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The Prime Minister and the Executive – NotesThe Executive
Executive is the branch of government concerned with the formulation and implementation
of policy
Main institutions of the executive
- Prime Minister: The head of the government and chair of the cabinet
- Cabinet: the committee of senior ministers which is the ultimate decision-making body
of government
- Ministers: appointed by the PM to specify policy portfolios within the government
- Government departments: the main administrative units of central government, each
dealing with a particular area of policy
Role of the executive
Making policy decisions
- PM in cabinet set political priorities and determine the country's overall policy direction
- Make day-to-day decisions on policy
Proposing legislation
- Executive devices and initiates legislation
- Most primary legislation is proposed by the executive
Proposing a budget
- Executive makes key decisions on economic policy and proposes a budget
- Chancellor set up first levels of taxation and public spending in budget
Powers of executive
Prerogative powers
Power exercise by mini says that do not require parliamentary approval
The monarch still has personal prerogative powers, including the appointment of the PM
and giving Royal assent to legislation
Most prerogative powers exercised by ministers acting on behalf of the Crown
- Making and ratifying treaties
- International diplomacy
- Deployment of the armed forces overseas
Some prerogative powers have been clarified and limited in recent years
It is become a constitutional convention and parliament votes on the deployment of the
armed forces overseas
Parliament voted against airstrikes in Syria 2013 and then gave its approval in 2015
Prior to the fixed terms parliament Act 2011, the Prime Minister could ask the monarch to
dissolve parliament and call in early general election
Now an early election can only be called if 2/3 of MPs approve in a vote in the HOC
, Control of the legislative agenda
Most bills are proposed by the government, and it controls the legislative timetable
Most government bills are approved by parliament and become law
Private member bills that do not enjoy government support are unlikely to succeed
Government control of the legislative process is also seen in its imposition of party discipline
and important votes and the requirement that all ministers must support the government in
parliament
Powers of secondary legislation
This is a formal legislation which allows the provisions of an act of parliament to be brought
into force amended without requiring a further act
The Prime Minister
Head of the UK government
Provides political leadership within the cabinet system in the country at large
Chairs the cabinet, appoints ministers and is the leader the largest party in the HOC
Role of the Prime Minister
Political leadership
- Prime Minister decides the political direction taken by the government, setting its
priorities and strategy
- Determines policy on high profile issues
National leadership
- PM is the predominant political figure in the UK and provides national leadership in
times of crisis
- Communicator in chief for the government
Appointing the government
- PM determines the membership of the government by appointing and dismissing
ministers
Chairing the cabinet
- PM chairs meetings for cabinet, states the agenda and steers its directions
Managing the executive
- PM is responsible but the overall organization of the government and is head of the civil
service
Prerogative powers
- Prime Minister exercise prerogative powers such as deploying the armed forces
overseas and recommending some public appointments
Managing relations with parliament
- PM make statements to and answers questions in the HOC
Representing the UK in international affairs
- PM represents the UK in high level international diplomacy
The prime minister’s office
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