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119 Cards in this Set
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- Back
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What are the three types of constitution? |
1. Codified/uncodified 2. Unitary/Federal 3. Rigid/flexible |
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What is a codified constitution? |
A constitution in which key constitutional provisions are collected together within a single document, AKA written constitution. (Although no constitution is entirely written) |
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What are the three key features of a codified constitution? |
1. The document is authoritative because it is higher law (Two tier legal system) 2. Entrenched so difficult to amend or abolish 3. The constitution sets out duties, powers and functions of government institutions. |
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Name three liberal democracies that have uncodified constitutions |
UK, Israel, New Zealand |
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What are the three defining features of uncodified constitutions? |
1. Not authoritative = single tier legal system. 2. Not entrenched= l change through normal process for enacting state law. (Parliamentary Sovereignty) 3. Not judicable ---> Judges cannot declare actions Constitutional. |
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Difference between unitary and federal constitutions? |
Unitary (UK) = constitutional supremacy of central government (national legislature) over provincial/local bodies. Federal = Divide sovereignty between two levels of gov. (Devolution can be called quasi federal such as UK) |
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What are the sources of the UK constitution? |
1. Statute law 2. Common law 3. Conventions 4. Works of constitutional authority 5. European law or treaties |
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Define / explain statute law |
-Made by Parliament (written) -Only laws that effect powers of government & rights & freedoms of citizens.
*State prevail over convention/ common law |
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Give 5 Constitutionally significant laws passed in the UK |
1. Parliament act 1911 & 1949 (limit house of Lords) 2. European community act 1972 (UK member of EC) 3. Scotland act 1998 (established Scottish Parliament) 4. Human rights act 1998 5. HOL act 1999 (exclude all but 92 hereditary peers) |
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Define / explain common law |
Based on tradition, custom & precedent e.g. judgements of earlier, similar cases taken to be binding in late cases (judge made)
Constitutional rules based on common law = royal prerogative (monarch, PM, executive of government)
traditional rights & freedoms before human rights known as residual rights 'everything is permitted if it is not prohibited' |
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Define / explain UK constitutional conventions & give an example |
Non legal
Make politics 'workable'
E.g. convention that royal assent is always granted because the monarch is unlikely to challenge the 'democratic will of Parliament'
Recent example: Gordon Brown ---> in future, UK can't declare war without Parliament having debated the issue beforehand (2007) |
What they're good for |
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Give 4 examples of major constitutional conventions: |
- Exercise of crown powers = Royal prerogative mostly done by PM (Appoint, reshuffle, sack, declare war) - Appointment of PM = Monarch appoints PM, leader of largest party in HOC - Individual ministerial responsibility = Relationship between ministers & their resignation from departments. - collective ministerial responsibility = relationship between ministers & cabinet, gov & Parliament |
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Why might there be a need to consult works by authors who are considered to be authorities on constitutional issues? |
- Many gaps in uncodified constitution - The works do the job of interpretation (where, in a codified constitution, it'd be judges) |
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Give 3 examples of key works of constitutional authority... |
1. Walter Bagehot's the English constitution (1963/1867) '1st among equals' 2. A.V. Dicey's an introduction to the study of the law of the constitution (1885) 'twin pillars' parliament & rule of law. 3. Thomas Erskine May's (AKA Erskine May) treatise on the law, priveleges & proceedings & usage of Parliament |
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Who said " Parliament can do everything accept turn a man into a woman" On the basis of UK parliamentary (legal) sovereignty? |
John Stuart Mill |
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Give 3 doubts about the accuracy and continuing relevancy of parliamentary sovereignty... |
1. Parliament is not sovereign- they have the legal right to make/amend/break but not always the ability. ( Constraints= pressure groups, Public opinion, View of trade partners e.g. USA, Policies of international organization e.g. EU, WTO, UN. Cannot abolish elections without some sort of rebellion
