The Role of the Prime Minister in Government
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The
Role
of
the Prime
Minister
By :Dr.G.Chitra Parvathy,
Dept. of History,
T.D.M.N.S. College,
T.Kallikulam.
Learning
Objectives
•
To
identify
the
sources
of the
prime
minister’s
power
•
To
explain
the
powers
of and
constraints
on the
Prime
Minister
•
To
identify
the
functions
of the
Prime
Minister
The
Ruling
Party
•
The
PM
has the support of his party both
in
parliament and
in
the country
in
the form of ordinary
members.
Since his party has won the right
to
govern, the
PM
carries his
party’s
elective authority
with
him.
The
royal
prerogative
•
The reigning monarch
retains
(in
theory and
law),
the power
to
carry out the functions of
the
head
of
state,
such
as
commanding
the armed
forces. In
a
democracy we cannot
allow
an
unelected monarch to
exercise
these
powers
and so the authority
to
exercise
these
‘prerogative
powers’
is
delegated to
the
PM.
Popular
mandate
•
Although
technically
the
voters
are
choosing the MP and a
party,
they are
also
conscious
that they
are
electing a
PM. Research suggest that
the leader
of
the party is
becoming more
and
more
in
important
when it
comes
to
deciding
who
to
vote for at
an election.
Thus,
the
victorious PM
can
claim
to
enjoy
the authority of the
electorate. This does not apply
to
PMs
who
came
to
office
between
elections.
Thus
weakening
their
authority.
E.g. Major –
1990
and
Brown –
2007.
Parliament
•
The
PM is
the parliamentary
leader
and
as long as
he has the support of
a majority
of the
H
of
C
he
can claim parliamentary
authority.
•
Some PMs
have
enhanced the power gained
with
their
own
personal qualities
to
add
to
the
four
sources of
authority:
•
Margret Thatcher
–
enhanced her authority
by becoming
a
dominating personality which was
admired and respected.
•
Tony
Blair –
seen
as a
charismatic
figure
thus increasing authority and
power.
Sources
of
Prime
Ministerial
Power
and
authority
Patronage
Powers
of the
PM
•
appoints
ministers
•
allocates
cabinet
posts
•
reshuffles
cabinet
•
dismisses
ministers
Constraints
•
claims
of senior
colleagues
for
inclusion
and
specific
posts
•
Labour PM
required
to
appoint
first
cabinet
from
elected
shadow
cabinet
•
ideological balance
(talented
backbenchers!)
•
unintended
consequences of
botched
reshuffles
•
possibility of
sacked
ministers
emerging
as
rivals
for
leadership
EXAMPLE:
Cameron
appointing lots of
ministers
to
avoid/limit
the
number
of
backbench rebellions
from
MPs
http://www.independent.co.uk/ne
ws/uk/politics/tory-mp-hits-out-at-
cameron-over-patronage-
6255017.html
Authority
in the
cabinet
system
P
o
w
e
r
s
of
the
P
M
C
o
n
s
t
r
ai
n
ts
•
chairs cabinet
meetings
•
manages
the
cabinet
agenda
•
steers,
sums up
and
determines
outcome
of
cabinet
discussions
•
holds
bilateral
and
informal
meetings with
key
ministers
•
appoints
chairs
and
members of
cabinet
committees
•
restructure
central
government
•
requires
cabinet support
on
major
or
controversial
issues
•
senior
ministers
have
authority and
may
challenge
the PMs
preferred
policy
•
problems
may
arise if
senior
ministers
feel
they
are
being
ignored
•
not
involved
in
detailed
policy
making in
cabinet
committees
Party
Leadership
P
o
w
e
r
s
of
the
P
M
C
o
n
s
t
r
ai
n
ts
•
authority as the
leader of
a
political
party
•
elected
by
MPs
and
party
members
•
enjoys
a majority in
the
House of
Commons
•
support of party
is
not
unconditional
•
possibility of
backbench
rebellions
EXAMPLE:
Rebel MPs
force
parliament
debate
on
EU
referendum
through
Private
Members
Bill
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/parliament-will-debate-eu-
referendum-as-rebel-mps-force-issue-on-cameron-with-private-members-bills-
8617665.html
Public
Standing
P
o
w
e
r
s
of
the
P
M
C
o
n
s
t
r
ai
n
ts
•
high public
profile
•
communication-in-chief
for
the
government
•
political
leaders
in times
of
crisis
•
represents country
in
international
affairs
•
unpopularity
with the
electorate
undermines
authority
•
may
become
the
focus
of
media
criticism
EXAMPLE:
Polls
show
Cameron
is
more
unpopular than his party
(despite
him being
seen
previously
as an
electoral
asset
to
his
party)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/07/david-cameron-tory-party-poll
Policy
Making
Role
P
o
w
e
r
s
of
the
P
M
C
o
n
s
t
r
ai
n
ts
•
directs government
policy
and
sets
the
agenda
•
authority
to
become
involved
in
policy
areas
of
choosing
•
takes
the
key
role
in
times
of
crisis
•
limited
time and lack
of
detailed
knowledge
•
lacks
the
resources
provided by
a
government
department
•
may
be
difficult
to
achieve
policy
success
EXAMPLE:
Cameron
accused of
causing 'chaos'
over energy
policy
after ministers
appeared
to
state
opposite
energy
policy in speech
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/parliament-will-debate-eu-
referendum-as-rebel-mps-force-issue-on-cameron-with-private-members-bills-
8617665.html
Prime
Ministers’
Office
P
o
w
e
r
s
of
the
P
M
C
o
n
s
t
r
ai
n
ts
•
Prime
Minister’s Office
provides
advice
and
support
•
better
enables
PM
to
direct
policy
and act as a
communicator
•
appoints special
advisers
•
can
reorganise
the
structure
of
the
government
•
Prime
Ministers’ Office
has
limited
resources
(staff,
funding)
•
power
of other
departments,
especially
the
Treasury
Functions of the
Prime
Minister
•
Although his role is shared
to
some
extent
with
other
ministers,
the
cabinet
and
his
party,
the PM is
completely pre-eminent
in
making
the
government’s
policies.
