The executive
🇬🇧
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17 questions
| 🇬🇧 | 🇬🇧 |
| What are the main functions of the executive? | Propose legislation, propose a budget, make policy decisions |
| How does cabinet propose legislation? | Most legislation that is put to parliament comes from the government through the cabinet, often based on manifesto promises |
| How does cabinet propose a budget? | This is done by the Chancellor, following negotiations with other departments and in cabinet |
| How does cabinet make policy decisions? | The cabinet sets the legislative and policy direction of the government. Ministers will base decisions on this and will publicly support government policy |
| What are executive powers? | Control over the legislative agenda, they also have powers of 'secondary legislation' where ministers are granted specific powers under laws passed by parliament |
| What are examples of powers granted by 'secondary legislation'? | Making of guidelines and regulations and the approval of projects and actions |
| What makes up the concept of ministerial responsibility? | Collective responsibility and individual responsibility |
| What is collective responsibility ? | The notion that the government as a collective is responsible to parliament for its action. If the government is defeated in a vote of no confidence the whole government resigns, an all ministers support policies from all departments . |
| What is individual responsibility ? | The notion that ministers are responsible to parliament for actions of their own department. This can be done through PMQ's or select committees. They may have to resign due to a mistake from their department, a personal mistake or a personal scandal. |
| What is an example of collective responsibility ? | 29 April 2018, Rudd resigned as Home Secretary, stating in her letter of resignation that she had "inadvertently misled the Home Affairs Select Committee on the issue of illegal immigration |
| What is an example of individual responsibility ? | In March 2016, Duncan Smith unexpectedly resigned from the Cabinet. He stated that he was unable to accept the government's planned cuts to disability benefits. |
| When may collective responsibility be weakened? | During a coalition government when government policy needs to be negotiated between the two parties |
| What is an example of collective responsibility being weakened under a coalition government? | During the 2010 Lib Dem and conservative coalition, exemptions to collective responsibilities were given for campaigning for the AV referendum and disagreements over proposed boundary changes |
| What are some examples of individual ministerial responsibility being strengthened? | When Home Secretary Priti Patel was quizzed on the lack of visas available for Ukranians fleeing Ukraine Feb 2023, education secretary in 2003 Estelle Morris resigned after a series of controversy about A level standards, Jackie Smith, Home Secretary during the brown government resigned after her husband claimed pornographic material on her expenses, Matt Hancock had to resign after failing to adhere to governments social distancing rules |
| What are some examples of collective ministerial responsibility being strengthened? | May saw 17 ministers, 4 of which were cabinet members resign over her Brexit strategy. Robin Cook in 2003 resigned as he refused to accept the government’s decision to invade Iraq. Sajid Javid in 2020 resigned as he refused to accept his advisers being replaced with ones picked by the PM. |
| What are some examples of individual ministerial responsibility being weakened? | In 2020 Gavin Williamson approved an ofqual algorithm that downgraded thousands of students across the country and didn’t resign. Chris Grayling seen multiple failures in his department such as awarding a ferry contract to a company with no ferries and a leaked letter showing his dubious reasoning for opposing the end of Southern rail franchise. Priti Patel refused to resign over a cabinet enquiry that uncovered evidence of her bullying staff. |
| What are some examples of collective ministerial responsibility being weakened? | Coalition weakened individual ministerial responsibility (2010) issues like Brexit divide government and spill over into parliament, referendums |