PM and Exec Essay Plans

Can the PM dominate the cabinet

• P1: patronage powers to appoint and CMR threat vs Big beasts and weakening CMR

• P2: PM bypassing cabinet on policy through smaller meetings and agenda setting + SPADS vs Core-Executive model and more difficult under a minority/ divided cabinet to pass policy

• P3: PMs personal popularity and use of media vs cabinet can remove PM and dominance weakens when no longer popular

Is the PM presidential

• P1: Relationship with cabinet / ideology and unity

• P2: Role of cabinet in policy making (SPADS)

• P3: Personal popularity

Factors in choosing Ministers / is political loyalty the most important factor

• P1: Ideology vs must have a balance + Big beasts

• P2: Experience and competence vs political loyalty

• P3: Representation and Diversity vs this is limited

Is Ministerial Responsibility still important

• P1: CMR ensures unity and when it is used it highlights a real issue vs CMR has been weakened, especially when PM is unpopular and to enable effective governance

• P2: Departmental IMR and misleading vs is often ignored/ blame is shifted

• P3: IMR for personal conduct vs up to PM to judge, not enforced if it doesn’t reflect on Job and too many resignations make govt seem inherently corrupt

Importance of CMR

• P1: Enhances PM’s authority → keeps big beasts in check and PM can choose when to enforce it vs CMR resignations undermine PM authority, can cause loss of trust from public or trigger no confidence votes

• P2: Presents a united from vs some ministers refuse to accept responsibility

• P3: Encourages effective internal debates vs CMR can slow govenance as have to be replaced and MPs often make a scene

The importance of IMR

• P1: IMR on personal conduct vs ministers avoid accountability/ if it is not applicable to job

• P2: departmental IMR vs shifting the blame

• P3: Makes PM accountable/ highlights an ineffective governance vs up to PM to judge

EVTV that PM power has decreased since 2010

• P1: ability to control cabinets/ dominate vs not limited to after 2010

• P2: increased media scrutiny and PM unpopularity vs ?????

• OR P2: decreased perogative powers and patronage powers (CMR) vs returned after coalition and CMR still remains important

• P3: Control over parliament (wrights reforms =increased BB power) vs govt still dominates legislative process + is dependent on majority