2. Shift from parliamentary sovereignty to popular sovereignty = referendum, HRA.
3. Parliament may no longer be legally sovereign: EU / devolution (quasi federalism) = Reluctance of gov. To challenge Scots etc. |
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What is the rule of law? |
Alternative to codified constitution...No one above law |
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What is a parliamentary government? (And briefly describe elective dictatorship) |
Government governs in and through Parliament. If Close relationship between gov. & Parliament lead to executive using sovereign power of Parliament for own ends: 'elective dictatorship' |
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Name Walter Bagehot's 'dignified' and 'efficient' areas of the constitution Why did he believe the dignified part was useful? |
Dignified = Monarchy, House of Lords {Monarchy promote popular allegiance & Symbol of political unity above the 'rough and tumble' of conventional party politics} Efficient = Cabinet, HOC |
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What would parliamentary power be called while the UK remains part of the EU? |
Parliamentary sovereignty within the context of EU membership Because EU membership undermines the UK's sovereign legislature |
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Give 3 ways that EU membership encroaches on parliamentary sovereignty... |
1. EU law is higher than statute law 🗼 2. Some EU bodies, e.g. European Commission, have supranational, imposing powers 3.Decline of national veto- where member states would block EU/EC measures |
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Give two ways in which membership of the EU does not effect UK Parliamentary sovereignty |
1. In joining EC (1973) Parliament did/ could not bind successors. So the UK has the power to leave. Parliament merely tolerates the loss of authority. (Although in reality, the EU are big trade partners so there would be great reluctance within the UK, especially from big businesses who can be said to 'run' government) 2. EU integration has not eroded Parliamentary sovereignty but 'pooled it' and created a greater combined 'force' that works 'better together' |
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Give 4 strengths of the UK constitution |
1. Flexibility 2. Democratic rule 3. Effective Government 4. History & Tradition |
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In what way is the UK constitution flexible? |
Statute law. Allows amending acts of Parliament with ease. (up to date & not entrenched)----> e.g. devolution |
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In what way does the UK constitution allow for Democratic rule? |
Parliamentary sovereignty (an elected HOC) reduces the HOL due to pressure, influence on judges to the minimum (unlike USA) |
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In what way does the UK constitution produce an effective government? (2 points) |
1. No written constitution= gov. Decisions are backed by Parliament and not overturned by the judiciary. 2. The UKs system of parliamentary government means the government usually get their own way in Parliament. |
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Give two examples of previously strong governments in the UK... |
1. Attlee gov. = set up NHS 🏥 2. Thatcher = Privatization & deregulated economy 🏦 |
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What is the argument in support for the history and tradition within the UK constitution? |
Mainly conservative argument: Links present generations to past. In particular common law + conventions. Organic character of constitution that's grown over time= tested by time. |
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Give 4 criticisms of the UK constitution |
1. Uncertainty 2. Elective dictatorship 3. Centralization 4. Weak protection of rights |
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How might it be argued that the UK constitution creates uncertainty? |
Constitutional rules are not hard and fast (especially unwritten elements) E.g. ministers are individually responsible but do they resign or apologise? It can be said that the constitution is almost made up as time goes on. |
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How might the UK constitution create an elective dictatorship? |
Once elected, governments can more or less act as they please because: 1. Sovereign power of Parliament 2. Parliament is routinely controlled, even dominated, by the gov. of the day
(As gov. Of day can change what they like gives effect that UK has no constitution) ^John Griffiths (1997): the constitution of the UK is 'what happens' |
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How may the UK constitution lead to centralisation? |
Weak /ineffectivec checks and balances 1. PM tends to dominate the cabinet 2. HOC is more powerful than HOL 3. Executive usually controls Parliament 4. Central government controls local government *Constitutional reforms to address this = devolution & early lords reform (could be argued weak though) |
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Why does the UK constitution only deliver weak protection of rights? |
1. Elective dictatorship (except elections, nothing that forces government to respect individual freedom) 2. Elections only empower majorities 3. No individual rights & freedoms written down (not in legal stone) (UK freedom = residual rights- common law) ^ HRA changed this = define rights clearly (Hardly entrenched tho e.g. terrorism legislation) |
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What lead to the reform of the labour party that saw the shift towards the leaders Blair and Brown? |
Eighteen years in opposition encouraged labour to think like a third party. Many believed that the party was most likely to gain power through coalition with lib dems. |
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Why did the Blair/Brown gov. Prove most radical in terms of constitutional reform in the 20th century? |
Among other things, Labour wanted more checks and balances after the radical Thatcher as well as devolution due to labours position in Scotland. |
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Give 7 constitutional reforms of the Blair/Brown government... |
1. Scottish Parliament & Welsh assembly 1999 2. Northern Ireland assembly 1998 (part of good Friday) 3. Greater London authority (London mayor, greater London assembly) 2000 4. Referendums held to approve creation of new government bodies 5. PR electoral systems used for newly established bodies 6. Human Rights act passed 1998 7. 'Stage 1' reform of HOL in 2000 (removal of all but 92 hereditary peers) |
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Give 3 criticisms of Tony Blair's constitutional reforms |
1. Enthusiasm for constitutional reform faded- labour didn't want to throw away the power they suddenly, surprisingly gained. After 2001, their reform game was weak.
2. Reforms were piecemeal. No 'constitutional blueprint'. Very case by case. No goal.
3. Reforms tended to address existing constitutional arrangements rather than address deeper problems: failed to solve 'elective dictatorship' (arguably central weakness of constitution) & failed to bring about electoral reform at Westminster. |
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What issues must the prime minister consult the approval of parliament for, courtesy of Gordon Brown? |
-Declare war -dissolution of Parliament (re election) -recall Parliament -ratify international treaties -make top public appointments without scrutiny -restrict Parliament oversight of intelligence service -choose bishops -appoint senior judges -direct prosecutors in particular cases -set rules governing civil service -set rules for entitlements to passports and pardons |
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Why is it that the topics Brown ensured the prime minister must consult Parliament on are only weak constraints? |
If the government of the day controls Parliament through majority (HOC) they will not fear consulting them. |
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What motives drove the Cameron and Clegg constitutional reforms? |
Lib dems believe that power corrupts (as liberals) & are a third party so want to restrict the larger ones.
Also Fixed term Parliaments safeguarded the government of the day (but reduces PM power so set election date)
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What were the key areas of cam-clegg reform? |
Electoral reform: AV referendum Lords reform: 2011 Bills of rights & Judiciary: commission to examine Europe Devolution - devolution referendums proposed |
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What are the obstacles for a written constitution in the UK? |
1. No process through which a written constitution could be introduced- no mechanism in the UK legal system to establish higher law. The sovereign legislature cannot bind itself {Counter= mechanism would have to be invented} 2. Major parties disagree about the nature & content of the constitution. Without broad consensus on constitutional issues among parties it'd be impossible. |
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What 5 areas would a codified constitution affect in the UK? |
1. Power of government 2. relationship between executive and Parliament 3. Relationship between central government and devolved & local bodies 4. Relationship between judges & politicians 5. Individual rights and freedoms |
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Give a defence of codification |
Separation of constitution from government (but would make judges guardians of the constitution) *Issues in the UK that cause some to call for a written/ codified constitution could be improved through stronger checks and balances, not higher law. |
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What is Parliament made up of? |
House of Commons House of Lords Monarchy (crown in Parliament) |
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What is the house of Commons composed of? |
650 MPs (although not a fixed number)- each elected by FPTP MPs who are mostly party reps Most MP's are backbenchers, minority front benchers , minority front benchers |
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What are the powers of the house of Lords? |
Can delay bills passed by House of Commons for up to one year (except money bills) Veto powers = cannot be overridden by Commons: -extension of the life of Parliament (delay general elections) -sacking senior judges (consent of both houses of Parliament) -introduction of secondary, delegated legislation. |
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What are the powers of the monarchy (non executive head of state)? |
Appoint government Opening & dismissing Parliament (queens speech) Royal assent |
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What are the functions of Parliament? |
Legislation, representation, scrutiny & oversight, recruitment & training of ministers, legitimacy |
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What is the UK executive made up of? |
Pm & cabinet |
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Where does the personnel of the executive 'come from'? |
HOC |
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Who are the executive accountable to? Who is the HOC accountable to? |
HOL, supreme court Electorate |
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What does legitimacy mean? |
The right and acceptance of authority- right & justification to exercise power. Often in a lawful sense, but can be subjective. Comes from the Latin lex where we also get legal etc. |
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What is power? |
The ability to get someone to do something, to impose the rules of a / a group of people on another person or other group of people. |
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What is authority? |
Power that has been given to someone voluntarily It may turn out, however, to be illegitimate (depending on how poet is exercised. |
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What is the legislature, what do they do? |
Parliament... Makes laws (subject to higher authority of EU law |
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Put forward 3 arguments that question the effectiveness of the legislature |
