PM and The executive

The executivie

In the British parliamentary system the executive sits within the legislature and is responsible for the government of the country

Core executive

The most important elements of the government including the cabinet senior civil servants and key political advisors based in pm office

Secondary legislation

(delegated also) Process in which primary legislation can be amended by government departments without requiring another act of parliament

Royal Prerogative

Power of monarchy, such as command of the armed forges, patronage and foreign policy which have been transferred to the pm

Cabinet Minister

A senior minister of the government they usually head a department of state so have administrative and policy making function and are bound by collective ministerial responsibility

Government department

An executive branch of government its role is to implement government policy and administer its areas of interest and control

Individual ministerial responsibility

The principle that members of the cabinet take responsibility for what occurs within their department, both administrative and policy failures also for their conduct (covid grades) (Partygate)

Collective ministerial responsibility

All members of the government are expected to publicy support a policy in public if they cannot they must resign (johnson brexit)

Cabinet government

A type of government in which the cabinet plays a key role in developing policy

Prime ministerial government

A model of government in which the pm is dominant and cabinet is subordinate

Presedential government

Suggests more focus on the pm as a representative of the nation implies a close personal relationship between leader and public

What is the PMs role?

Chief Executive

Set the agenda in cabinet

Chair Cabinet meetings

Power of Patronage

Power to appoint and dismiss into the cabinet

How many people are on the cabinet?

20-23

Can the PM create new departments? if so when has this been done?

YES eg

Department for exiting the EU

Department for International Department

Who heads the Cabinet?

Cabinet Secretary (Top Civil sevant)

What is each minister headed a department supported by?

Junior Ministers

2021 Gavin Williamson Education Secretary

Nick Gibb- Minister of State for School Standards

Minister of State for Universitits- Michelle Donelan

What do Departments oversee?

Executive Agencies such as DVLA

What does the Queens speech do?

Set out governments priorities of that season

2019 mainly Brexit focus

Where do public bills coem from?

The executive

What does the chancellor of the eqchequer do?

Set a budget

2020- Freeze on income tax bands

Scrap of 5% tampon tax

Exrea 27p on pack of cigarettes

Do exectuvie make long term or day to day decisions?

Day to Day

What does the Royal Prerogative allow Executive to do?

Appointing ministers

Sign treaties

Award honours

Why do the executive not declare election anymoore?

fixed term parliament act

What does the executive initiate?

Legislation if has majority

2017-2019 defeateslot

Why is secondary legislaiton a loop hole?

Often passes without debate

2/3 passes without commons debate

What did the 1997 Ministerial Code state?

‘‘ do not mislead parliament or you must reisign’

Why did Amber Rudd resign?

Admitted she had misled the Home Affair Select Comittee over deportation numbers- IMR vio

Why did Matt Hancock resign in 2021?

Affair with colleague breaking Covid regulations- IMR vio

What did Sunaks wife do?

Had non-dom status and evaded paying tax in the Uk- He didnt resign - IMR vio

What was found in 2020 about Priti Patel?

Found to be bullying Civil Servants but so popular she didn’t offer resignation -IMR vio

Flaws on individual ministerial responsibility

Decided whether to resign by the PM ‘judge, jury and exectioner’

Reliiant on self-regulation

Examples of CMR in Blairs gov

Robin Cook resin in 2003 over the decision to invade Iraq

Why did Ian Duncan Smith Resign?

Cuts to disability benefits from work and pensions secretary

What can the PM do regarding CMR?

Can suspend it (for free votes)

Positive of the PM being able to suspend CMR?

If it may potentially splot and being down a government during a difficult political time

Issues of CMR regarding big beasts

They are too powerful to sack

May appointed Johnson into cabinet to reduce his threat- Breifed against May and didnt resign resign in 2018 causuing damage

What are some issues of parliament holding the executive to account?

Depends on how big the governments majoirty is eg Blair lost his first vote in 2005 after being elected in 1997

What government face the greatest difficulties passing bils?

Minority and Coalitions

Con-Lib passed bills such as increasing tuition frees (suprise)

May and Johnson multiple defeat over Brexit

How does government avoid embarrassment of losing a vote?

Pulls it

What is the most effective way the gov can be held to account?

Select committees

How many reports are taken up from select committees?

40%

The makeup represents the commmons- bad for small parties

What do the back bench business committe do?

Schedule debates on issues government would not chose

_ limited time to do so

How does the liaison committe scurinities?

Chairs of select committes scrutinies

_ only 2 days a year

What are PMQs

Every wednesday 30 mins

___planted questions

Wnat are debates?

Lead to government defeat eg Military action in Syria

Brexit 2017-19

What are opposition days?

Larger majority gov will strike down

Political point scoring

How does executive keep parliament under its control?

USe of Whups

Payroll vote

Secondary legislation

Controls majority of parliasmentry business

Obstruct select committes

How many backbench rebelliosn were there in 2010-15

35%

How many backbench rebelliosn were there in 2005-2010

28%

How many backbench votes did Johnson lose early into being PM

100%

Flaws of the backbench

Raising an issue is not the same as change

Select committees proportional to government makeup

Whips

Power of Pantonage

Significance of the backbenchers

Backbench business Committee- backbench hhave more say in agenda - chooses topic for 35 days

Chosen from e-petitions with more than 100,000 signatures

Promotes proposals with corss party support

Enabled debates gov wouldnt0 reduced feul duty, engages with the public

__ gov doesnt need to accept anything

small parties under represented

Who was Sarah Wollaston?

A GP selected to be on the health select committee