Recap: Parliament and the Core Executive

DO NOWDefine each of the following key terms in a single sentence:• Scrutiny• Legitimacy• Accountability• Representation• Collective Cabinet responsibility• Individual ministerial responsibility• Party discipline

Self-evaluation

I would describe my performance in last Thursday’s assessment as . . .

0 5

Insultingly poor

Credible

3 421

Weak

Self-evaluation

I would describe my performance in last Thursday’s assessment as . . .

0 5

Insultingly poor

Credible

3 421

Weak

Abdi, Clinton, HumzaLoshell, Loretta

Troy, TaniqueTyreek

Learning objectives

• To improve on our (mostly dreadful) performance in our mock examination

• Read the question – ‘Discuss’ implies engagement with both sides of a debate

• Key terms should be defined in a way that is not simply descriptive

• Points should be rather more specific than they are general and more developed than superficial

• Use evidence rather than speculation to support your key points

Feedback on your first essay – 23rd Sept

• Read the question – ‘Discuss’ implies engagement with both sides of a debate

• Key terms should be defined in a way that is not simply descriptive

• Points should be rather more specific than they are general and more developed than superficial

• Use evidence rather than speculation to support your key points

Feedback on your first essay – 23rd Sept

What I’m seeingThe HofC can come across as bias because a majority of MPs are working with the government.

0 marks

What I want to see

Writing with clarity and specificity

What I’m seeing

The HofC can come across as bias because a majority of MPs are working with the government.

0 marks

What I want to seeThe ability of the HofC to scrutinise the executive is limited by the extent of the payroll vote, or the number of MPs who derive a salary directly from government. These MPs are effectively guaranteed to vote for government policies.

2 marks

Writing with clarity and specificity

What I’m seeingThe HofL is more likely to scrutinise the government because it isn’t so closely tied to it.

0 marks

What I want to see

Writing with clarity and specificity

What I’m seeing

The HofL is more likely to scrutinise the government because it isn’t so closely tied to it.

0 marks

What I want to seeThe HofL can provide more effective scrutiny of the executive because party discipline is less strong among peers than among MPs. The party of government is therefore less able to sway peers from voting their conscience.

2 marks

Writing with clarity and specificity

What I’m seeing

A free vote is a vote in the House of Commons in which the executive stays strictly neutral and doesn’t attempt to influence the outcome.

1 mark

What I want to see

Develop your responses

What I’m seeing

A free vote is a vote in the House of Commons in which the executive stays strictly neutral and doesn’t attempt to influence the outcome.

1 mark

What I want to seeA free vote is a vote in the House of Commons in which party discipline plays no role. MPs are able to vote their conscience and the party of government and official opposition do not resort to the whip to influence the outcome.

3 marks

Develop your responses

What I’m seeing

The ability to determine who sits in cabinet is a source of power, but constant reshuffles can make a prime minister look weak and unsure. This was the case in Gordon Brown’s time in office, which was notably short. This outlined his weakness massively.

What I want to see

Use evidence appropriately

What I’m seeing

The ability to determine who sits in cabinet is a source of power, but constant reshuffles can make a prime minister look weak and unsure. This was the case in Gordon Brown’s time in office, which was notably short. This outlined his weakness massively.

What I want to seeThe ability to determine who sits in cabinet is a source of prime ministerial power, but constant reshuffles can make a prime minister look weak. This was a feature of Gordon Brown’s tenure in office. Brown’s decision to force major reshuffles three times in under three years, made him appear indecisive and failed to stem briefings against him.

Use evidence appropriately

• Read the article by Anthony Seldon• Summarise the key points of the article; aim

for three• Highlight/underline examples of how the

author uses evidence to support and develop his points

Guided reading

Evaluate the factors that can give the prime minister power over other

cabinet members.

Identify the key words

Evaluate the factors that can give the prime minister power over other

cabinet members.

Identify the key words

Role Description Key powers Limitations

Chairperson The Prime Minister sets the agenda for the Cabinet and, by extension, for the wider government. (S)He dictates the order or policy meetings and decides what issues are discussed and when.

• Setting the policy agenda

• Party • Public opinion

Chief executive The Prime Minister appoints ministers, including to Cabinet posts, and determines how government departments should be organised. They are also the head of the Civil Service, which implements Government policy.

• Patronage• Managing the

machinery & personnel of government

• Cabinet• Party

Chief communicator

The Prime Minister is the face of the Government--particularly in times of crisis. On issues such as Terrorism or Disasters they are the lead communicator on behalf of the Government.

• Influencing the National mood

• Public opinion

Chief legislator The Prime Minister is the official overall spokesperson for the Government in Parliament. They answer questions in Parliament and can be decisive in pushing through legislation.

• Setting the legislative agenda

• Parliament • Party

Chief diplomat As the head of the Government it is the Prime Minister that acts as the face of Britain Internationally, whether this is at the EU, NATO, UN or other organisations.

• Declare war• Sign treaties

• Britain’s geopolitical and economic position

Powers of the prime minister

One example of the prime minister’s power over Cabinet members is the power to discuss whatever he/she wants. The prime minister can tell the cabinet what to talk about and not talk about anything that he doesn’t want. This means that a cabinet member who wants to discuss something the prime minister doesn’t can’t make much progress in cabinet.

Re-draft the following

‘The House of Lords can often be more effective than the House of Commons in

the scrutiny of the executive.’ Discuss.

Identify the key words

‘The House of Lords can often be more effective than the House of Commons in

the scrutiny of the executive.’ Discuss.

Identify the key words

• The tools that Parliament uses to hold the executive to account are sometimes called “scrutiny instruments”.

• In pairs, list as many scrutiny instruments as you can.

Examples of scrutiny instruments

• Question time• Select committee inquiries• Public readings• Public bill committees• Full house debates

Examples of scrutiny instruments

• Question time• Select committee inquiries• Public readings• Public bill committees• Full house debates

Which of these are available to the HofL?

• Peers usually lack further political ambitions• Peers don’t have to face the electorate• Peers don’t have to face the media to the same

degree as MPs• Higher percentage of peers sit as cross-benchers

(independents)• Peers have often ‘earned’ their appointments through

professional distinction, hence may have greater expertise than MPs

• Peers have more time for debate and discussion

Factors that favour the HofL

Section AAnswer all of the questions in this section

• Using the sources and your own knowledge, outline the convention of collective ministerial responsibility. (6)

• Using the sources and your own knowledge, outline the convention of individual ministerial responsibility. (6)

• Using the sources and your own knowledge, discuss the importance of collective and individual ministerial responsibility to the UK system of government. (28)

Section BAnswer one question in this section

• Discuss the view that the rule of law is the most important underlying principle of the UK’s constitution. (30)

• Discuss the increasing importance of the judiciary in the UK system of government. (30)

• Discuss the reasons why membership of the EU has been such a divisive issue in British politics. (30)