Powers of of the prime minister and cabinet

Core Functions

The prime minister and cabinet hold executive authority, including initiating and deciding on policy.
They are the main decision-making body of the UK government, performing both collective and individual decision-making functions.

The Prime Minister (PM) has the power to appoint and dismiss members of the cabinet.
The PM largely controls the cabinet agenda and has significant influence on policy decisions made within it.
The PM also represents the UK domestically and internationally, underscored by their pivotal role in negotiations, summits, and diplomatic relations.

The Cabinet is comprised of senior politicians who head government departments.
They provide advice on strategic decisions, help push the government’s legislative agenda and represent their respective departments.
Cabinet meetings are often where key governmental policies are debated and decided upon.

Collective Responsibility is a key principle in the cabinet system, which states that all cabinet members must publicly support all government decisions, regardless of personal views or departmental interests.
If a cabinet member disagrees with a decision, they must resign from their position. This upholds the unified front of the government.

Ministerial Responsibility is another critical principle, comprising of two parts: Individual Ministerial Responsibility and Collective Ministerial Responsibility.
Individual Ministerial Responsibility requires ministers to take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their department. Failure to uphold this can lead to ministerial resignation.
Collective Ministerial Responsibility requires Cabinet members to publicly support all decisions made by the Cabinet, ensuring a unified government.

The Prime Minister and Cabinet exercise certain powers known as Royal Prerogatives on behalf of the monarch. These include declaring war, negotiating treaties, and conferring honours.

Both the Prime Minister and Cabinet are accountable to Parliament and face limitations and oversights imposed by democratic checks and balances.
The effectiveness of their power is often contingent upon the dynamics of Parliament, the strength of their political party, public opinion, and global events.