P2 PM & Executive

What is the Executive?

The branch of government responsible for implementing laws and running the country, led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

What is the Cabinet?

Senior ministers (mostly heads of departments) who meet to make key government decisions and support collective government.

Who are ministers?

Members of government with departmental or junior roles, either in Cabinet or supporting it.

What is a government department?

A division of the executive responsible for specific policy areas (e.g. Home Office, Treasury).

What is Royal Prerogative?

Historical powers of the monarch now exercised by the PM or ministers (e.g. deploying troops, making treaties).

What is secondary legislation?

Laws made by ministers under authority of Acts of Parliament, often to update or specify laws without full debate.

What is presidential government?

A style of leadership where the Prime Minister behaves like a president - personal mandate, central control, media focus.

What is the structure of the Executive?

Includes the Prime Minister, Cabinet, junior ministers, and government departments.

What are the three key roles of the Executive?

Proposing legislation, proposing the budget, and making policy decisions within law and budgetary constraints.

What are the main powers of the Executive?

Royal Prerogative powers, control over legislative timetable, use of secondary legislation, departmental leadership.

Strengths of Executive power

Agenda-setting control, control of Parliament through majorities, use of prerogative powers and secondary legislation for speed and flexibility.

Weaknesses of Executive power

Reliant on parliamentary support, checks from judiciary, House of Lords, media, and public opinion.

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

Ministers are accountable for their personal actions and those of their departments; they should resign if serious failures occur.

Example of individual responsibility in practice

Amber Rudd (2018) resigned over Windrush scandal due to departmental failure.

Limits of individual responsibility

Not always enforced; ministers may deflect blame to civil servants or survive due to political backing.

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

All ministers must support Cabinet decisions or resign; promotes unity.

Example of collective responsibility

Robin Cook resigned in 2003 over the Iraq War, which he could not support.

When has collective responsibility been suspended?

During EU Referendums (1975 and 2016) to allow ministerial freedom.

Strengths of collective responsibility

Maintains government unity and stability, ensures a coherent message.

Weaknesses of collective responsibility

Silences dissent, used selectively, can lead to hypocrisy or public mistrust.

What factors influence how the PM selects ministers?

Loyalty, political balance, experience, party unity, diversity, and ability to manage factions.

What factors affect PM-Cabinet relations?

PM's authority, size of majority, events/crises, Cabinet unity, party discipline, media/public opinion.

How have PM-Cabinet dynamics changed?

Increasing PM dominance (e.g. Blair), though context-dependent - strong PMs centralise, weak PMs depend on Cabinet.

PM dominance - arguments in favour

Control over appointments (to cabinet), media focus, policy leadership, prerogative powers, control of Cabinet agenda.

Limits on PM power

Dependent on party support - crises, media, economy, and leadership challenges (e.g. Liz Truss).

How do the PM and Cabinet dictate policy?

Through Cabinet committees, strategic vision, control of Whitehall, and legislative agenda.

Example of PM dominance - Tony Blair

Bypassed Cabinet (e.g. Iraq War 2003), used sofa government, centralised decision-making, strong media messaging.

Example of limited PM power - Theresa May

Weak post-2017 majority, reliant on DUP (C&S agreement), Cabinet splits over Brexit, backbench rebellions.

What defines a presidential style of leadership?

PM acts like a national figurehead, bypasses Cabinet, uses media control, emphasises personality and personal mandate.

Strengths of presidential PMs

Clear leadership, media authority, efficient and bold decision-making.

Weaknesses of presidential PMs

Undermines Cabinet government, leads to overreach, prone to crisis if public/political trust is lost.