Lecture 2: Institutions of Constitutions and allocation of Power
Role of executive:
Governing body of the state
Including key public service (police, army etc.)
Runs country, initiative taker
Constitutional Position:
Government ministers and PM is a convention
All ministers sit in Parliament
Government is subordinate to Parliament , (gov. acting second)
Its structure:
o Prime Minister- must be a member of the House of commons, coming from form
of election
o PM is elected indirectly- vote for party rather than person
o Const. convention- UK needs a PM
o Cabinet- Senior Ministers &Junior Ministers& secretary of state
o Most important level of gov.
o Heads of gov.
o Junior minsters are in 5 in each department, deal with areas of policy under
supervision of senior ministers
o Ministers of the Crown Act 1975- defines war a minister is, they hold office in the
majesty’s cabinet, on behalf of Queen
o Selected by Pm and appointed by Queen
o Departments/institutions: civil servants
Executive branch is political, non-legal
Central gov. runs country, guided by constitutional laws by parliament
However, majority ministers of party sit in House of Commons in parliament
Close relationship with parliament: PM drafts/decides on Bills and has to pass them
through Parliament
Also close to the crown/Queen: she elects PM after every election
Executive’s Powers:
o Statutory Powers- majority of gov. power
o Discretionary authority
o Complete Statues- Acts of Parliament give power to gov.; sometimes legislation
vague, so gov. needs to fill in those gaps
o Delegated legislation (e.g. Bills)- example: Henry VIII clauses, power to adjust
primary laws
o Prerogative (exclusive/special) powers- powers were held by the Queen /e.g. to
go to war)
Role of Parliament (legislative):
Makes laws, notion of deliberative representation
House of Commons approves and criticizes Bills/legislation (make adjustments)
Give feedback on laws to executive
Holds executive in account: can veto any Bills (e.g. financial Bill vetoed)
Structure:
Role of executive:
Governing body of the state
Including key public service (police, army etc.)
Runs country, initiative taker
Constitutional Position:
Government ministers and PM is a convention
All ministers sit in Parliament
Government is subordinate to Parliament , (gov. acting second)
Its structure:
o Prime Minister- must be a member of the House of commons, coming from form
of election
o PM is elected indirectly- vote for party rather than person
o Const. convention- UK needs a PM
o Cabinet- Senior Ministers &Junior Ministers& secretary of state
o Most important level of gov.
o Heads of gov.
o Junior minsters are in 5 in each department, deal with areas of policy under
supervision of senior ministers
o Ministers of the Crown Act 1975- defines war a minister is, they hold office in the
majesty’s cabinet, on behalf of Queen
o Selected by Pm and appointed by Queen
o Departments/institutions: civil servants
Executive branch is political, non-legal
Central gov. runs country, guided by constitutional laws by parliament
However, majority ministers of party sit in House of Commons in parliament
Close relationship with parliament: PM drafts/decides on Bills and has to pass them
through Parliament
Also close to the crown/Queen: she elects PM after every election
Executive’s Powers:
o Statutory Powers- majority of gov. power
o Discretionary authority
o Complete Statues- Acts of Parliament give power to gov.; sometimes legislation
vague, so gov. needs to fill in those gaps
o Delegated legislation (e.g. Bills)- example: Henry VIII clauses, power to adjust
primary laws
o Prerogative (exclusive/special) powers- powers were held by the Queen /e.g. to
go to war)
Role of Parliament (legislative):
Makes laws, notion of deliberative representation
House of Commons approves and criticizes Bills/legislation (make adjustments)
Give feedback on laws to executive
Holds executive in account: can veto any Bills (e.g. financial Bill vetoed)
Structure:
