UK Government Unit 3: The PM and the executive - key words - Edexcel A-Level Politics

executive

the collective group of the PM, the cabinet and junior ministers

alternatively known as the government

cabinet

the PM and their senior ministers (total number not fixed but usually 20-23)

most of the senior ministers lead government departments

minister

MP or member of the Lords who exercises specific responsibilites in a department

government department

a part of the executive with specific responsibility for a certain area\ e.g. health, education, defense

royal prerogative

a set of powers and priviliges that belong to the monarch but that are usually exercised by the PM/cabinet on their behalf; e.g. legal pardons, honours

secondary legislation

powers given to the executive by parliament to change the law within certain bounds

individual responsibility

the idea that ministers are responsible for themselves and their departments

collective responsibility

the idea that ministers must present a united front, supporting the executive’s view on a topic, or else leave cabinet

presidential government

an executive dominated by one individual; the PM. also used to denote PMs who campaign in a presidential way e.g. trying to rally support behind them as an individual to try and drive votes for the party’s candidates on the whole

civil servants

neutral government officials who carry out work for their departments. their jobs are permanent

executive agencies

managerially and budgetarilly seperate from the departments they fall under. they usually enforce rules (have an executive, power-enforcing role) where the larger department speculates on policy

examples include the DVLA or the Court Service

big beasts

members of the cabinet, or the party more widely, seen to pose a threat to the authority of the PM.

payroll vote

the body of MPs who hold offices that require them to support the government; they are bound by collective responsibility

primus inter pares

‘first amongst equals’ historically a very accurate title for the PM, but as power of the monarchy has declined and (more recently) PMs have moved away from cabinet governments, it understates the PM’s power.

cabinet government

a form of government where power is collective amongst the cabinet.

• PM is primus inter pares.

• cabinet is a large group drawn from and therefore accountable to parliament, linking the legislative and executive very closely.

• supported strongly by the convention of collective responsibility; easiest when there’s a consensus

• e.g. Callaghan, Wilson

Prime Ministerial government

PM dominates the executive and parliament, making major policy decisions

• cabinet advises and supports, but very rarely directly opposes

• different to presidentialism because the PM still sees cabinet as the chief advisory body

• e.g. Thatcher

presedentialism

PM dominates the executive and makes major policy decisions almost entirely independent of the cabinet

• PM seeks support, validation, advice from spads and the media

• when campaigning, focus is very much on trying to get people to vote for the PM rather than the party; their appeal is crucial to this model

• power and duty of the cabinet is actively under threat

• e.g. Blair, Johnson

core-executive model

power is decentralised. PM and cabinet exert power over policy and each other in flexible, often quite messy ways

• PM and cabinet will often use the media to exert influence on one another

• PM’s power is limited, and others can have power by using resources outside of the executive

• evident when convention and constitution in crisis; checks and balances relax

• e.g. May

elastic band theory

the idea that the PM will stretch their authority over cabinet, but that eventually cabinet will re-assert its authority.

• band stretches when public support grows, elections won, polls are good. PM empowered to dominate (or at least confidently lead) government

• band snaps back when public support dwindles, internal pressure grows.

• e.g. Johnson stretched his authority during COVID, barely consulting cabinet, until his power was challenged after partygate and mass resignations.

sofa government

a system of government where the PM foregoes formal discussion with cabinet in favour of making key decisions with a small group of advisors and key ministers

bilateral meetings

meetings between two heads of government/state from two different countries to discuss international matters

the PM usually gives the big speech with the other government’s leader and handles most of the optics, enhancing their power in the eyes of the public and amongst cabinet, especially when successful deals are made