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Prime minster and the executive (The structure, role and powers of the…
Prime minster and the executive
The structure, role and powers of the executive
PM:
Head of the executive who chairs the cabinet and manages its agenda
appoints all members of the cabinet and junior minister.
organises he structure of the government - can create, abolish or merge departments.
The cabinet:
consists of 20-23 senior minister.
Several senior figures are not members of the cabinet but attend its meetings.
-Administrative support and help, in delivering policy is provided by the cabinet office, headed by the cabinet secretary, the UKs most senior civil servants.
many decisions taken in cabinet committees, which deal with particularly areas of policy such as economic affairs and national security.
Government departments:
each one responsible for an area of policy
each headed by a cabinet minister, supported by junior ministers.
Role of the executive
Proposing legislation
The executive introduces proposals for new laws or amendments to existing laws.It announces a new programme at the start of each parliamentary session in the queens speech, which is read by the monarch but written by the gov. The executive
The executive does not, of course, confine itself to measures proposed in a party manifesto at a general election. It also has the power to introduce legislation to content with emergencies, such as the threat of terrorism, and to amend existing statutes toe bring the uk in line with international law.
ministers will often consult with interested parties, such asp pressure groups and professional bodies, before introducing legislation. e.g the cameron govt in 2015 undertook a consultation exercise with employers on its proposal to introduce an apprenticeship levy, requiring large companies to provide internships.
Proposing the Budget:
Created by the chancellor of the exchequer in consultation with the PM.
Plan to change taxation and public spending.
Making policy decision:
For example 2015 coalition:
streamline welfare system
allow parents to set up 'free schools'
Introducing more competition to NHS.
Power of the executive
Royal prerogative powers:
powers that have been moved from crown to executive
Allows to award honour, appoint ministers, grant legal pardons and declare war.
Initiation of legislation:
executive controls most of parliamentary time available of legislation. except for 20 opposition days and private member bills dates.
if gov has majority can rely on party whipping to push through programme unless rebellion occurs
Has power to curtail debate on clauses of a bill. Applies only in commons.
can carry uncompleted legislation from one session to another without restarting legislative process.
Secondary legislation:
Is law made without passing a new act of parliament.
Enable gov to modify or repeal existing legislation without introducing anew bill.
However criticised for controversial changes such as abolish maintenance grants for students and fracking in national parks.
Concept of ministerial responsibility
Concept of individual ministerial responsibility:
Idea that ministers are responsible for the running of their department and its policies. As well as their own conduct.
Cant mislead parliament or else they should resign. Also only remain in office as long as they have PM confidence.
However not expected to resign over minor mistakes since gov is so large and complex now.
since 1980s gov functions have often been delegated to executive agencies so doubt over how is accountable.
means sometimes civil servants are held responsible such as transport secretary Patrick Mcloughlin admitting maistakes had been made in awarding of franchise to companies. 3 civil servants fired.
personal misconduct more common for resignations, Peter mandelson took loan from colleague who his department was investigating.
The concept of collective ministerial responsibility:
Is the convention that ministers should support all gov decisions in public. So there is accountability.
The gov as a whole resigns in no confidence vote.
If a minister can not accept decision they should resign. However many do not as it could be career ending.
Exceptions to collective responsibility:
Need to find compromise between lib deeds and conservatives meant that lib Dem ministers were not bound by collective responsibility.
cameron issued none on eu, although could not speak against membership from the despatch box and industry minister Eric heifer was sackded for this.
PM and Cabinet
Power of the PM and Cabinet
Factors governing the PM selection of ministers:
Importance of including individuals with ability and experience. Ability as administrator and communicator is more important. Usually include defeated rivals.
establishing a prime ministers authority. Theresa may sacked 10 senior ministers after cameron
rewarding loyalty and including allies. E.g Blair imposed New labour supporters such as David blanket as Home secretary
Maintain balance between different factions.
include diversity.
Relationship between cabinet and PM
Factors that affect the relationship:
Management skills of the PM: a clever PM knows they can shape and reshape the top team through the power of dismissal. such as hatcher promoting supporters such as Nigel lawson.
PM ability to set agenda: the views of most senior figures usually carry most weight when deciding legislature so if PM can chair meetings correctly they can be effective.
Use of cabinet committees: PM can choose members of committees and chairs, so any legislation proposed by them likely to support PM. e.g brown and Blair decided inflation policy in 1997 without telling the rest of cabinet till a while later.
Development of PM office: PM has most resources so they can take power. Cameron took a hands off approach to start but after some ministers made mistakes he took power over it by creating a policy and implementation unit.
Impact of wider political and economic situation: Control of PM depends on external pressures as well. E.g Margaret thatcher victory in Falklands empowers her as she had much public backing.
Cabinet vs PM
Cabinet:
approves gov decisions, so confers legitimacy. A minister who cannot accept should resign e.g robin cook over Iraq.
Pm recognises need of support on important issues. e.g cabinet made decisions on behalf of pm during falklands when she couldn't, called 'war cabinet'.
Cabinet is where the programme of gov business in parliament is discussed. In theiory it is also where gov department disagreements are solved.
Does. not have ha presidential fsytem. Fall of thatcher shows how important cabinet is.
PM:
decisions are commonly taken by cabinet committees, hand picked by pm such as brown and Blair on interest rates in 1997. Cabinet 'rubber stamps' decisions.
Pm controls the agenda nd length of meetings. Meets once a week . Most ministers do not feel qualified or are too preoccupied in their departments to argue iwht matters outside of their remit. especially given pm power to dismiss
In paractisse disputes are usually resolved outside of cabinet, in committees or by pm interventions such as cameron settling chris huhne and Vince cable class.
Media focuses on PM, so project themselves as leaders and people of action therefore command most importance.