The Powers of the Prime Minister and Limitations on His Power
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The Powers of the Prime Ministers

-         Power to appoint, reshuffle or dismiss ministers

-         Power to create peers

-         Power to give out honours

-         Power to appoint chairs of nationalised industries

-         Power to make other appointments (e.g. top civil servants, ambassadors, bishops, judges).

-         Power over ministerial conduct (rules are laid out in the ministerial code (Cabinet Office 1997)

-         Powers relating to government business (e.g. setting the agenda for Cabinet meetings, setting up Cabinet committees and choosing whether or not to circulate minutes or papers).

-         Powers over information (e.g. deciding whether or not to inform Parliament about government activities and using the lobby system to inform the media).

-         Powers in international relations

-         Power to terminate a Parliament or government.

(Adapted from Tony Benn 1981)

Limitations or Constraints on Prime Ministers Powers

-         Ministerial appointments require some recognition of the need for political balance and administrative competence. There is pressure (from colleagues or the media) to appoint certain people- all Prime Ministers at least listen to advice from senior colleagues before making appointments.

-         The Prime Ministers ability to control the flow of business is restricted

-         Apart from drawing up the party manifesto, most Prime Ministers do not initiate policy- they have a small staff and most expertise and detailed information is located in individual departments.

Other Notes in this Category

1. Different Style of the Prime Minister - Reformers, Egoists, Innovators, Balancers
2. Influences on Legislation
3. Opinion Polls
4. Staff of the Prime Minister other than the Cabinet
5. The Powers of the Prime Minister and Limitations on His Power

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