With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in the power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not begin in 1997; it can be traced back more than four decades ago when Richard Crossman highlighted the phrase ‘Prime Ministerial government’ - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 2
With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in the power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in the power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not begin in 1997; it can be traced back more than four decades ago when Richard Crossman highlighted the phrase ‘Prime Ministerial government’ - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
Sofa government
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Answer
Cabinet Ministers have seen a decline in their power due to the rise of 'sofa government', which involves bilateral meetings. In this model, decisions are often made outside the full Cabinet, limiting the collective decision-making authority of the Cabinet.
Step 2
Media influence
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The demands and scope of the media have overshadowed the individual importance of a Cabinet Minister, leading to a focus on the Prime Minister's messaging rather than collaborative policymaking.
Step 3
Pre-determined policies
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Ministers often receive policies to implement that have been decided by the Prime Minister beforehand, rather than through discussion and deliberation within the Cabinet.
Step 4
Lack of participative discussion
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There is a marked absence of participative discussion at the Cabinet level, as ministers are not allowed to effectively contribute to the policymaking process.
Step 5
Burden of government
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The increasing burden of government responsibilities has become too great for effective control by the Cabinet, thereby diminishing collective governance.