1. Bulk of Parliaments time is spent considering the governments legislative programme. Only a small no. Of bills (private members bills) are initiated by backbenchers (which are only successful if the have government support) 2. Party control of the house of Commons means government bills are rarely defeated, amendments are just minor details. More accurate to say legislation is passed through Parliament not by Parliament. 3. Lords = revising chamber. Clean up bills that aren't well scrutinized by Commons. |
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How does Parliament carry out its representative function? |
Commons operates through MPs & constituents. MPs either serve constituents by Burkean judgement or doctrine of mandate (toe the party line) |
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3 disadvantages of select committees? |
1. Gov. Has majority on each committee (reflect composition of HOC) 2. Individual committee appointments are influenced by the whips (ensure loyal backbenchers sit on key committees ---Although committee chairs elected since 2010) 3. Select committees have no executive power. At best they criticize government but cannot change government policy |
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Propose 3 ways in which the effectiveness of recruitment and training of ministers might be questioned |
1. Ministers are recruited from a limited pool of talent - mainly MPs of largest party in HOC. 2. Parliamentarians may acquire speech making skills but not bureaucratic/management skills needed to run government departments. 3. Fewer & fewer ministers have experience of careers outside politics |
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2 reasons for why when the government governs through Parliament their actions are seen as rightful and are obeyed... |
1. Parliament 'stands' for people (representative assembly) when it approves a measure its as though the public has approved it. 2. Parliamentary approval is based on the assumption that governments actions have been well debated & scrutinized so weaknesses or problems have been exposed. |
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2 criticisms of parliaments ability to ensure legitimacy |
1. Non elected HOL = no Democratic legitimacy2. Pespect for Parliament is undermined by scandals e.g. cash fr questions & cash for peerages. |
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What makes our government parliamentary? |
Government and Parliament form 1 based on fusion of executive and legislature. Government is parliamentary in the sense that it is drawn from and accountable to Parliament. (Implying that parliament/HOC has the power to bring down government. (^happened in 'golden age' 1840s) |
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how has the development of disciplined modern parties changed parliaments function? |
parliament shifted from making governments accountable to maintaining it's power. This is why parliamentary government is associated with executive domination or ELECTIVE DICTATORSHIP. |
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how do presidential systems effect the power of the legislature. |
legislature become more powerful as they are independent due to the doctrine of separate powers from separate elections. (e.g. US congress are independant from presidency. |
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give the 5 chief features of parliamentary governments |
1. government is formed as a result of parliamentary elections based of the strength of party representation in commons. 2. personnel of government are from parliament -leaders of largest HOC party. 3. government are responsible to parliament - rest on the confidence of the HOC. (removed through 'vote of no confidence') 4. government has collective 'face' (based on principle of cabinet government not personal leadership) 5. As parliaments officer, the PM is head of government but not head of state the 2 roles are separate. |
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what are the differences between parliamentary and presidential government? |
parliament / president -fusion of powers / separation of powers -Gov. formed through parliamentary elections / gov. separately elected. -overlap of personnel / separation of personnel -government removable by legislature / leg. can't remove gov. -fixed term elections (usually) / fixed term elections -cabinet gov. / presidentialism -separate head of gov & state / president head of gov & state |
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what are the 3 main theories of of parliamentary power in the UK? |
1. Westminster model= parliament is the lynchpin of the UK system of government. It gives representation and makes government responsible. Parliament has significant policy influence. 2. Whitehall model= Political and constitutional power is shifted from parliament which is dominated by the executive. 3. Transformative model= Accepts that Parliament is no longer policy making BUT it's not seen as irrelevant - parliament can transform policy by reacting to executive initiatives. (recent) |
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What re the 4 factors that affect parliaments relationship to government/ |
1. Extent of party unity 2. Size of majority 3. Advent of coalition 4. impact of Lords |
in terms of power |
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Why / how is party unity important? |
MPs recognise the need to support their party to win elections. party unity is used by the executive to control parliament and the house of commons.
