1. L2.7: Constitution and Government

To discover how the constitution influences
Government

To identify the relationship between
Constitution and Government

3. Executive
This branch of
government
makes and passes the
law and scrutinises the
Executive branch
Legislative
This branch of
government
upholds the law
in the courts.
Judiciary
This branch of government
are also known as the
Administration
and they carry out the
function of administering
the laws passed by the
Legislative.

4. Walter Bagehot lived from 1826-1877 and said that he
knew the „efficient secret‟ of the British political system.
“It is the fusion of
executive and
legislative power.”
From what you have just seen of members of the Cabinet
also being in the House of Commons, what do you think
he may have meant?

5. In America the three branches of Government are kept very separate.
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
The idea behind this is that if they are all separate,
no one element of Government will become too
powerful. They will ‘check’ and ‘balance’ each other.

6. PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
Executive
Legislative
What links are you aware of between the Legislative and
the Executive in the UK?

7. Who do you think has the most power? The Executive or Parliament?
Think about how
this will vary
2011
1997
Least
Powerful
1980's
Most
Powerful

8. Does the Executive have a lot of
power over House of Commons at the
moment?
2011
What will influence how strong the
Government is?
1997
1980's

9. Parliament’s powers over Government
They can veto legislation
- refuse to pass it
They can amend or change
legislation - change what
the Government wants to do
They can ask questions of
The Government - and so
hold them to account
They can scrutinise the
workings of the Government
- in committees and in Prime
Ministers Questions etc
They can hold up Government
legislation so that it runs out
of Parliamentary time and fails
They can dismiss a
Government
- by a vote of no confidence
They can refuse to
pass a budget

10. Parliament’s powers over Government
Which powers of Parliament are missing?
They can veto legislation
- refuse to pass it
They can amend or change
legislation - change what
the Government wants to do
They can ask questions of
The Government - and so
hold them to account
They can scrutinise the
workings of the Government
- in committees and in Prime
Ministers Questions etc
They can hold up Government
legislation so that it runs out
of Parliamentary time and fails
They can dismiss a
Government
- by a vote of no confidence
They can refuse to
pass a budget

11. I am a member of
the Cabinet and
the PM. Some of
my Parliamentary
party members (MPs)
seem to be trying to
disrupt my legislative
program
 Make a plan to try and think of ways you can successfully get it
through.
 Have the Cabinet meeting. Remember, these are not public
and cannot be talked about outside the Cabinet room. You can,
therefore be devious.
 Draw up a plan of at least six points.

13. Collective Cabinet Responsibility
Traditionally, by convention, the party that is in control of the Executive
also has a majority in the House of Commons.
The Cabinet works by the principle of collective responsibility which means
that the Cabinet keep what goes on in Cabinet secret and to the outside
world, they all appear united.

14. L2.7: Constitution and Government

To discover how the constitution influences
Government

To identify the relationship between
Constitution and Government
How does the Constitution influence the behaviour
of Government?
- Can you answer that question?
- If not, what more do you need to know in order to
answer that question?