Executive Pre-chewed Politics Chapter 9
How is the executive branch structured?
Who is the head of The PM is the head of government.
government? How The PM must be an elected democratically accountable MP, if a single party wins a majority
are they of seats in a general election and therefore commands the confidence of a majority of
appointed?
MPs,the leader is then invited by the Queen to become PM.
What is the Prime There are different units that support the PM and coordinate the work of the entire executive
Minister’s Office? branch, ensuring the government delivers on its top priorities.
What support does it Private office- manage vast volumes of paper and info that’s sent to the Pm. making sure
offer the PM in
No.10? they’re briefed and prepared for Cabinet and other meetings.
Policy unit- gives PM independent policy advice and monitors the work of the other
departments ensuring they’re each working towards the PM’s main goals.
Press Office- handles relations with the media ensuring that the media always has the
government’s view of events
Political Office- manages links with the parliamentary and national party, hopefully keeping
MPS and members on side.
What is the The Cabinet is the collective decision making body of the government.
Cabinet? Who It includes MPS and peers and government ministers.
does it include?
The PM appoints members.
Who appoints its
members? Why This is important because they can decide who will become a member of their Cabinet.
is it important?
What are Cabinet Cabinet Committees: are groups of ministers that can take collective decisions that are
Committees, sub binding across government. They reduce the burden on Cabinet by enabling collective
committees and decisions to be taken by a smaller group of ministers.
inter ministerial
groups? Sub Committees: Cabinet Committees are sub-committees of the Cabinet. They are
composed of Ministers, or Civil Servants, or both.
Inter Ministerial Groups:
What is the role of Cabinet Office- thousand of civil servants support the work of the cabinet, cabinet committees
the Cabinet Office? , and the PM as head of the cabinet.
Administrative support- Timetables meetings, writes agendas, circulates minutes, writes
briefings, ensures all ministers are prepared for cabinet/committee meetings.
Collective Government- coordinates the development and implementation of policies that
cut across multiple departments, resolves disputes between departments
What is the 1st- Secretaries of state: Have overall responsibility for the department.
ministerial hierarchy 2nd- Misters of state: Have the responsibility for more specific policy areas.
within each
3rd- Parliamentary Under-secretaries of State: are the most junior ministers, freshly
ministerial
department? promoted from the backbenches
4th- Parliamentary Private Secretaries: unpaid assistance to Ministers (not officially
members of the government).
What is the role of Civil service: Are crown employees who provide administrative and professional support to
the Civil Service? the government. They work in the various government departments, agencies , and non-
How are civil
departmental public bodies. Coordinated and managed by the PM, who, by convention, is
servants different to
ministers? also the Minister for the Civil service.
Civil servants: are, permanent, impartial anonymous, accountable to ministers, appointed on
merit
Ministers: Temporary, ideological/Partisan, High profile, accountable to Parliament, Political
How is the executive branch structured?
Who is the head of The PM is the head of government.
government? How The PM must be an elected democratically accountable MP, if a single party wins a majority
are they of seats in a general election and therefore commands the confidence of a majority of
appointed?
MPs,the leader is then invited by the Queen to become PM.
What is the Prime There are different units that support the PM and coordinate the work of the entire executive
Minister’s Office? branch, ensuring the government delivers on its top priorities.
What support does it Private office- manage vast volumes of paper and info that’s sent to the Pm. making sure
offer the PM in
No.10? they’re briefed and prepared for Cabinet and other meetings.
Policy unit- gives PM independent policy advice and monitors the work of the other
departments ensuring they’re each working towards the PM’s main goals.
Press Office- handles relations with the media ensuring that the media always has the
government’s view of events
Political Office- manages links with the parliamentary and national party, hopefully keeping
MPS and members on side.
What is the The Cabinet is the collective decision making body of the government.
Cabinet? Who It includes MPS and peers and government ministers.
does it include?
The PM appoints members.
Who appoints its
members? Why This is important because they can decide who will become a member of their Cabinet.
is it important?
What are Cabinet Cabinet Committees: are groups of ministers that can take collective decisions that are
Committees, sub binding across government. They reduce the burden on Cabinet by enabling collective
committees and decisions to be taken by a smaller group of ministers.
inter ministerial
groups? Sub Committees: Cabinet Committees are sub-committees of the Cabinet. They are
composed of Ministers, or Civil Servants, or both.
Inter Ministerial Groups:
What is the role of Cabinet Office- thousand of civil servants support the work of the cabinet, cabinet committees
the Cabinet Office? , and the PM as head of the cabinet.
Administrative support- Timetables meetings, writes agendas, circulates minutes, writes
briefings, ensures all ministers are prepared for cabinet/committee meetings.
Collective Government- coordinates the development and implementation of policies that
cut across multiple departments, resolves disputes between departments
What is the 1st- Secretaries of state: Have overall responsibility for the department.
ministerial hierarchy 2nd- Misters of state: Have the responsibility for more specific policy areas.
within each
3rd- Parliamentary Under-secretaries of State: are the most junior ministers, freshly
ministerial
department? promoted from the backbenches
4th- Parliamentary Private Secretaries: unpaid assistance to Ministers (not officially
members of the government).
What is the role of Civil service: Are crown employees who provide administrative and professional support to
the Civil Service? the government. They work in the various government departments, agencies , and non-
How are civil
departmental public bodies. Coordinated and managed by the PM, who, by convention, is
servants different to
ministers? also the Minister for the Civil service.
Civil servants: are, permanent, impartial anonymous, accountable to ministers, appointed on
merit
Ministers: Temporary, ideological/Partisan, High profile, accountable to Parliament, Political
