . Determining the government's reaction to crises and emergencies . Determining the presentation of government policy . Supported by: Cabinet committees, Cabinet Office, Cabinet secretary . Treasury - Managing the government's finances . Determining the quanitity annd distribution of taxation in the country . Supported by: Senior civil servants, Special advisers, Think tanks . Government departments - Developing and implementing specialised policies . Responsibility for various aspects of the government's roles . Supported by: Civil servants, Special advisers, Think tanks |
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Proposing budgets 1 |
. The Treasury prepares an annual budget showing how public funds will be allocated to various departments . The allocation of funds is negotiated between the Treasury and individual department ministers . The final allocation of funds has to be approved in the cabinet . The Treasury makes plans to raise the necessary revenue to pay for government services - This is made up mostly of taxes, borrowing and the sale of assets . The types and levels of taxation are generally determined by the chancellor of the exchequer in consultation with the prime minister |
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Proposing budgets 2 |
. Total expenditure and total revenue plans are made by the Treasury . The government's annual budgetary plans have to be approved by the House of Commons . The House of Commons will never reject the whoel of the government's budget as this would bring government to a halt . However, occasionally the House of Commons may insist on amendign details of taxation and spending, including the level and administration of welfare benefits |
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Legislation arrangements |
. Consulation papers (Green papers and White papers) are drawn up by civil servants in advance of legislation, so that MPs, peers and interested parties can make comments and suggest changes . Specialised civil servants draft legislation in consultation with ministers and other civil servants . The governing party's business managers (leaders of the Houses of Commons and Lords) arrange for parliamentary time to be available for the legislative process - This is done in consultation with the Speaker of each House . The business managers and cabinet arrange for speakers to explain and support the legisaltion in Parliament . The party whips check that there is sufficient support for legislation among the governing party's MPs |
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Individual ministerial responsibility |
. Ministers must be perepared ot be accountable to Parliament for the policies and decisions made by their department - This means answering questions in the House, facing interrogation by select committees and justifying their actions in debate . If a minister makes a serious error of judgement, they should be required to resign . If the minister's departent makes a serious error, whether or not the minister was involved in the cause of error, they are honour-bound to resign . If a minister's conduct falls below the standards required of someone in public office, they should leave office and may face dismissal by the prime minister |
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Individual ministerial responsibility undermined |
. Minsiters are no longer prepared to ccept responsibility for errors or poor performance by their departments - Unless a major error can be directly attributed to the minister and is very serious, ministers do not normally resign . This means that minsiters are prepared to lay the blame on lower-ranking officals and civil servants - In the past, such unelected officials were protected by the doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility . It is now up to the prime minister to decide whether a minister should be removed from office under the doctrine |
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Collective ministerial responsibility |
. An unwritten convention of the constitution . Minsiters are collectively responsile for all government policies, even though it may appear that decisions are made by the prime minister or anoterh minister individually . It is based on the principle that govenrment is collegial or collective in nature- The government stands or falls collectively on the basis of its policies . All ministers must publicly support all government policies, even if they disagree with them privately . If a minister wishes to dissent publicly from a government policy, they are expected to resign first . if a minister dissents without resigning, they can expect to be dismissed by the prime minister . As cabinet meetings are secret, any dissent within government is concealed - This ensures that ministers will nto be inhibited in expressing reservations abotu policies |
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Examples of collective ministerial responsibility |
. Robin Cook (Labour) - Foreign Secretary - Resigned in 2003 after opposing the government's decision to take part in an invasion of Iraq . Clare Short (Labour) - Overseas development secretary - Resigned in 2003 after disagreeing with UK policy in Iraq . Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative) - Work and pensions secretary - Resigned in 2016 after disagreeing with proposed cuts in disability benefits . Baroness Warsi (Conservative) - Junior foreign office minister - Resigned in 2016 after disagreeign with the government's policy on Israel and Palestine . Lord O'Neill (Conservative) - Junior Treasury minister - Resigned in 2016 after disagreeing with government policy on nuclear power station financing |
