the prime minister and the executive

• the structure of the executive 


  the prime minister, the cabinet, junior ministers and the civil service
• the structure of the executive 


  PM and close advisors, senior civil servants and 20-25 cabinet ministers, advisory bodies, think tanks and government departments
• the role of the executive 


  develop policy, managing state services, conduct foreign policy, organise defence, respond to crisis problems, legislate, maintain law and order, manage UK finance
• prime ministerial powers 


  appoint and dismiss ministers, negotiate foreign treaties, commander in chief, foreign policy, head of cabinet, works with chancellor of the excheque for economic policies
• what is the royal prerogative


  the powers the pm derives from the monarch which allows them to run the country on the monarchs behalf
• what are the functions of government departments 


  to manage a particular area to develop policy. they rely on the covil service who provide neutral advice on policy
• what is individual ministerial responsibility? 


  the convention that a minister should resign if their departments makes a serious political or personal error: they are responsible to parliament and must face questioning and criticism
• what are the features of individual ministerial responsibility

  Ministers must be prepared to be accountable to parliament for the policies & decisions made by their department

  A serious error of judgement should result in a resignation, whether it was their own decision of their dept's decision

  if the conduct of a minister falls below the standads required of someone in Public office, particularly up they break the ministerial code, they should leave OffICe & may face dismissal from the PM
• what is the ministerial code?

  the rules of conduct as determined by the PM, setting out how all members of their government should act
• Amber Rudd and individual responsibility 


  resigned over unintentionally misleading parliament in reference to Windrush- 83 were treated as immigrants and deported to meet the home office‘s quota of deporting 10% of illegal immigrants
• what is collective responsibility?


  Concept in parliamentary systems where all members of the government are responsible for decisions made by the government, and any dissent is concealed as cabinet meetings are secret
• importance of collective responsibility 


  supports the prime minister which enhances their authority

  presents an united front which shows strength

  prime minister can rely on 120+ votes at division time
• examples of exceptions to collective responsibility 


  2010-15 coalition: cr applied in some situations but not all, such as the renewal of the trident nuclear submarine missile system, and the intervention in the syrian civil war

  2016: ministers free to express own views on brexit

  2017-19: May failed to exert cr as various ministers became openly critical of her brexit deal
• role of the cabinet


  decision making, present a united front, settle government agenda, acts as a ‘final court of appeal’ for ministerial disputes
• how is a cabinet selected


  expertise, influential colleagues, key allies, potential rivals to protect public appearance
• what are the powers of the uk cabinet


  legitimising government policy, setting the legislative agenda, supporting the prime minister, deciding on government policy
• what is a cabinet government


  a situation where the main decision making of a government takes place in the cabinet
• what is a prime ministerial government?


  coined by Wilson between 1964-70, when he set up a ‘policy unit’ to provide him with support and advice which would marginalise the cabinet
• what is sofa politics


  coined by Blair, a small number of ‘inner circle’ ministers discussing and deciding on policy. this was achievable due to his 179 seat majority
• cabinets and their effect on a PMs power

  • must maintain their confidence
  • Thatcher (1990) and Johnson (2022) were forced to resign
• cabinet playing a significant role

  • times of crisis (COBRA)
  • policy discussions
  • launches legislation
  • settles disputes
• what is spatial leadership? 


  when a leader distances themselves from the cabinet and the party, and appeals directly to the public
• why may a prime minster have more power over the cabinet?


  Leadership style, majority, party cohesion, first term government, securing an electoral mandate, new mps