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Relative power of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (Has the Prime…
Relative power of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
Cabinet government or prime - ministerial government?
Cabinet government
Weak in second half of 20th century
Prime - ministerial government
By - passed cabinet
Needs the support of cabinet
Dominance leads to withdrawal of support
Thatcher
Shared power
When is a Prime Minister predominant?
Pre - eminent
Legal head of government
Leadership of government
Prime Minister's Office
Political agenda
Pre - dominant
Leadership ability and reputation
Political success
Electoral popularity
High standing within party
Thatcher and Blair
Has the Prime Minister become presidential?
Personalised leadership
Political personality
Thatcher: conviction and ideology
Blair: modernised
Televised leaders' debates 2010
Public outreach
Public commodities
Connect with popular mood
Represent public opinion
'soft format' chat shows
Spatial leadership
Distance between PM and government
Relies on inner circles
Blair's 'sofa government'
'QUAD'
Criticisms of the presidential thesis
Misrepresents nature of power
Overstates room for manoeuvre
Underestimates dependence on cabinet
Government ministers and departments
Government ministers
Senior: Secretary of state
Home Office
One Secretary of State
Four Ministers of State
Two Parliamentary Under - Secretaries
Policy leadership
Initiation and selection
Cameron allowed for greater autonomy
Representing departmental interests
Departmental management
Set objectives
Shape internal distribution of resources
Relations with parliament
Steer bills
Accountable
Appear before select committees
Government departments
Administrative units of central government
Headed by a political head and permanent secretary
Functions
Providing advice to ministers
Managing public spending
Fostering relationships with interested parties, such as pressure groups
Policy implementation
Organised according to the policy area they are responsible for or section of society they serve
Treasury is most powerful
Public spending
Relied on by other departments
Attorney General's Office
Legal advice for the government
Attorney General
Principal legal adviser on EU and international law
Draft legislation must be approved by the Law Officers
Civil Servants
Employed in a civil capacity by the Crown, responsible for policy advice or implementation
Advantages over ministers: experience, expertise and access to information
Bureaucracy
Hierarchical structure
Four Principles
Impartiality
Serve the crown
Political neutrality
Anonymity
Permanence
Meritocracy
Not political appointments
Special advisers and spin doctors
Temporary political appointment (SA)
93 (2015)
Promote image of the minister (SD)