Prime Minister and Cabinet
How governments are formed
There are no codified rules in the UK to state how government is formed, in theory it is in the hands of the monarch – up until the 19thCentury this was largely a reality. However the monarch no longer plays any active role in this process. The party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons after a general election, its leader will be invited by the monarch to form a government.
2010 Coalition
Conservatives were longest party in HoC but failed to win overall majority
Labour negotiated a coalition with LibDems and later the LibDems negotiated with both main parties for a coalition
Labour and LibDem did not make an overall majority
Gordon Brown later resigned and advised the Queen to ask Cameron to form a government either as a minority or in coalition with LibDems.
Cameron accepted and formed coalition with LibDem
‘The Government’
25 members are members of the HoL and 90 are MPs. MPs that are from the party that is in government ate not members of government! They are known as backbenchers and the members of government are known as frontbenchers. All members of government are appointed by the PM. The cabinet (22-23 members) meet regularly.
Ministerial selection
The PM must weigh up the qualities of individuals against the political consequences of appointing them.
Qualities that ideal ministers should possess:
Must be politically reliable
Must have potential
Should share their views
Managerial skills needed
Under coalition
How many cabinet posts do they have each?
Must discuss whom to elect together
Other forms of government
Minority government – party forms a government without a parliamentary majority. Can never rely on getting legislation/financial budgets passed. It must therefore try to build a coalition of support from other parties. Therefore minority governments cannot attempt to do anything radical.
Coalition government – where two or more parties take part. There are two conditions that must be me:
1.
There are no codified rules in the UK to state how government is formed, in theory it is in the hands of the monarch – up until the 19thCentury this was largely a reality. However the monarch no longer plays any active role in this process. The party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons after a general election, its leader will be invited by the monarch to form a government.
2010 Coalition
Conservatives were longest party in HoC but failed to win overall majority
Labour negotiated a coalition with LibDems and later the LibDems negotiated with both main parties for a coalition
Labour and LibDem did not make an overall majority
Gordon Brown later resigned and advised the Queen to ask Cameron to form a government either as a minority or in coalition with LibDems.
Cameron accepted and formed coalition with LibDem
‘The Government’
25 members are members of the HoL and 90 are MPs. MPs that are from the party that is in government ate not members of government! They are known as backbenchers and the members of government are known as frontbenchers. All members of government are appointed by the PM. The cabinet (22-23 members) meet regularly.
Ministerial selection
The PM must weigh up the qualities of individuals against the political consequences of appointing them.
Qualities that ideal ministers should possess:
Must be politically reliable
Must have potential
Should share their views
Managerial skills needed
Under coalition
How many cabinet posts do they have each?
Must discuss whom to elect together
Other forms of government
Minority government – party forms a government without a parliamentary majority. Can never rely on getting legislation/financial budgets passed. It must therefore try to build a coalition of support from other parties. Therefore minority governments cannot attempt to do anything radical.
Coalition government – where two or more parties take part. There are two conditions that must be me:
1.