The Structure, Role & Powers of the Executive
The Executive
Department Groups
Cabinet
The executive branch is the part of government with authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state
Treasury: Rishi Sunak
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the executive departments
Executes, or enforces, the law
Civil Service
The Civil Service delivers public services and supports the government of the day to develop and implement its policies
Civil servants are politically impartial
Together, they ensure the effective running of government and provide the best possible services to the public
Health: Sajid Javid
Tamara Finkelstein: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Appointed by the Prime Minister
The members of the Cabinet are often the Prime Minister's closest confidants
Functions of the Executive
The executive formulates and implements policy
The legislature, the UK Parliament, comprises the Crown, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Main Functions
Propose legislation: most legislation that is put to Parliament comes from the government through the cabinet, often based on manifesto promises.
Propose a budget: this is done by the Chancellor, following negotiations with other departments and in cabinet.
Make policy decisions: the cabinet sets the legislative and policy direction of government. Ministers will base decisions on this, and will publicly support government policy.
Budget
If they do not have the money to do what they promise, it scuppers their plans
Enact polity
Queen's Speech
The Queen's Speech is the speech that the Queen reads out in the Lords Chamber on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament
It sets out the programme of legislation that the Government intend to pursue in the forthcoming parliamentary session
If gov failed then vote of no confidence