Lobby fodder is the term used to describe MPs who speak & vote (in lobbies) as their parties dictate. This helps maintain elective dictatorship ( creates 'yes man' parliament) |
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Since the 1950s & 60s, backbench power has been on the rise as party discipline has reduced...give 3 examples of party disunity... |
1. Labour Harold Wilson & James Callaghan 1974-79 = 45% MPs voted against e.g. devolution to Scotland & wales 1978 2. Conservative John Major 1992-97 = between big government players and eurosceptic backbenchers 3. Labour Tony Blair 2001-07= during 2nd & 3rd terms, backbenchers voted against on 64 occasions. 40+ MPs voted against on issues e.g. foundation of hospitals, uni 'top up' fees, Iraq war, replacement of trident nuclear sub's. |
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Give 2 major reasons why party unity has declined... |
1. MPs are generally better educated than 1950s/60s (rise of middle class) so are more critical & independently minded. 2. more MPs are 'career politicians' - with politics literally being their only career. SO much of their time and resources go into taking political issues more seriously. * MPs used to have second jobs: businesses owners or lawyers. |
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what are the short term factors that effect party unity? |
Public standing of government & likelihood of winning elections. Personal authority of PM and radicalism of government Legislative programme ^ In the latter Blair gov. his formal standing declined after the Iraq war, the governmen majority and poll ratings fell & divisiveness over issues increased. |
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Why was the coalition formed in 2010? |
Avoid a weak conservative minority government |
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Why do the smaller coalition parties tend to suffer? |
Loss of identity strains the loyalty of supporters |
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why did Cameron, although leader of the largest party, have to keep the lib dems on board? |
Lib dem disloyalty may create disaffection & disloyalty from within the Tory party. |
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why do coalitions tend to involve inter party centralisation, not decentralisation? |
Consultation and negotiation are ore likely to occur in the executive itself- not parliament. |
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What are the reasons why the coalition kept adequate unity in the commons? |
1. Quick to produce detailed program for government before the and of 2010 2. use of commissions and forums to resolve policy differences. 3. Support of lib dem MPs for coalition was upheld by prominent representation in government. Nick Clegg= deputy PM & cabinet minister among 4 other lib dems. Conservative : lib dem ratio in gov. was 5:1, MPs ratio c:l was 6:1 4. Ideological shifts in both coalition partners in years leading up to 2010 5. Electoral cost for 1 party if it pulls out- no option other than to make it work. |
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What is the house of lords? |
Subordinate chamber in Parliament (although often a more effective check on the executive than commons). Party unity is more relaxed - non elected peers don't need to abide by a Party to keep their post (gov. can't discipline them & enforce whip)
No guarantee of majority control - until 2000 there was a dominance of hereditary peers which made the HOL more conservative. |
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What was the impact of the partially reformed HOL? |
1. No majority party 2. More assertive lord ( Removal of most hereditary peers = HOL believes it has more of a right to assert its authority) 3. landslide majorities in commons mean the HOL has a duty to check government where the commons becomes less effective. 4. Politics of the Parliament acts. Use of parliament acts (passed backand forth) takes time so the government is anxious to compromise with the lord rather than 'steamroller' a bill through using the 1949 parliament act (which has only been used on 4 occasions). |
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Give 4 commons reforms under Blair and Brown 1997-2007 |
-Once a week PM Q's (1997) half the number f occasions -Liaison Committee scrutiny (2002) 2x year, PM appear before lord chancellor of HOC for scrutiny (the L C chairs departmental select committees but is from the major party) -Freedom of information act (2000, full effect 2005) not quite parliamentary reform but opens up the government. -Wider constitutional reforms had implications for parliament e.g. devolution, HRA, Referendums........ |
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What is bicameralism? |
Breaking up legislative power through creation of 2 chambers Partial bicameralism = 2 chambers but unequal e.g. UK Full bicameralism = 2, co equal legislative chambers e.g. US congress |
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What are the arguments FOR an elected 2nd chamber? |
Democratic legitimacy -2nd chamber based on popular consent delivered through competitive elections. In a democracy, this is the only basis for legitimate rule. An appointed member is not democratically legitimate. Wider representation -2 chambers elected = greater rep. i.e. use different electoral systems, terms & dates as well as different constituencies to strengthen the democratic process. Checking the commons -Only elected camber can properly check anther elected chamber. The house of commons has popular authority. the 2nd chamber will defer 1st. full bicameralism requires 2 equal chambers. Ending executive tyranny -Executive dominates parliament through majority control of commons. While this persists the only way of properly checking government power is through a democratic, more powerful 2nd chamber (elected by PR) |
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What are the arguments against an elected 2ns chamber? |
Specialist knowledge -appointed 2nd chamber = members are chosen on the basis of experience, expertise and specialist knowledge. Elected politicians may be experts only in the arts of public speaking & campaigning. Gridlocked government -2nd, equal chamber = government paralysis. Rivalry between chambers & between executive & parliament will occur. E.g. if 2 chambers are eleted @ different times by different electoral systems. Dangers of partnership -Ay elected chamber will be dominated, like the HOC, by party 'hacks' who rely on party to get elected & re elected. Appointed 2nd chamber = reduced partnership so peers allowed to think for themselves. Descriptive representation -elected peers may have popular authority but t is very difficult to make sure they reflect society (as commons demonstrates). Better done through structural process of appointment tat takes account for group representation. (Accept look at London Mayor tho) |
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what is the executive? |
branch of government that is responsible for implementation of laws & policies made by parliament. 'sharp end' of government. 2 parts= political (gov. of day) & Official/ bureaucracy (civil servants=policy advice&implementation). PM = head of gov & chair of cabinet Bureaucracy= The administrative machinery of gov. -rule by fficials' |
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what 3 qualifications must an individual fulfill t become a PM and what changed for PMs in 1980s? |
qualifications: 1. MP (sit in HOC) 2. Party leader 3. Their party gain majority control of HOC (or coalitions maj.)
