Structure, role and powers

• What is the executive?

  The decision making branch of government, centred on the prime minister and Cabinet and its committees
• What is the Cabinet?

  The group of senior ministers, chaired by the prime minister, which is the main collective decision making body in the government
• What is a minister?

  A member of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords who serves in government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department.
• What are government departments?


  A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health or defence.
• The prime minister is the head of the executive who chairs the Cabinet and manages its agenda. They are responsible for appointing all members of the Cabinet and junior ministers and decides who sits on Cabinet committees. The Prime Minister organises the structure of government; can create, abolish or merge departments
• How many senior ministers are there in the Cabinet?

  20 to 23 (including those who hold the title of secretary of state)
• Who provides administrative support and help in delivering policy?

  The Cabinet Office, headed by the Cabinet secretary, the UK’s most senior civil servant
• Many decisions are taken in Cabinet committees, which deal with particular areas of policy such as economic affairs and national security
• Each government department is headed by a what?

  Cabinet minister, who is supported by several junior ministers responsible for specific aspects of the work of the department
• What are executive agencies?


  Semi independent bodies that carry out some of the functions of government departments. For example, the DVLA is overseen by the Department for Transport
• What are the main roles of the executive?

  Proposing legislation, proposing the budget and making policy
• When does the executive announce a new programme?

  At the start of each parliamentary session in the King‘s speech, which is read out to both Houses of Parliament by the monarch, but is written by the government.
• What is the budget?

  An annual statement of the government’s plans for changes to taxation and public spending. It is created by the chancellor of the exchequer in consultation with the prime minister
• What are prerogative powers?


  A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the prime minister or Cabinet
• The main prerogative powers include:

  • Appointment and dismissal of ministers
  • Award honours
  • Declaration of war and authorisation of the use of the armed forces
  • Sign treaties
  • Grant and withdraw citizenship/passports
  • Grant legal pardons