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Why is collective ministerial responsibility important? |
. It gives the government a strong sense of unity . It can help the prime minister maintain their dominant position . It stifles dissidence within the government . It helps ministers express their reservations privately . It can protect individual ministers from pressure if the government takes collective responsibility for a policy |
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Prerogative powers of the prime minister |
. Prime ministers have complete power to appoint or dismiss all government ministers (known as patronage), whethe in the cabinet or outside the cabinet - They also have a say in other public appointments, including the most senior civil servants . They have power to negotiate foreign treaties, including trade arrangemnts with other states or international organisations . The prime minister is command-in-chief of the armed forced and can commit them to action - However, it should be noted that this power has come under challenge in recent times; it is now accepted that the prime minister should make major military commitments only 'on the advice and with the sanction of Parliament' . Nevertheless, once armed forces have been committed to action, the prime minsiter has general control of their actions . The prime minister conducts foreign policy and determines relationships with foreign powers - In this sense they represent the country internationally . Prime ministers head the cabinet system, choose its members, set its agenda and determine what cabinet committees should exist and who should sit on them |
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Other power of the prime minister |
. The prime minsiter is chief policy maker - This power derives from them being the governing party leader . It is generally true that the prime minister sets the tone of economic policy - Normally this is done alongside the chancellor of the exchequer, who is normally a close colleague . The prime minister can speak for the country when abroad or meeting other heads of state |
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Powers of the cabinet |
. They determine government policy . They establish the presentation of that policy . They control Parliament's agenda . They determine government priorities, establishing a programme of action . Whatever the cabinet declares is policy is binding on the party - This does not guarantee compliance, but it carries a great deal of authority . Between them they direct foreign, economic and financial policy . They determine the government's reaction to crises and emergenceis . They direct any military action taking place abroad |
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Qualities required to be a government minister |
. Loyalty - this is a key quality; prime ministers are reluctant to promote dissidents who challenge the party line . Ability to handle difficult situations in Parliament - ministers are constantly being called to account on the floor of the House and in select committees . Ability to handle the media . Potential ability to manage a large department with many officials and a large budget . Popularity within the governing party |
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Making an effective cabinet |
. Many prime ministers prefer a cabinet that is ideologically unified - This was certainly the case with Tony Blair (1997-2007) and Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) . Some prime ministers prefer or are forced into consructing a balanced cabinet with representatives from different parts of he party - This was done by John Major (1990-97) and David Cameron (2010-160 . Increasingly, prime ministers are concerned with social balance of the cabinet, so they promote a good number of women and members of ethnic minorities . One or two ministers should be from the House of Lords so that there is senior government representation in that House |
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Relationship between the prime minister and the cabinet 1 |
. Patronage is a key element - because the prime minister solely appoints and dismisses ministers, all members of the cabinet owe the prime minister their loyalty; The threat of dismissal is a powerful weapon to use against dissident ministers . All prime ministers use patronage to control cabinet and dismiss and appoint ministers routinely to maintain loyalty - Theresa May cleared out a large minority of David Cameron's former Conservative cabinet in 2016 to ensure cabinet unity . Some prime ministers use patronage to fill the cabinet with their close supporters, e.g. Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair - This means the prime minister can always rely upon a majority of support in the cabinet . Another key element is collective responsibility - This convention says that all members of the government must defend government policy, even if they disagree privately . If a minister speaks out agaainst government policy, they must resign |
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Relationship between the prime minster and cabinet 2 |
