The PM and the Executive
The role the the executive
Proposing, securing, and implementing legislation
Proposing a budget and managing the states finances
Developing and making policy decisions
Conducting foreign policy
Responding to major problems or crisis
Organising and managing pubic services
The structure of the executive
The PM – appointed by the monarch
The cabinet – mostly made up of senior ministers who are
responsible for the running of the governmental departments
Junior ministers – member of the executive who assist senior
ministers
Civil service – carry out the day-to-day running of government
departments, advise ministers and enact policy decisions made
Cabinet secretary – the most senior civil servant, serves the PM
then cabinet. Organise the work of cabinet and of the government
The PM
De facto head of state
Chief policy maker
Nations chief diplomat
Appoints cabinet and chairs meetings
Sources of Prime ministerial authority and power
Traditional authority
The monarch no longer plays a political role, nut in theory has significant
political power – royal prerogative – delegated to the PM. The PM can
freely exercise these powers, when exercising these powers the PM
represent the nation, meaning the PM is effectively temporally the head of
state.
Party
The PM is always the leader of the largest party represented in the HOC.
The PMs authority come from the people through the leading party. If the
party changes it leader, the new leader will automatically become the
leader and the monarch will summon them to conform this.
, Parliament
Each new parliament recognise the authority of the PM to lead the
government. There is no formal approval from parliament, and there is no
formal procedure by parliament for replacing one PM with another. All
parliament can do is dismiss the whole government through a vote of no
confidence
The PM gains power as they are the leader of the largest party. The largest
the party majority, the more power that is derived. If the government is
unable to secure the passage of legislation and financial plans through the
House of Commons, it will lose power. MPs are aware of this and tend to
support their party to ensure the survival of the government.
In 1995, John Major resigned as party leader (but not as PM) due to his
concern and anger of disloyal MPs. In a subsequent leadership election, he
was re-elected which boosted his authority and his power.
Patronage
The power of the PM to make important appointments to public offices.
Grants the PM power as it means those to aspire to high office will tend to
be loyal to the person who has the power to appoint them.
PM has patronage over the appointments of government ministers, peers,
and head ot various state bodies
The powers of the PM
Formal powers
Patronage
Commander is chief of the armed forces and can commit them to
action
Power to negotiate foreign treaties, trade deals, and arrangements
with other states or international organisations
Conduct foreign policy and determine relationships with foreign
powers
Heads the cabinet
Ability to call an general election
Power to recall parliament
Informal powers
Sets the general tone of economic policy
Controlling and setting policy
Controlling and setting the legislative agenda
National leadership in times of cirsis
The role the the executive
Proposing, securing, and implementing legislation
Proposing a budget and managing the states finances
Developing and making policy decisions
Conducting foreign policy
Responding to major problems or crisis
Organising and managing pubic services
The structure of the executive
The PM – appointed by the monarch
The cabinet – mostly made up of senior ministers who are
responsible for the running of the governmental departments
Junior ministers – member of the executive who assist senior
ministers
Civil service – carry out the day-to-day running of government
departments, advise ministers and enact policy decisions made
Cabinet secretary – the most senior civil servant, serves the PM
then cabinet. Organise the work of cabinet and of the government
The PM
De facto head of state
Chief policy maker
Nations chief diplomat
Appoints cabinet and chairs meetings
Sources of Prime ministerial authority and power
Traditional authority
The monarch no longer plays a political role, nut in theory has significant
political power – royal prerogative – delegated to the PM. The PM can
freely exercise these powers, when exercising these powers the PM
represent the nation, meaning the PM is effectively temporally the head of
state.
Party
The PM is always the leader of the largest party represented in the HOC.
The PMs authority come from the people through the leading party. If the
party changes it leader, the new leader will automatically become the
leader and the monarch will summon them to conform this.
, Parliament
Each new parliament recognise the authority of the PM to lead the
government. There is no formal approval from parliament, and there is no
formal procedure by parliament for replacing one PM with another. All
parliament can do is dismiss the whole government through a vote of no
confidence
The PM gains power as they are the leader of the largest party. The largest
the party majority, the more power that is derived. If the government is
unable to secure the passage of legislation and financial plans through the
House of Commons, it will lose power. MPs are aware of this and tend to
support their party to ensure the survival of the government.
In 1995, John Major resigned as party leader (but not as PM) due to his
concern and anger of disloyal MPs. In a subsequent leadership election, he
was re-elected which boosted his authority and his power.
Patronage
The power of the PM to make important appointments to public offices.
Grants the PM power as it means those to aspire to high office will tend to
be loyal to the person who has the power to appoint them.
PM has patronage over the appointments of government ministers, peers,
and head ot various state bodies
The powers of the PM
Formal powers
Patronage
Commander is chief of the armed forces and can commit them to
action
Power to negotiate foreign treaties, trade deals, and arrangements
with other states or international organisations
Conduct foreign policy and determine relationships with foreign
powers
Heads the cabinet
Ability to call an general election
Power to recall parliament
Informal powers
Sets the general tone of economic policy
Controlling and setting policy
Controlling and setting the legislative agenda
National leadership in times of cirsis
