Topic 7: The Prime Minister and the executive key definitions

Executive

The collective group of Prime Minister,cabinet and junior ministers sometimes known as the government

Cabinet

The Prime Minister and senior ministers most of whom lead a particular government department

Minister

An MP or member of the House of Lords appointed to a position in the government usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department

Government department

A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health or defence.

Royal Prerogative

A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the Prime Minister or Cabinet such as granting of honours or of legal pardons

Secondary legislation

Powers given to the executive by parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules

Traditional authority

Authority that is considered legitimate because it has existed for a long historical period. The authority of the UK Prime Minister is traditional because they inherit the traditional authority of the monarchy.

Commander in chief

This term used to describe the person who has ultimate control over the deployment of the armed forces including the security and intelligence services. in the UK, the PM holds this position designated by the monarch.

Cabinet government

A situation where the main decision making of government takes place in the cabinet. In modern history this is not normally the case It’s main alternative is the expression ‘Prime Ministerial government’

Cabinet committees

Small subcommittees of the cabinet formed to establish the details of government policies. Their recommendations are usually adopted by full cabinet.

Collective responsibility

The principle by which ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive

Individual responsibility

The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments.

Coalition

A rare type of government in UK. where two or more parties share government posts and come to agreement on common policies. Coalitions occur when no single party can command a majority in the legislature.

Ministerial code

The rules of conduct as determined by the current Prime Minister. They set out how the PM expects all members of their government to behave

Hung Parliament

A situation where, after a general election, no one party has an overall majority of the seats in the HOC. It means that either a minority or coalition government must be formed.

Inner cabinet

A small group of very senior ministers, including the PM who dominate the development of government policy.

Presidential government

An executive dominated by one individual this may be a president but is also used to describe a strong dominant prime minister

Prime ministerial coattails

A tern that refers to the idea of a PM being so personally popular that a lot of MPs win their seats on popularity so they are dragged into Parliament by metaphorically holding on to the coattails of the PM