Role of Ministers & MPs

• The Prime Minister (PM):

  • Leads the country and their political party.
  • Implements manifesto promises.
  • Manages Cabinet ministers and the Civil Service.
  • Oversees government affairs and is First Lord of the Treasury.
  • Answers questions in PM’s Question Time.
• Cabinet Ministers (chosen by the PM):

  1. Make decisions on national issues.
  2. Direct government policy.
  3. Run government departments.
  4. Propose new laws.
• Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Ministers:

  • The opposition leader selects a Shadow Cabinet to mirror the roles of government ministers.
  • They develop policies, scrutinize the government, and may become actual ministers if they win the next election.
• MP Roles:

  1. Party responsibilities: Support their party’s policies, vote in Parliament, and promote the manifesto.
  2. Commons responsibilities: Debate laws, sit on committees, and represent their constituency.
  3. Constituency responsibilities: Help residents with issues (e.g., housing), attend local events, and write letters of support.
• MP Positions:

  • Front-bench MPs: Government ministers or opposition spokespeople.
  • Back-bench MPs: Regular MPs without ministerial roles.
  • Whips: MPs who ensure their party members vote as required.
  • Speaker of the House of Commons: Maintains order, chairs debates, and disciplines MPs if needed.
• Explain two roles of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

  1-to keep order in the House of Commons .this can be done by suspending the house when necessary

  2- to chair debates .this can be done by the speaker selecting MPs to speak in order to ensure debate actually happens.