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Essay Plans - Government and politics in the UK
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9 markers & 25 markers for the listed topics in the AQA Government & Politics A-level Paper 1
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The PM & Cabinet - RevisionExplain and analyze 3 was the cabinet is/is not useful. (9)
P – limit power of the PM.
Ex – cabinet of rivals force a PM out, make it more difficult for a PM to carry out their agendas.
Ev – May found the Brexit group in her cabinet difficult to deal with, up to 11 cabinet ministers were
said to have spoken out against the deal.
An – PM power of patronage, appoint/dismiss ministers, May appoints Johnson, kept enemies close.
P – dept heads have expertise over specific policies.
Ex – work of gov is divide in depts, important enough members of party to sit at center.
Ev – expertise used by Thatcher before sending taskforce to liberate Falklands Island 1982.
An – cabinet circumvented, PM determines cabinet committees, rubber-stamping body 4 decisions.
P – cabinet free to discuss/debate ideas.
Ex – do this & get say on how policy is to be presented, be it to own MPs, peers & to the media.
Ev – Brexit, cabinet involved, presentation on issues, customs union, role of EU Court of Justice.
An – PM’s agenda, Westland Affair, Thatcher insists public comments vetted before pre-release.
Explain and analyze 3 conventions that affect cabinet/executive. (9)
P – collective cabinet responsibility.
Ex – expected to publicly support gov policies, even if privately opposed them in cabinet meetings.
Ev – 2010, 2 LD resigned, rather than supporting the gov policy on increasing uni fees, principle 3.
An – eroded, suspended 2016 during referendum on UK EU membership, free to express views.
P – individual ministerial responsibility.
Ex – responsible for actions of their department & policies, take responsibility for mistakes/failures.
Ev – Falklands war, not spotted by foreign office, Lord Carrington, foreign sec resigns.
An – erodes, Stephen Byers, under pressure to resign over bad publicity of transport policy, stubborn
to do so, does resign in 2002.
P – military action.
Ex – deploy forces, prerogative power, authorization is given by the PM, on behalf of crown.
Ev – Iraq war 2003, Blair uses prerogative powers to commit British troops to US-led invasion of Iraq.
An – constitutional convention, parliament given vote, 2013, Cameron & Syria defeated 285-272.
, The PM & Cabinet - Revision
Explain and analyze 3 ways a PM is presidential/holds presidential power. (9)
P – party control.
Ex – PM is considered chief party policy maker; views are influential in shaping party’s direction.
Ev – Cameron, becomes leader, vocalizes support to Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, passes
even though 136 (C) MPs voted against it.
An –MPs control agenda, MPs pressure through private members bill forces Cameron to hold ref.
P – PM’s relationship with cabinet.
Ex – PM rely on individual ministers > cabinet, PM has resources to work independently.
Ev – Blair’s ‘sofa government’ key decisions made on sofa in PM office > formal cabinet meetings.
An – coalitions made cab important, (C) & LD coalition, cabinet meeting every Tuesday for 2 hours.
P – media presence.
Ex – strong media presence, media view PM as leads spokesperson, popularity is indispensable.
Ev – polls by Ipsos Mori, Cameron more pop. then party, consistently polling above it, even in
negative net approval ratings, Cameron -15 v party at -26.
An – declines, power is fickle, chancellors like Brown & Osborne, build own body of support to rival.
Explain and analyze 3 ways a PM is weak. (9)
P – lack of support in own party.
Ex – PM is perceived ineffective or unable to deliver, face loss of confidence votes.
Ev – Johnson, vote of no confidence, wins, badly weakened, in which 148 MPs voted against him.
An – address internal party conflicts, Blair & Iraq, reduces LW factions, promoting centrist policies.
P – limited power or authority.
Ex – constrained by various factors, like the cabinet being able to limit the power of PM with force.
Ev – May found the Brexit group in her cabinet difficult to deal with, up to 11 cabinet ministers were
said to have spoken out against the deal.
An – PM power of patronage, appoint/dismiss ministers, May & Johnson, kept enemies close.
P – public opinion/media scrutiny.
Ex – constant criticism weak, esp. in mismanaged crisis which can erode trust between PM & public.
Ev – approval ratings fell for Johnson after delaying the start of both lockdowns, only imposing it
after scientist predictions of death toll of 510,000.
An – popularity, Cameron popularity, consistently polling above party, Cameron -15 party -26.
Evaluate the factors that can give the PM power over other cabinet members. (25)
Both PM/cabinet core executive, acting at the heart of the government.
Walter Bagehot PM primus inter pares; recently varying degrees is all powerful.
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