Until 1980s, PM had little official recognition as the gov. face as it is today. They were technically 'first lord of the treasury' or the 'first among equals'-Walter Bagehot PM leadership become more presidential- rise of personalised leadership. |
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What does Primes inter Pares imply about the prim minister? |
-Primary representative of government in relation to the monarch & through the right to be consulted on policy issues -among equals= cabinet members = equal influence over decisions. Cabinet = committee of leading ministers which is empowered to make official government policy. |
First among equals |
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what is the modern role of the prime minister? |
-Making governments: appoint all other members of government -directing policy: core executive has central PM = sets direction & goals eg. eco & foreign policy. Core exec are an informed network of bodies & actors that play a key role in the policy process. -managing cabinet system: PM hairs the cabinet meetings & determines their number & length. -Organizing government: structure & organisation. Setting up, shuffling & dissolving government departments. -Providing national leadership: PMs authority is based on elections. they link the prime minister to the people which is strengthened by he medias relentless focus on the office - this is important in major crisis times, war & major events. |
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what is the cabinet? |
committee of leading members of gov. usually 20-3 people. Usually responsible for running Whitehall departments. |
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what is a kitchen cabinet? |
A loose and informal group o policy advisors consulted y the PM outside of the formal cabinet inc: senior ministers, officials & special advisors. *Thatcher |
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What is the role of the cabinet? |
In theory, the UK has a system of cabinet government based on convention of collective ministerial responsibility. Recent years power has shifted to the PM.
1. Formal policy approval: approved to become official gov. policy. decisions can be made without cab. (Blair's decision 1997 grant bank of E semi-independence in setting interest rates).< he only consulted brown.
2. policy coordination: cabinet ensures ministers of other departments know what's going on. 'join up' gov.
3. Resolve disputes: final court of appeal for disagreements.
4. Forum for debate: used by PM as a sounding board for issues. limited time tho (full meeting agendas).
5. party management: in considering policy, cabinet takes account of he views & morale of parliamentary party - chief whip attends meetings & is often a member.
6. Symbol of collective Gov: Regular meetings maintain a 'face' of the UK gov. underpinned by convention of collective ministerial responsibility. |
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What is the role of ministers? |
Ministers are expected to run government departments in that they make policy & oversee the work of the civil service. they are appointed by the prime minister, usually from the house of commons. All ministers must be MPs or peers. |
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What are the steps in the ministerial ladder/ hierarchy in positions? |
1. Secretary of state: in charge of gov. dept. 2. ministers of state: not usually in cabinet (except chief secretary of treasury) 3. Parliamentary under-secretaries of state: Not cabinet. may serve on cabinet committees. 4. Parliamentary private secretaries: Unpaid 'eyes & ears' for senior ministers - not gov. members. |
begin with secretary of state |
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What do civil servants do? |
Provide ministers with policy advice and to implement government policy. |
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What 3 traditional principles do civil servants abide by? |
- Permanence - remain in post as ministers come & go - Neutrality - expected to be loyal & supportive of any ministers & any government. - Anonymity - civil servants are 'nameless' - not public figures. |
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what are the three theories of executive power? |
1. Cabinet government 2. prime ministerial government 3. presidentialism 4. core executive model |
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how does the cabinet government theory of executive power work? |
Power is collective in the cabinet with equality amongst ministers. This leads to collective responsibility where all ministers support cabinet policy or resign. this helps ensure cabinet collegiality (solidarity) - they'll never disagree public ally. |
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how does the prime ministerial government theory of executive power work? |
Party discipline = PM gains leverage / power. the PM is head of civil service & leader of commons.
