executive

PM role defined by

convention

workings of cabinet committees

• more detailed policy is worked out

• membership consists of Cabinet members and junior ministers

• most chaired by PM or very senior minister

• present proposals to cabinet - usually accepted but can be referred back to committee for improvement

workings of groups of ministers

policy often developed by professional advisors policy units and think tanks - may be adopted by various minister who then bring ideas to cabinet

workings of prime minister

works with advisors, policy units, ministers and senior civil servants to develop policy proposals

workings of individual ministers

• policies involving specific government departments presented to cabinet by relevant minister

• aided by their civil servants

workings of the chancellor of the exchequer

• economic and financial policy presented to cabinet through them (with PMs support)

• autumn statement & budget usually revealed to cabinet the day before presentation to parliament

ministerial code

"a document setting out rules and standards for ministers to ensure transparency, legitimacy and accountability

collective responsibility and confidentiality of cabinet discussions

"

features of a presidential PM

• rise of special advisors

• concentration of power in number 10

• populist approach and big personality

has IMR eroded?

ministers previously would resign as a matter of principle - last cause of resignation as a result of error was Amber Rudd during the windrush scandal
Now less likely, partygate and Boris Johnson

Individual Ministerial Responsibility

principle that government minister are not only responsible for their own actions but also for their department, must resign if their department makes a serious error

exemptions from CMR

2010-15 Coalition; Tory & Lib Dem ministers couldn't agree on everything so coalition agreement made collective responsibility only apply to certain areas

examples of CMR

2022; 62 Tory ministers resigned following a series of scandals (felt they could no longer support the government)

collective ministerial responsibilty

the executive works as a single entity with clear responsibilty - ministers collectively responsible for government policies and must publicly support them even if they privately disagree

PM,s formal powers

• power to appoint/dismiss all ministers

• sets general tone of econmic policy

• commander in chief of the armed forces

• power to negotiate foreign treaties

• head of cabinet (choose) members and sets agenda

• power to call early election/recall parliament

executive powers example

• proposing legislation (e.g. Brexit Withdrawl Agreement Bill (2020)) - proposed by Johnson's government to formalize exit from EU

• proposing budget (2024 budget; raising $65 billion in additional tax revenue per year by 2029-30)

pm source of power; patronage 

• power to make appointments to public offices

• those who aspire to be in high office will be loyal to the pm

pm source of power; traditional authotiy

• perogarive powers delegated to PM, PM effectively becomes head of state

• inherits traditional authority of monarch and approval of monarch grants said authority

pm source of power; the people

• in general elections, people vote for a party giving the PM a degree of authority (mandate) from the people

• leaders not elected by public (e.g. Theresa May) struggle

pm source of power; parliament

• parliament recognises authority of PM to lead governemnt

• larger the majority, more power

• members of largest party will support the government to ensure it's survival and prevent limits on power

pm source of power; party

PM = leader of largest party in Commons

• if party changes leader, they automatically become PM

• party leader allows them to lead policy making

strengths of executive

• financial power - sets budget

• ministers direct departments (usually experts)

• directs parliament and policy agenda - sets tone of government

• control over whips