PM and Executive

• MAIN ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Proposing legislation:

  • bills are proposed to parliament, which they usually, but not always, agree to pass
  • introduces proposals and amendments to existing laws announced in the King's speech (The Rwanda Bill)
  • It does not confine itself to its manifesto, it can also introduce legislation in an emergency such as COVID-19 or bring UK law into line with International Law
  • Ministers will consult different groups or parties before introducing proposals 2015 apprenticeship levy was consulted
• MAIN ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Proposing Budget

  • Presented to the House of Commons by the chancellor in collaboration with the PM to pass
  • the government's needs to raise revenue to fund public services and to meet its spending priorities. The budget is an annual statement of the government's plans for changes to taxation and public spending, in recent years it has been presented in November no matter if a gov has been elected or not it has to present a budget even if the previous PM presented one (Liz Truss)
• MAIN ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Making policy decisions

  • the executive decides how to give effect to its aims for the future direction of the country (Sunaks plans for National Service)
• MAIN ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Ministers

  • senior ministers usually have a role in cabinet - which may mean they help reach or endorse major final decisions and help resolve disputes between gov and committees
  • formulate policy and coordinate the work of their gov department
  • Junior ministers support senior ministers in their department
  • Junior ministers are usually in charge of a specific area within a department
• MAIN POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Royal Prerogative Powers

  • award honours
  • appoint ministers and senior office holders (hire and fire)
  • Grant legal pardons
  • grant and withdraw passports
  • take action to maintain order in case of an emergency
  • Sign treaties
  • declare war and authorise armed forces use
• MAIN POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

  Royal Prerogative Powers

  • they do not require the permission of the parliament
  • such prerogative powers have existed for a long period so have traditional
  • exercised by the PM
  • in 2011 the power to call an election was removed by the Fixed Term Parliament act
• MAIN ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

  SELECTING MINISTERS

  • close allies of the PM and have supported the PM's rise to high office (Gordon Brown appointed Ed Balls, his former personal advisor for this reason)
  • they may be a key figure in the parliamentary party with a substantial following (Bo Jo in Cameron Cabinet, Liam Fox in Mays, Suella in Rishi)
  • The ability of a minister (Lord Mandelson in 2008)
  • An ideologically balanced cabinet (Brexiteers Vs Remainers)
  • silence Ministers (Dave Milliband Cameron Cabinet)
  • Socially Balanced cabinet (Cameron appointing women to the highest ranks)