Classroom presentation on topic of the executive for National 5 Modern Studies students.

1. THE EXECUTIVE

2. learning objectives
• Explain role and powers of the prime minister.
• Identify limits on the prime minister’s power.
• Explain role and power of the cabinet.
• Understand role and responsibilities of government
ministers and reason why they resign.
• Understand role of the civil servants.

3. the executive
is the branch of government concerned with the
formulation and implementation of policy.
In the UK it can divided into mainly elected element – the
prime minister, cabinet and other ministers, and appointed
element – the civil service.

4. THE PRIME MINISTER

5. role of the prime minister
• Political leadership
• National leadership
• Appoints the government
• Chairs the cabinet
• Manages the executive
• Manages relations with parliament
• Represents the UK in international affairs

6. Powers of the prime minister
• patronage
• authority within the cabinet system
• party leadership
• policy-making role
• the Prime Minister’s Office

7. prime ministerial leadership style

8. MARGARET THATCHER

9. JOHN MAJOR

10. TONY BLAIR

11. GORDON BROWN

12. DAVID CAMERON

13. CABINET MINISTERS

14. role of the cabinet ministers
• registering and ratifying decisions taken elsewhere in
the cabinet system
• discussing and deciding on major issues
• receiving reports on key developments and determining
government business in parliament
• setting disputes between government departments

15. in addition to cabinet ministers
there are 96 government ministers

16. collective responsibility
• Ministers must keep the details of discussions in the
cabinet system secret
• Once a decision is reached in the cabinet system, it
becomes binding on all cabinet and junior ministers
• The entire government must resign if it is defeated in a
vote of confidence

17. individual responsibility
The convention that ministers are accountable to
parliament for their personal conduct, the general
conduct of their department and the policies they pursue,
the actions of officials within their department, and their
own personal conduct

18. THE CIVIL SERVICE

19. role of the civil service
• responsible for the execution of government policy
• provide impartial advice to ministers

20. there is one more member of
the executive…
do you know who that is?

21. LARRY, THE CHIEF MOUSER