. By convention, the prime minister controls the cabinet agenda - By determining what cabinet will discuss, they can avoid opposition and conflict and show preference for their own policies . The prime minster is closely assisted by the most influential senior civil serant, the cabinet secretary - The cabinet secretary has influence over all government departments, so helps to secure prime ministerial control . The prime minsiter makes appointments to cabinet committees which discuss and propose policy detail - by manipulating the membership of these committees, the prime minister can exert control . Most prime ministers maintain an 'inner circle' of close, senior ministerial colleagues who have great influence of their own - They can control cabinet by reaching separate agreements within the inner cabinet . Some prime ministers prefer to reach agreements with colleagues outside cabinet and then present the others with a fait accompli at formal meetins - Under Tony Blair this became known as sofa politics |
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Prime minister powers overview |
. The prime minister is perceived by the public to be government leader and representative of the nation - This gives them great authority . Prime ministerial patronage means the prime minister has power over ministers and can demand loyalty . The prime minister now has wide range of individuals or bodies that advise them personally . The prime minister chairs the cabinet and controls its agenda, which means they can control the governing process . The prime minister enjoys prerogative powers and so can bypass cabinet on some issues . The prime minister can use collective responsibility to silence critics and hold cabinet together |
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Cabinet powers overview |
. If the cabinet is determined, a majority of members can overrule the prime minister . Ultimately the cabinet can effectively remove the prime minister from office, as happened to Margaret Thatcher (1990) and Tony Blair (2007) . Cabinet may control powerful ministers with a large following who can thwart the till of the prime minister - Tony Blair was rivalled by Gordon Brown in 2005-07, David Cameron by several influential Eurosceptics in 2010-15 . If the prime minister leads a divided party, it is more difficult to control cabinet - This happened to John Major in 199-97 and was a constant problem for David Cameron . Ministers can 'leak' disagreements to the media and to colleagues, and so undermine the prime minister by publicising cabinet splits |
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Limitations on prime minister power |
. The prime minister may be overruled by the cabinet - If the cabinet is split or if the prime minister tries to impose a contoversia policy, e.g. Margaret Thatcher in 1990 when she tried to impose the controversial poll tax . The prime minister may not be able to command Parliament - They may have a slim parliamentary majority or lost the majority altogether, e.g. John Major (1992-97) and David Cameron (2010-16) . Adverse events may render the prime minister relatively powerless - Economic crises can cause major problems for a prime minister, e.g. Gordon Brown (2008-10) . The prime minister may lose the confidence of their own party - A split in the party cna undermine the prime minister, e.g. Tony Blair (2005-07) and Theresa May (2018-) . Though the prime minister has wide patronage powers, they may be forced to appoint the cabinet adversaries who have a strong following in the party - There is a dissident wing in the governing party which may be held in check if some of its members are promoted to the cabinet, e.g. John Major (1990-97) and David Cameron (2010-15) |
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For the prime minister being effectively a president |
. The prime minister takes on many of the roles of head of state and speaks for the nation . The election of the governing party owes much to the prime minister's leadership . Despite parliamentary constraints the prime minister is chief foreign policy maker . Once in action the prime minister makes strategic military decisions . The prime minister controls the intelligence services at home and abroad . The prime minister negotiates and agrees foreign treaties . Some charismatic prime ministers such as Churchill, Thatcher and Blair have adopted a presidential 'style' |
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Against the prime minister being effectively a president |
. They are not the head of state . The prime minister is not directly elected . The prime minister's conduct of foreing policy is increasingly subject to parliamentary approval . The prime minister can no longer commit armed forces to action without parliamentary approval . A prime minister can be removed from office by Parliament or by their own party while a president cannot . The powers of the prime minister are not codified in a constitution but are conventional . Prime ministers cannot promote patriotic support for the state to the same extent as presidents often do |
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Permanent powers of the cabinet |
. It has the ultimate power to make government decisions legitimate witin the governing party . It can overule the prime minister on policy if there is a 'critical mass' willing to make a stand . It makes key decisions if the prime minister refers an issue to it . It has control over the government's parliamentary business |
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Factors affecting cabinet power |
