structure, roles and powers of the executive

• Executive branch of government in the UK

  Headed by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, controls government departments
• UK political system


  • Fusion of powers between the executive and legislature, unlike the separate executive in the US
• Prime Minister


  Head of the executive, chief executive, chairs Cabinet meetings, sets Cabinet agenda
• Cabinet formation


  1. Prime Minister selects Cabinet members and junior ministers

  2. Cabinet members must be from the House of Commons or House of Lords
• Cabinet Committees


  • Make decisions on key policy areas like national security, COVID-19, climate change
  • Some chaired by the Prime Minister, some not
• Cabinet


  • 20-23 senior ministers, supported by the Cabinet Office and civil service
  • Collective responsibility - must publicly defend Cabinet decisions
• Government Departments


  • Led by a senior minister (Secretary of State)
  • Supported by junior ministers and civil servants
  • Often have executive agencies that carry out functions
• Legislation proposal


  1. Most bills originate from the executive

  2. Queen's Speech sets out government priorities

  3. Executive may consult with pressure groups and use special advisers
• Budget proposal


  Proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Executive powers


  Royal prerogative powers, initiation of legislation, secondary legislative power
• The things set out in the Queen's Speech might come from the party's manifesto, but they don't necessarily have to
• The government might consult with pressure groups or other interested groups when putting legislation together
• Special advisers can help devise legislation, for example Dominic Cummings who was a special adviser to Michael Gove
• The executive can use secondary legislation to develop their policies and the functions of the department
• Proposing a budget


  1. Set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

  2. Includes taxation and public spending

  3. Predicts economic performance like inflation and government debt
• 2020 budget


  • Freeze on income tax bands
  • 5 billion emergency response fund for NHS and public sectors
  • Scrapping 5% VAT on tampons
  • Increase in tax on cigarettes and alcohol
  • Fuel duties didn't go up
  • Expected 1.1% economic growth and 1.4% inflation
• The executive makes policy decisions within laws and budget, such as reforming the welfare system, education system, NHS
• The executive's day-to-day decisions in running the country are an important part of their role
• Royal prerogative


  Powers originally held by the monarch, now transferred to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, including appointing ministers, granting legal pardons, signing treaties, declaring war, awarding honours, and taking emergency action
• Some executive powers have come more under the control of Parliament, such as the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act limiting the power to call elections
• Initiation of legislation


  The executive dominates parliamentary time to pass legislation, using patronage and the whips office
• Secondary legislation


  Law made without passing a new Act of Parliament, normally through statutory instruments to modify existing legislation
• Secondary legislation is seen as a way for the government to avoid parliamentary scrutiny, with around two-thirds of it becoming law without being debated or looked at in detail by MPs