The executive

• What is the executive

  Body that compromises of

  The prime minister, cabinet, ministers, government departments
• What is the role of the executive

  Propose legislation

  make policy decisions

  propose a budget
• Give some exmples of prerogative powers the executive can use

  Making and ratifying treaties

  deployment of armed forces

  ability to dissolve parliament

  organisation of civil service
• Name 3 key powers of the executive

  Prerogative powers

  legislative agenda

  secondary legislation
• Give an example of a prerogative power that has been limited in recent years

  suspend parliament

  Deploy armed forces
• What does primus inter pares


  First amongst equals
• What is a Special political advisor (SPAD)

  Individuals who are privately employed by individual ministers to assist them

  Spin doctors

  Policy experts
• What are some of the roles of the PM

  Political leadership

  appointing the government

  Chairing the cabinet

  Managing the executive

  prerogative powers
• What is an elective dictatorship

  When an amp has a huge electoral majority and therefore can make decisions without fear of rebellion
• Presidential


  To make executive decisions without consulting cabinet.
• Key factors that can influence a PM’s desire to and ability to implement a policy

  Manifesto pledges

  Outcomes of referendums

  Changing social and Cultural attitudes
• What is collective responsibility

  A convention that states all members of cabinet must publicly agree to the decisions of government and be held collectively responsible for government decision
• What is individual ministerial responsibility

  All individual ministers should be held accountable and responsible for their own actions while in public office
• Examples of when Collective responsibility was set aside

  Ministers were allowed to campaign on their own individual opinions. 2016 brexit referendum
• examples of CR being upheld

  Robin Cook 2003, did not support Blair’s decision to invade Iraq with Us. Resigned then gave speech against the policy from backbenches
• Example of CR being broken

  Clare short disagreed with the invasion of Iraq 2003. Publicly declared the decision “Reckless” in interviews.
• Example of IMR


  Chris Hume Lib dem minister who was forced to resign after he got His wife to take responsibility to his speeding ticket. Went to Prison so had to resign
• What was the poll tax 1989

  Was in conservative manifesto Thatcher made a policy that meant all adults would now pay a flat rate of tax to help fund local councils regardless of your individual circumstances
• the Poll tax 1989 led to ministerial resignations as not everyone in Thatchers cabinet agreed with it. Ultimately led to Thatchers downfall/ resignation.
• Iraq war 2003, An active and determined decision made by Tony Blair to provide military support to the USA and was not driven by public interests. Had an elective dictatorship and protected by CR.