Overview
This lecture covers the structure, roles, and powers of the UK executive, focusing on the Prime Minister, cabinet, government departments, and their key legislative and prerogative powers.
Structure of the Executive
- The Prime Minister is the head of the executive, managing government agenda, personnel, and structure.
- The Prime Minister uses patronage to appoint, reshuffle, or dismiss ministers and chairs weekly cabinet meetings.
- Government departments each cover specific policy areas (e.g., Treasury, Transport) and are headed by cabinet ministers.
- Departments are supported by junior ministers and may oversee executive agencies run by civil servants (e.g., DVLA under Transport).
- The cabinet consists of around 20–24 senior ministers, including secretaries of state and some key junior ministers.
- Cabinet meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister, setting policy direction and requiring collective responsibility.
- The Cabinet Office supports the cabinet and is headed by the most senior civil servant.
Main Roles of the Executive
- Proposing legislation is the executive’s most important role, controlling most of the parliamentary timetable and initiating most bills.
- Government fulfills manifesto promises and can introduce bills outside its manifesto.
- The executive can create secondary legislation (statutory instruments) to amend existing laws without full parliamentary debate.
- The executive proposes the annual budget, sets fiscal policy, and allocates public spending.
- Policy decisions—including overall priorities and responses to crises—can be made without legislation and are often outside manifesto pledges.
Powers of the Executive
- Royal prerogative powers are exercised by the Prime Minister and cabinet, not the monarch, based on convention.
- Key prerogative powers include ministerial appointments (patronage), declaring war, signing treaties, and conducting foreign policy.
- The government can call general elections, take emergency actions, award honors, and grant pardons.
- Parliament’s influence over some prerogative powers (e.g., military action) has increased, but recent cases show ongoing executive dominance.
- The executive controls legislative agenda and timetabling, limiting the success of private members’ bills.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Executive — The branch of government responsible for implementing laws and running the country.
- Cabinet — Senior group of government ministers headed by the Prime Minister, making major policy decisions.
- Patronage — The Prime Minister’s power to appoint and dismiss government ministers.
- Secondary Legislation — Laws made by ministers under powers given by an Act of Parliament, often as statutory instruments.
- Royal Prerogative — Historical powers of the monarch now exercised by ministers, including foreign affairs and defense.
- Statutory Instrument — A form of secondary legislation allowing changes to existing laws without a new Act.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of executive actions (legislation, budgets, policy shifts) for essay evidence.
- Prepare arguments on the extent to which the executive can dominate Parliament for exam questions.
- Watch related videos on Cabinet and Parliament for deeper understanding of checks on executive power.