What Is The Executive:
- A branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implication. In the UK this is the PM, cabinet, and junior governments
Core
Executive:
- At the heart of government who co-ordinate government activity
- Includes: PM, cabinet committees and meetings between the PM and ministers, PM’s office, departments and the top civil servants
- Claims that the PM and senior ministers all have resources and that power is based on dependence rather than command
What
Is The Role Of The Executive:
- Making policy decisions: PM and cabinet set political priorities and determines the overall policy direction for the country. Also, see the day to day admiration of the state.
- Proposing Legislation: Devises and initiates legislation. Most bills are proposed by the executive. Most are from the manifestos; the executive has law-making powers.
- Proposing A Budget: The executive makes key decisions on economic policy and proposes a budget. The Chancellor sets out levels of taxation and public spending in the budget following negotiations in the cabinet with the government departments.
What
Are The Powers Of The Executive:
- A number of powers that places them over Parliament in the policy-making decisions.
Prerogative
Powers:
- Powers exercised by ministers that do not require Parliamentary approval known as the Royal Prerogative.
- Monarch still has personal prerogative powers including the appointment of the PM
- Most of these powers include: Making and ratifying treaties, international democracy, deployment of armed forces overseas, PMs patronage powers and ability to record the dissolution of Parliament, organisation of the civil services, granting of pardons
- Has become limited in recent years e.g it has been a constitutional reform of armed forces overseas e.g Syria airstrikes in 2013
- PM powers to award honours and make public appointments have been restricted
Control
Of The Legislative Agenda:
- Most bills are from the government and this controls the timetable. Most of these become law
- Private members bills have little chance of passing
- Also shows party discipline because whips control most votes
Powers
Of Secondary Legislation:
- Known as delegated legislation allows the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be brought into forced amendments or amendments made by ministers without requiring a further act.
- Acts confer ministers to make detailed rules and regulations through statutory instruments
- Could be technical e.g when an action starts, these provide great details. They are scrutinised by committees but not debated. It is unusual for statutory instruments to be rejected.