3.1. The Structure, role and powers of the Executive (UK Government)

What is the structure of the Executive?

Prime Minister - Leader of Government

Cabinet - 20-25 ministers

Junior Ministers - Minister of State + Parliamentary Under-Secretaries

Govt Departments - E.g. Home Office/ Treasury

What are the main roles of the Executive?

• Proposes legislation

• Sets the budget

• Makes policy decisions

What are there main powers of the Executive?

Royal Prerogative:

• Used for declaring war

• Signing treaties

• Appointing ministers

Initiation of legislation:

• Most bills = govt bills

• Backbench MPs rarely succeed

Secondary Legislation:

• Minister can make detailed laws without full Parliamentary debate

What is an argument that the structure of the executive is an effective one?

85% of government bills are passed by Parliament

What is an argument that the structure of the executive is not an effective one?

There are over 120 ministers in government

What is an argument that the Executive is effective in its roles?

About 90% of legislation introduced in Parliament comes from the government

What is an argument that the executive is not fully effective in its roles?

The government lost 33 votes in the House of Commons during the Brexit deadlock

What is an argument for the Executive’s powers being effective?

Around 3,500 pieces of secondary legislation are passed each year

What is an argument against the Executive’s powers not being effective?

Only 16 statutory instruments have been rejected by Parliament since 1950

Parliament rarely challenges the executive