Chief policy
maker
•
The
PM is in
charge
of the machinery of
government.
He
can create new posts
and
new
departments (as well
as abolishing them). He is the head of the
Civil
Service and
can
seek
advice from
its
vast machinery.
He
chairs cabinet meetings, determining
their
agenda
and
controlling
the
system
of
cabinet committees that
underpins it.
The
PM has the
task
of
determining which individuals should
hold
posts
as
ministers,
senior
judges
and
bishops/archbishops
in the
Church
of
England.
Head
of
government
•
The
PM is
expected to
be the
ultimate source
of the official
version
of
government
policy
to
the
media. The definitive version
of policy
MUST come from
the
PM.
Chief
government
spokesperson
•
It is now solely the decision of the PM
to whether
or not
to commit
British
troops to
Battle
or
to any
other
role.
He
may
seek
advice
before
he does this.
E.g.
Tony
Bair has
committed
British
forces
to action in
Kosovo
in
1998 to protect
the
Muslim
population
from ethnic
cleansing and in
Iraq
in
2003 to
topple Saddam
Hussein.
C
ommand
er
-in-
chief of armed
forces
•
This function
is carried out
for
the
monarch. This can
range
from negotiating with
foreign
powers to
signing
treaties to
chairing
international meetings.
E.g. Blair chaired
meetings of
the G8
of
lading nations and
took
a leading
role on
issues
such
as global
warming
and
relief of poverty
in
LEDCs.
Chief
foreign-
p
olicy
maker
•
The
PM is
responsible
for
leading his party in
parliament
in
PMQs
and other
debates.
He also is in
overall
control
of the
government’s strategy
within both
houses.
P
a
r
liamen
t
ary
Leader
Summary;
The
Role
of the
Prime
Minister
•
Providing
direction
for
the
government
•
Political
and
policy
leadership
•
Making
appointments
to
major
public
offices
•
Chairing
the
cabinet
and
steering
its
decisions
•
Answering
Prime
Minister’s
Questions in
the
House of
Commons
•
Communicating
the
government’s
message
•
Representing
the
country
in
international
affairs
The Prime
Minister
no
longer chooses the
date
of a
general
election
(Fixed
Term
Parliaments
Act)
Exploring the sources of a Prime Minister's power, constraints they face, and authority within the cabinet system. Topics include party support, royal prerogative, popular mandate, parliamentary leadership, patronage, powers, and constraints within the cabinet.
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Presentation Transcript
The Role of the Prime Minister By :Dr.G.Chitra Parvathy, Dept. of History, T.D.M.N.S. College, T.Kallikulam.
Learning Objectives To identify the sources of the prime minister s power To explain the powers of and constraints on the Prime Minister To identify the functions of the Prime Minister
Sources of Prime Ministerial Power andauthority TheRulingParty The PM has the support of his party both in parliament and in the country in the form of ordinary members. Since his party has won the right to govern, the PM carries his party s elective authority with him. The royal prerogative The reigning monarch retains (in theory and law), the power to carry out the functions of the head of state, such as commanding the armed forces. In a democracy we cannot allow an unelected monarch to exercise these powers and so the authority to exercisethese prerogative powers is delegated to the PM. Popularmandate Although technically the voters are choosing the MP and a party, they are also conscious that they are electing a PM. Research suggest that the leader of the party is becoming more and more in important when it comes to deciding who to vote for at an election. Thus, the victorious PM can claim to enjoy the authority of the electorate. This does not apply to PMs who came to office between elections. Thus weakening their authority. E.g. Major 1990 and Brown 2007. Parliament The PM is the parliamentary leader and as long as he has the support of a majority of the H of C he can claim parliamentaryauthority. Some PMs have enhanced the power gained with their own personal qualities to add to the four sources of authority: Margret Thatcher enhanced her authority by becoming a dominating personality which was admired and respected. Tony Blair seen as a charismatic figure thus increasing authority and power.
