PM + Cabinet

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What is the executive branch?
Responsible for creating new policies + overseeing their implementation. PM appoints a no. of ministers from the legislative branch who work in particular departments, each responsible for a diff policy area.
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How many government ministers are there? (Include the different types)
21 cabinet ministers, 121 government ministers + 99 other ministers.
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What is the Cabinet, and, generally, who becomes a member?
Collective decision making body of the government. Includes PM + 21 Cabinet members. Usually Secretary of States who become a member (head of a department). Meets every Tuesday to discuss + debate policies.
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How many cabinet + government members are there?
21/23 cabinet + approx 115 govt.
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How many whips are in government + what is their role?
17, only Chief Whip sits in Cabinet. They establish party discipline/keep MP's informed/run admin of debates.
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Define the PM's formal + informal powers
Formal = Devolved powers from the monarchy called prerogative powers. The PM doesn't need Parliament permission to exert most of these powers, but needs Cab approval. Informal= Stem from the authority the PM gains from the monarch, people+Parliament.
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State some of the PM's prerogative powers
Right to appoint + dismiss ministers, manage the Cabinet, call a general election at any time (limited by Fixed Term P 2011), make treaties + many powers dealing with national security, commanding the armed forces + head of civil service.
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What are cabinet committees + sub committees?
Groups of ministers that can take collective decisions that are binding across government. SC are within CC, i.e. the National Security Council has sub committees within it because its so large, such as the nuclear detternace + security.
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How have Cabinet committees been impacted by coalition government?
Both parties are involved in the decision making, so each committee has a chair from one party + a deputy chair from the other party.
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What are cabinet ministers who run departments now called?
Secretaries of State
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What are the three most important members of the Cabinet, apart from the PM?
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Philip Hammond), the Foreign Secretary (Boris Johnson), + the Home Secretary (Amber Rudd).
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Who are current members of the Cabinet and their roles apart form the PM + its 3 most important members?
Elizabeth Truss is Lord Chanc + Sec of State for Justice, Sir Michael Fallon is Sec of State for Defence, David Davis is Sec of State for exiting the EU, Jeremy Hunt for Health, + Justine Greening for Education.
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Why is Blair accused of favouring 'sofa government'?
Made infrequent use of full cabinet meetings. Met one to one with individual ministers. His cabinet met briefly for about 30 minutes once each week.
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Where are the Cabinet decisions made?
Usually cabinet committees + they are only referred to the full cabinet when there is a disagreement. The PM decides what committees there will be, what they will discuss + who will be in charge of them.
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What 'informal' meetings are used by the coalition to solve issues outside of Cab meetings?
Bilateral meetings between the PM + DPM, invoking talking + meeting reg to address big coalition issues. "The Quad" = Cam, Clegg, Chanc of Exchequer Osbourne + Chief State to the Treasury Alexander. Resolve issues to do with spending + budget.
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State some functions of the PM
Chief policy maker, Head of government, Chief government spokesperson, Commander-in-cheif of the armed forces, Parliamentary leader, Chief foreign-policy maker.
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State some of the sources of prime ministerial power + authority
The ruling party (Cam's legitimacy came from his leadership of the largest party in the Coalition), royal prerogative, popular mandate (doesn't apply to Brown in 2007 or May in 2016) + Parliament.
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How does the Cabinet remain the same under the coalition?
Remains dominated by the PM, who controls the agenda + chairs meetings. Meetings are still in secret. Remains the collective identity of government. All members of the govt are expected to defend publicly all cab decisions.
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How is the Cabinet different under the coalition?
There are 'agreements to differ' between partners. Due to a greater risk of conflict the PM has to take more account of differing opinions than he might normally do (Con revolt due to Clegg wanting the HoL to become an elected chamber).
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Define collective responsibility
All members of the govt should publicly support decisions made by the Cab, or that they should resign if they cannot do that. Should always show a united front, ensures that ministers 'sing from the sam hymn sheet' or they should be sacked.
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Define individual responsibility
Individual ministers should take responsibility for their departments + personal actions + resigned they have made a political/personal error. Ministers are thus responsibility to Parliament + face scrutiny.
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Why has the collective responsibility convention been tested by coalition government?
Cab ministers have criticised their coalition partners in public. Lib Dems supported reform to the HoL, making it an elected chamber. Con's opposed this + backbenchers defeated the policy.
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What are the limitations on prime ministerial power?
Size of parliamentary majority (Blair had 418 seats). Unity of the ruling party or coalition (Blair had v united group, but Major led a split party). Public+media profile of the PM. Opposition from own party. Need the confidence of Cab+Parliament.
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How are civil servants different from ministers?
Ministers are appointed by the PM + are accountable held by Parliament+public at elections, also have ideological preferences supporting a party. CS are permanent, privately accountable to a minister, politically neutral+more anonymous.
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What disadvantages do ministers face compared to civil servants?
Lack of permanency (can be promoted or demoted which doesn't allow them to develop their expertise in that policy area), Lack of expertise, Lack of time (have multiple responsibilities with constituency needs+ministerial work).
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How are special advisors different to civil servants?
They are individuals appointed by ministers, with the approval of the PM, to work alongside, assist+advise them (temporary+partisan). Increased greatly under Blair as he wanted to avoid 'departmentalises'+resistance from civil servants.
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What were the 'Next Step' reforms?
In 1998 due to concerns that the civil service were not meeting expectations when it came to the delivery + implementation of policies.
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Define the core executive
The power doesn't lie solely within either the Cab or PM, it resides in a complex network of key individuals, offices, departments+agencies. Recognises the importance of civil servants+special advisors. All mutually dependant on each other.
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Define the PM as becoming a 'president'
Some PM's behave in a manner similar to the President, suggests that the PM is claiming a separate source of authority, the policy leader, has their own sources of advice+is considered by the media to be the main spokesperson for government.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How many government ministers are there? (Include the different types)

Back

21 cabinet ministers, 121 government ministers + 99 other ministers.

Card 3

Front

What is the Cabinet, and, generally, who becomes a member?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How many cabinet + government members are there?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How many whips are in government + what is their role?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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