- Undisputed growth of PM power since 1945 - cabinet is no longer the key policy making body |
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Explain presidentialism in simple terms |
Somewhat like the prime ministerial government model - like the US, it suggests that the cabinet is merely a sounding board. |
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what evidence can you give t show the growth of presidentialism? |
1. Growth of 'spatial leadership' = PM distance from parties & gains a personal ideological stance e.g. Thatcherism / Blairism 2. Tendency towards 'populist outreach' = connect with public. (attempt to appears a non establishment figure on your side (2016 america much?)) 3. Personalised election campaigns = leader = brand image 4. personal mandates = PM claim popular authority on the basis of THEIR electoral success. 5. Wider use of special advisors = rather than cabinet = usually have personal loyalty to PM 6. Strengthened cabinet office = size & administrative resources of cabinet office grown = like a small PM department that coordinates the rest of Whitehall. |
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Why can the Uk prime minister never fully become a president? |
The UK government is a parliamentary government. there is no constitutional separation of powers between the legislature and executive. The prime minister is appointed by parliamentary (not separate) elections. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS: - Stress on the growth of personalised leadership & direct relation between PM &Public -rowing political significance of mass media in affecting power balances. |
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Explain the core executive model of executive power in the UK |
-Neither the cabinet nor the prime minister are independent -each exercises influence in/through a network of relationships -Balance of power within the core executive is affected by resources available to its various actors. -Wider factors e.g. economic & diplomatic developments influence working of core exec. -emphasis that PM power isn't constrained by the cabinet collegiality. Power is not monocratic. -Power within the executive is more about building relationships with key bodies / actors than being 'command & control' |
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what powers does the prime minister have? |
-appoint ministers & other senior figures (top judges & senior bishops of c of e) -dissolve & recall parliament (reduced by introduction of fixed term parliaments) -sign treaties -grant honours -powers to hire & fire -ability to manage cabinet -leadership of party -institutional supports -access to the media |
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Prime ministerial power fluctuates. what does this depend on? |
-leadership style/ goals -powers of PM -constraints of pm -existance of single party/ coalition government. |
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How does the ability to hire & fire affect the prime minister? |
the prime minister can grant favours and privileges and has control over peoples jobs so can sack, appoint and promote. this effects the prime minister in the following ways: 1. Cabinet resignations e.g. senior figures can damage support for the prime minister 2. coalition government (under cam & Clegg 2010) meant that cabinet management was entangled with the larger process of coalition management. |
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How does party leadership effect the prime ministers power? |
- increases PMs authority within the cabinet and government. Ministers know that party loyalty puts power to the PM not other ministers -Allows the prime minister to control parliament through commanding a disciplined majority in the house of commons. -party members see tat party fortune is linked to prime ministers personal standing (discourages party splits & public criticisms of the PM) If the PM delivers electoral success but the government is unpopular, party loyalty evaporates quickly No prime minister can survive without support of their party. |
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What relationships does the prime minister have and through what avenue are they facilitated? |
Their party & parliament (leader of largest party) Cabinet, individual ministers & gov departments People - through mass media. |
e.g. relationship with individual ministers through cabinet & government departments. |
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how have institutional supports effected the power of the PM? |
Since 1945, PM power has grown significantly: 2 most important bodies that serve PM = -PMs office inc. policy unit. -Cabinet office, developed to the coordinating hub of the UK executive. (joins up Whitehall & government departments). Additional notes: 1. meagre by comparison with are available t US president 2. Even the expanded cabinet office does not amount o PM department. |
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How has access to the media affected the power of the prime minister? |
Mass media plays a key role in explaining the growth of presidentialism
The MM strengthens PM power in 3 main ways: 1. growth of political celebrity = appeal directly to the public (reflected in the phenomenon of spatial leadership) 2. Medias obsession with personality & image = focus on leaders 3. control over gov. communications = PM structures information flow to public |
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how can 'spin' and news management affect the prime minister? |
