Introducing Politics for AS level

Student Resources - Chapter twelve

• Chapter Summary
• Matching Exercise
• Further reading
• Internet links
• Multiple Choice Quiz

Chapter 12: The Executive: Prime Minister and Cabinet

SETTING THE SCENE

We now reach the heart of the political system: the executive, or government. There will be two chapters dealing with this substantial topic. This first one looks at the Prime Minister and the Cabinet; chapter 13 will look at ministers and the civil service.

KEY TOPICS

• The role of the executive
• Who runs the executive?
• The Prime Minister
• The Prime Minister's Office
• A British presidency?
• Different styles of prime ministerial leadership
• Limitations on the power of the Prime Minister
• The Cabinet
• What factors influence the Prime Minister's appointments to the Cabinet?
• Do we have Cabinet government?

Are any of the terms below unclear to you? If so, perhaps you should look over this chapter or use the searchable glossary to familiarise yourself with these terms.

• The executive
• The Prime Minister
• The Prime Minister's Office
• Chancellor of the Exchequer
• The Cabinet

Matching Exercise: Chapter Twelve

Matching Exercise - Match the terms on the left with the most appropriate description on the right

The executive	Support staff to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister	The member of the executive who runs the government's economic policy
The Prime Minister's Office	The chief ministers who work with the Prime Minister in running the country.
Chancellor of the Exchequer	The leading figure in the government.
The Cabinet	One of the three "powers" or "branches" of the system of government. Its prime responsibility is to use the power of the state to govern the country by executing the laws passed by the legislature, or by taking actions sanctioned in other ways by the representative assembly, and by supporting the judiciary in enforcing the laws.

Further reading for Chapter Twelve

M. Burch, and I. Holliday, The British Cabinet System (Harvester, 1996): academic study of the Cabinet and wider executive core.

M. Foley, The British Presidency (Manchester University Press, 2000): lively and famous study of the modern Prime Minister’s role.

P. Hennessy, The Prime Minister (Allen Lane, 2000): classic study by a master of anecdote and analysis – eminently readable.

P. Hennessy, Cabinet (Blackwell, 1986): still relevant and lively.

N. McNaughton, The Prime Minister and Cabinet (Hodder, 1999): straightforward analysis, ideal for the AS beginner.

J. Major, Autobiography (HarperCollins, 1999): straight from the horse’s mouth – what it was like from the inside.

James Naughtie, Rivals (First Estate, 2002): radio presenter tells the story of the Brown–Blair relationship.

Robert Preston, Brown’s Britain (Short Books, 2006): a study of the ‘Iron Chancellor’.

A. Rawnsley, Servants of the People (Penguin, 2001): amusing analysis of a high-class journalist.

R. A. W. Rhodes and P. Dunleavy, Prime Minister, Cabinet and Core Executive (Macmillan, 1995): lively academic launch of the idea of a core executive.

Peter Riddell, The Unfulfilled PM (Politico’s, 2005): lively biography of Blair.

M. Smith, The Core Executive in Britain (Macmillan, 1999): update and develops the core executive theme.

M. Thatcher, The Downing Street Years (HarperCollins, 1993): the tragic story of Thatcher’s rise and fall, as told by the lady herself.

Websites

• www.cabinet-office.gov.uk (Cabinet Office site)
• www.number-10.gov.uk (Prime Minister's site)
• www.ukonline.gov.uk (for links to government departments)
• www.direct.gov.uk (guide to UK government)

Multiple Choice Quiz 12

Click here to access the Multiple Choice Quiz for this Chapter.