Prime Ministerial Dominance

Learning Objectives

• To define the concept of prime ministerial dominance

• To identify the basis of the presidential thesis and to start to formulate own argument based on the presidential thesis

• To evaluate the extent of prime ministerial dominance in the UK

Dictionary Corner

• Prime minister is the most powerful actor within the UK political system and dominates (controls) the system of government.

• The PM may be described as presidential.• The PM is more powerful than the cabinet when

their influence is compared.

Write your own definition…

Prime Ministerial Dominance

Does the Prime Minister dominate and control the Executive?

Why can the PM be considered dominant?• The prime minister

generally dominates the cabinet; the prime minister chooses who will serve in cabinet and the positions they will hold.

• The prime minister has the ability to dismiss members of cabinet and to redistribute responsibilities.

• The prime minister controls the cabinet's agenda.

EXAMPLE:

Former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan once

postponed a cabinet attempt to suggest he

step down, by stating that such a matter was not on

the agenda for that cabinet meeting and

would have to be dealt with later.

Why can the PM be considered dominant?• The prime minister's arsenal

of power includes a degree of control over the flow of information available to cabinet ministers and the right to determine the order in which cabinet ministers will speak.

• The prime minister is also accorded the right to sum up cabinet discussions, and in effect, to declare what was decided.

EXAMPLE:Tony Blair did not disclose all intelligence briefings to the cabinet regarding the Iraq War, supposedly as he was worried about leaking to the press.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8288553/Tony-Blair-sidelined-Cabinet-over-Iraq-because-he-couldnt-trust-ministers-not-to-leak.html

Theories of Executive PowerWhat are the theories?

Explain the theories.Give an example of each theory.

Prime Ministerial dominance overlaps with these theories both as the measure of the extent of

dominance and equally prime ministerial government.

The Presidential ThesisIs the Prime Minister becoming too

‘presidential’? (40 marks)

READ Zig Zag p69-70, and the Blair presidential hand-outs on the VLE.

Some argue that the prime minister has become so dominant within the UK political system that in fact, the

prime minister is becoming more ‘presidential’.

From what you already know about the different theories of executive power, do you agree with this statement? Why?

Comparing Prime Ministers and Presidents

Prime Minister PresidentHead of government Head of government and head of

stateElected via parliamentary elections

Separately elected

Control of legislature Independent legislature

Collective cabinet ‘Sounding board’ cabinet

No department** Personal department

Is the Prime Minister becoming too ‘presidential’?

Ways in which the PM is becoming more/too ‘presidential’

Counter Argument

Is the Prime Minister

becoming too ‘presidential’

? (40 marks)

Key Question

COMPLETELYDISAGREE

COMPLETELYAGREE

LARGE EXTENT DISAGREE

LARGE EXTENT AGREE

SMALL EXTENT AGREE

SMALL EXTENT DISAGREE

Key QuestionWrite your name on a post it and put it

on the presidential thermometer – prepare to justify your decision!

ESSAY DECODING• Read the sample essay “To what extent does the Prime

Minister dominate the UK political system?”• Read the indicative content the examiner would use.• Using the mark scheme, award marks for AO1 Knowledge

and Understanding and AO2 Intellectual Skills.• Decode the essay using the decoder.• Using the mark scheme and the decoding, award marks

for AO3 Communication and Coherence.

Approximate Equivalent Grade

A B C D E U

28 25 22 19 16 13

ESSAY DECODINGIntroduction Annotate introduction, context and overall argumentParagraphs Label paragraphsTopic Sentences Highlight in yellow topic sentences (i.e. sentences that clearly

start a new topic/theme/argument, usually at the beginning of paragraphs)

Explanatory Connectives

Highlight in yellow explanatory connectives (e.g. because, therefore, as a result, consequently)

Linking Connectives

Highlight in pink linking connectives (e.g. furthermore, in addition, however)

Contemporary Examples

Underling in red the use of contemporary examples to illustrate an argument or point

Linking back sentences

Highlight in green linking back sentences (i.e. sentences that refer back to the question, usually at the end of paragraphs)

Political vocabulary

Underline in blue any specific political vocabulary

Conclusion Annotate conclusion, evaluation and overall judgement

ESSAY DECODINGEvidence that the prime minister does

dominate the system can include :

• As the cabinet has declined, so has the power of the P.M. increased. Note less cabinet meetings and shorter duration.

• Evidence of recent dominant prime ministers – Thatcher, Blair (Brown not at first, but then took over single handed management of the financial and economic crisis after 2007).

• Growth of the Number 10 ‘machine’. • Tendency of media to see the P.M. as

spokesperson for the whole gov• Weakness of parliament and ability of P.M.

to force through his legislation • Dominance of the P.M. in increasingly

important international affairs – note attendance at many world meetings etc. and importance of foreign policy since the 1980s. This enhances the P.M’s authority.

Counter arguments to this analysis might include :

• Prime Ministers are only as powerful as circumstances allow them to be – note Major and the early Brown or late Blair. Size of parliamentary majority, economic and political context, media attitudes, strength of Opposition.

• Dominance may also depend on the personality of the P.M. (Major).

• Parliament has become increasingly active – note its obstruction of terrorist suspect detention without trial, super-casinos etc.

• Note the argument that this is about ‘style’ and not substance.

• P.M. can still be overruled by Cabinet and cannot force policies through powerful, reluctant colleagues.

ESSAY DECODINGAO1 Knowledge and Understanding

Level 1 (0-6 marks)

Poor knowledge and understanding of relevant institutions, processes, political concepts, theories or debates.

Level 2(7-13 marks)

Satisfactory knowledge and understanding of relevant institutions, processes, political concepts, theories or debates.

Level 3(14-20 marks)

Full and developed knowledge and understanding of relevant institutions, processes, political concepts, theories or debates.

AO2 Intellectual SkillsLevel 1(0-3 marks)

Limited ability to analyse and evaluate political information, arguments and explanations, and identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences.

Level 2(4-7 marks)

Sound ability to analyse and evaluate political information, arguments and explanations, and identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences.

Level 3(8-12 marks)

Good or better ability to analyse and evaluate political information, arguments and explanations, and identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences.

AO3 Communication and CoherenceLevel 1 (0-2 marks)

Weak ability to construct and communicate coherent arguments, making good use of appropriate vocabulary

Level 2(3-5 marks)

Adequate ability to construct and communicate coherent arguments, making good use of appropriate vocabulary

Level 3(6-8 marks)

Sophisticated ability to construct and communicate coherent arguments, making good use of appropriate vocabulary.

Homework