-use of 'leaks' / unattributable briefings - careful vetting of into/ arguments before release to the media - feeding stories only to sympathetic media sources - releasing information close to media deadlines to prevent checking/ identification of counter arguments - the release of 'bad' news at times when other, more important events dominate news agenda (e.g. release of UK's failure at reaching pollution targets on the day of Jeremy Corbyn's landslide electoral success 12th September 2015) -backing of key newspapers can bolster image of PM & ensure critics are muted. (most of the UK press is either right wing or so neutral that they simply report on news paper stories which are already amplified and charged against the left) |
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list 5 constraints on the Prime minister |
1. cabinet 2. party 3. electorate 4. media 5. pressure of events |
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how might the cabinet constrain the prime minister? |
leading ministers can have quite a lot of power depending on: -seniority of his/her office -Their standing within the party -their public profile the prime minister may often have to conciliate cabinet ministers or have to deal with the damage of their resignation. (this weakened under thatcher with her authority in the 80s there was much cabinet disunity e.g. Nigel Lawson.) Blair gov= dual monarchy between Blair & brown - brown could veto uk entry to euro= lots of power. |
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How might the party constrain the prime minister? |
Party disunity can dramatically effect support for the prime minister. this is why it is important or the pm to maintain party unity. Thatcher had less back bench support which grew and grew overtime especially due to divisions over Europe and the poll tax. can lead to resignations e.g. john major. Tony Blair's authority declined greatly after the Iraq war 2003. |
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how can he electorate effect the prime ministers power? |
less support or a lower voting turnout can lead to election losses or minority governments. |
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How may the media constrain the prime minister? |
the entire standing of the pm is effectively presented through the media. The prime minister therefore can often be seen attempting to exploit the media which can be effecting, specially for right wing government. These days, the media have become more critical, in general, of the government and politicians so are harder to manage. -Tendency to 'hype' because of medias pressure to sell = try o make politics sexy. -Blurring of facts & interpretation - difference between 'what happened' & 'what it means -Television increasingly follows print media - telly stories = paper headlines which greatly effects the style of current affairs on TV. |
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Give examples of john major and Margret thatchers difficulties with the pressure of events |
What u worry about Harold Macmillan? : 'events, dear boy, events' = can't control surprises.
-Thatcher 'initiated' folklands war 1992 and beninited from the victry but if she had lost, her premiership wpuld have been destroyed.
-John major was less fortunate over 'black wednesday' 1992 with his forced withdrawal from the eurpean exchange rate mechanism (ERM crisis). this desroyed his reptation for economic competance. |
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how may the pressure of events effect the prime minister? |
-the prime minister can only control the top - level decisions: implementations of decisions is in the hands of bodies and actors over whom the PM has little control. (welfare reform is affected by doctors & head teaches decisions etc. -the growth of presidentialism: over stretch the pm, they're expected to speak out on all important questions and all mistakes, wherever they occur, are their fault. = seemingly endless range of events to respond to. -prime ministerial power may be counter - productive. The ability of the prime minister to react in politics, events is impaired by their reliance on advisors. They're often told what they want to hear so much that they're not exposed to a wide enough range of ideas and viewpoints. |
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how might a colaition government constrain the prime minister |
-in 2010 he lib dems pushed for fixed term parliaments so the prime minister had to surrender some power. -constrains prime ministers power of patronage. when they appoint and reshuffle they have to take account for the impact on the cohesion f the coalition. e.g. give lib dems prominent roles such as nick Clegg as deputy PM, Vince cable etc. -there will usually be topics over which there is deep disagreement e.g. the replacement of trident -greater need for formalized decision making to maintain trust & transparency -'the quad' Cameron, Clegg & 2 senior cab. ministers = meet regularly. Clegg is deputy but the two must function as equals as Clegg is crucial in the coalition so Cameron needs his support. |
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why didn't the coalition always constrain Cameron's freedom? |
- in the first year Cameron suffered no serious policy reverses not too much opposition from cabinet/government -Clegg, Alexander & cable were insiders so little disaffection (Clegg was more of an agent than a counter weight -narrow ideological policy gap between Cameron and Clegg which helped Cameron overcome his own party split. |
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