. How secure the prime minister is within their own party . How dominant the prime minister is . How secure the government is within Parliament . Whether the governing party is united or divided |
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Cabinet government |
. All domestic government policy has to be legitimised by the cabinet . A concerted cabinet can overrule the prime minister . Detailed consideration of government policy takes place in cabinet committees . The prime minister cannot risk a cabinet revolt and so must consult colleagues regularly |
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Prime ministerial government |
. The prime minister dominates the political system . The prime minister has extensive prerogative powers . The prime minister dominates foreign policy . Collective responsibility gives the prime minister great authority . Primine ministerial patronage commands loyalty |
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Margaret Thatcher - overview |
. In office: 1979-90 . Majorities: 1979: 43, 1983: 144, 1987: 102 . neo-liberal and neo-conservative |
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Advantages |
. Decisive parliamentary majorities . Good image in a high proportion of the press . Good public image among the middle class . Reputation for strength in foreign policy . Respected by foreign leaders . After 1983 led an ideologically united party . Hailed a national hero fllowing the success of the war to liberate the Falkland Islands from Argentinian occupation . There was an economic boom in the mid-1980s . Strongly backed by cabinet after 1983 |
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Disadvantages |
. Poor public image among the working class . Liberal and left-wing media criticised her heavily . Obstinacy in pushing the unpopular poll tax policy led to her downfall . In her latter years the economic situation began to detoriorate . A small, moderate group in the party opposed her implacably |
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Circumstances of her downfall |
. Thatcher refused to drop her support for the introduction of an unpopualr form of local taxation known as the poll tax . When it was feared that the party would be defeated at the 1992 general election, a leadership challenge was mounted and Thatcher was replaced by John Major in 1990 |
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Tony Blair- Overiew |
. In office: 1997-2007 . Majorities: 1997: 179, 2001: 167, 2005: 66 . Moderate social democrat (third way or New Labour) |
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Advantages |
. Decisive parliamentary majorities . Good image in a high proportion of the press up to 2003 . Charismatic public image amogn both the working and middle classes until 2003 . Positive image abroad until the Iraq war in 2003 . There was an economic boom in the later 1990s . Respected by foreign leaders . Led an ideologically united party |
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Disadvantages |
. Public image became tarnished in later years . After 2003 he faced strong opposition from the well-supported Gordon Brown . The Iraq war proved to be a disaster for his reputation |
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Circumstances of his downfall |
. Blair's reputation declined after the Iraq war . Increasing numbers of Labour members wnated to see Gordon Brown as their leader . Pressure built up as Brown became more popular . Blair resigned in 2007 in favour of Brown |
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David Cameron - Overview |
. In office: 2010-16 . Majorities: 2010: no majority, 2015: 12 . Liberal, progressive conservative |
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Advantages |
. Good publlic and media image . Supported by the Liberal Democrats in the coalition government . Enjoyed the support of powerful figures in the Conservative Party . Opposition Labour Party was weak and increasingly disunited . Enjoyed a good reputation abroad |
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Disadvantages |
. Forced into coalition government in 2010 - This severely reduced his control over government . Won only a very narrow parliamentary majority in 2015 . Constantly faced opposition from right-wing Eurosceptics within his own party . Forced to introduce a programme of severe economic austerity |
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Circumstances to his downfall |
. As a result of pressure from his own party and the rise of UKIP, Cameron was forced to promise a referendum on UK membership of the EU in 2016 . When the outcome was to leave the EU after he had campaigned strongly to remain, his reputation was destroyed and he resigned |
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Theresa May - Overview |
. In office: 2016- . Majorities: 2016: 12, 2017: no majority . One nation conservative |
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Advantages |
. Leads a largely united party - (Brexit though...) . Opposition is fragmented . Few viable alternatives to her leadership in her party |
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Disadvantages |
. Attempting (from June 2017) to govern without a majority - She lacks elective authority and a clear mandate . Reputation was damaged by her decision to call a general election in June 2017 with such disastrous results . Dependent on the success of Brexit negotiations so her destiny is not in her own hands . Relies on the fragile support of the DUP to survive |