Patronage Constraints claims of senior colleagues for inclusion and specific posts Labour PM required to appoint first cabinetfrom elected shadow cabinet ideological balance (talented backbenchers!) unintended consequences of botchedreshuffles possibility of sacked ministers emerging asrivals for leadership Powers of the PM appoints ministers allocates cabinetposts reshuffles cabinet dismissesministers EXAMPLE: Cameron appointing lots of ministers to avoid/limit thenumber of backbench rebellions fromMPs http://www.independent.co.uk/ne ws/uk/politics/tory-mp-hits-out-at- cameron-over-patronage- 6255017.html
Authority in the cabinet system Powers of the PM chairs cabinetmeetings manages the cabinet agenda steers, sums up and determines outcomeof cabinetdiscussions holds bilateral and informal meetings with keyministers appoints chairs and members of cabinet committees restructure central government Constraints requires cabinet supporton major or controversial issues senior ministers have authority and may challenge the PMspreferred policy problems may arise if senior ministers feel they are being ignored not involved in detailed policy making cabinet committees in
Party Leadership Powers of the PM Constraints support of party isnot unconditional possibility ofbackbench rebellions authority as the leader ofa political party elected by MPs andparty members enjoys a majority inthe House of Commons EXAMPLE: Rebel MPs force parliament debate on EU referendum through Private Members Bill http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/parliament-will-debate-eu- referendum-as-rebel-mps-force-issue-on-cameron-with-private-members-bills- 8617665.html
Public Standing Powers of the PM Constraints high publicprofile communication-in-chief for the government political leaders in timesof crisis represents country in international affairs unpopularity with the electorate undermines authority may become the focusof media criticism EXAMPLE: Polls show Cameron is more unpopular than his party (despite him beingseen previously as an electoral asset to his party) http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/07/david-cameron-tory-party-poll
Policy Making Role Powers of the PM Constraints limited time and lackof detailedknowledge lacks the resources provided by agovernment department may be difficult to achieve policysuccess directs government policy and sets the agenda authority to become involved in policy areas of choosing takes the key role in times of crisis EXAMPLE: Cameron accused of causing 'chaos' over energy policy after ministers appeared to state opposite energy policy in speech http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/parliament-will-debate-eu- referendum-as-rebel-mps-force-issue-on-cameron-with-private-members-bills- 8617665.html
Prime Ministers Office Powers of the PM Constraints Prime Ministers Officehas limited resources (staff, funding) power of other departments, especiallythe Treasury Prime Minister s Office provides advice andsupport better enables PM to direct policy and act as a communicator appoints specialadvisers can reorganise the structure of the government
Functions of the Prime Minister Although his role is shared to some extent with other ministers, the cabinet andhis party, the PM is completely pre-eminent in making the government spolicies. Chief policymaker The PM is in charge of the machinery of government. He can create new posts and new departments (as well as abolishing them). He is the head of the Civil Service and can seek advice from its vast machinery. He chairs cabinet meetings, determining their agenda and controlling the system of cabinet committees that underpins it. The PM has the task of determining which individuals should hold posts as ministers, senior judges and bishops/archbishops in the Church ofEngland. Head of government Chiefgovernment spokesperson The PM is expected to be the ultimate source of the official version of government policy to the media. The definitive version of policy MUST come from thePM. It is now solely the decision of the PM to whether or not to commit British troops to Battle or to any other role. He may seek advice before he does this. E.g. Tony Bair has committed British forces to action in Kosovo in 1998 to protect the Muslim population from ethnic cleansing and in Iraq in 2003 to topple SaddamHussein. Commander-in- chief of armed forces This function is carried out for the monarch. This can range from negotiating with foreign powers to signing treaties to chairing international meetings. E.g. Blair chaired meetings of the G8 of lading nations and took a leading role on issues such as global warmingand reliefof povertyinLEDCs. Chief foreign- policy maker Parliamentary Leader The PM is responsible for leading his party in parliament in PMQs and other debates. He also is in overall control of the government s strategy within bothhouses.
Summary; The Role of the Prime Minister Providing direction for the government Political and policy leadership Making appointments to major public offices Chairing the cabinet and steering its decisions Answering Prime Minister s Questions in the House of Commons Communicating the government s message Representing the country in international affairs The Prime Minister no longer chooses the date of a general election (Fixed Term Parliaments Act)
