'Discuss the powers and constraints on the power of the Prime Minister\r'

'The British set up Minister (PM) is holder of great power(s). ‘The PM is the al close to regent(postnominal) figure, indeed the most knock-down(a) figure in the British system of disposal activity’[1]. He or She leads a group of political figures around of whom expect a company or national standing in their witness right. At the beginning of the 20th nose stooldy the PM was described as primus for construct p ars- start among equals. The PM has back tooth workout powers which argon denied to other members of the footlocker for practice the power of patronage.\r\nHe/she has formal powers inherit by the monarch such as the big businessman to go to war and more(prenominal) informal powers such as the media. The PM also has constitutional powers for example organism able to decide the election date. This demonstrate shall outline some of the powers at the presidency of the PM as well as some of the constraints that can limit the premenstrual syndro me freedom of action. Firstly, ‘The indigenous Minister’s social occasion is peculiarly British in two itinerarys. The first is that as the passing of Government, he must control the dwelling ho using up of Commons to remain in office[2].\r\nThe situation that the PM is head of government gives him/her respectable power. The PM owes his or her position to the troupe and must not stymy such a connection. He or she go out use the powers of leadership to keep the political companionship united, working out compromise solutions as necessary. As leader of the volume society the PM retains support of the parliament. As yearn as the majority is a viable one, the PM and his or her cabinet colleagues are in a position to bend the House to adopt party policies.\r\nIn this sense a good descent between the Pm and his or her party is crucial in allowing the freedom of weft for the PM. Secondly, the PM cyphers power under the over-embellished license, powers which can be used but are traditionally powers of the cr ingest. Powers relating to the legislature-e. g. ‘the summoning, proroguing and dissolution of parliament; the granting of royal assent to bills; legislating by Order in Council (e. g. in sexual congress to civil service) or by letter patent; creating schemes for conferring benefits upon citizens where Parliament appropriates the necessary pay’[3].\r\nPowers regarding the armed forces ‘Powers relating to the armed forces e. g. †the Sovereign is air force officer in chief of the armed forces of the vest and the control, organisation and disposition of the armed forces are within the prerogative’[4]. Furthermore, ‘the power of particular date and dismissal, can be, and is, used by the Prime Minister to shape the habitual and particular proposition direction of policy, as Margaret Thatcher demonstrated in September 1981 when she reinforced her Governments commitment to its stinting polic y by dismissing several so called wets[5].\r\nThirdly, the PM determines the date of the next general election. The PM alone decides when to ask the monarch when to dissolve parliament and therefore the magazine of the polling day. Normally this provide be by and by four years in office. The PM will choose a magazine when victory looks most likely[6], his or her resource may be cropd by party performance in the canvass, opinion polls and also by-elections, there are a do of various influences that cast the deciding factor into when election Day is.\r\nOn the other hand, a constraint on the powers of the PM could be his/her cabinet colleagues. It understandably limits the freedom of action for any PM. No PM can survive presbyopic without the support of his or her cabinet colleagues. The refund of Margaret Thatcher in 1990 is often said to be more often than not the work of her cabinet, ‘the introduction of the federation Charge for local government sounded the shoem akers last knell for Thatcherism’[7] And her presidential style of leadership were making her un customary. In 1990 there was a dispute to her leadership.\r\nMichael Heseltine stood against thatcher in a challenge to her leadership but ‘despite universe only four voter turnouts short of unqualified victory, she stepped down after advice from her Cabinet’[8]. less votes than she did but enough to damage her liberty to such an extent that in a succession of face to face interviews her cabinet colleagues convinced her not to stand in the second round, thus leaving the way open for john major to be elected. Thatcher was therefore removed from office outsizedly due to the work of her cabinet colleagues.\r\n tin can study also had some difficulties in his second ministry with some of his cabinet in particular John Redwood and Michael Portillo, because of their underhand inverse to his policy. browned enjoyed the advantage of being able to reshuffle his cabin et thoroughly when he took over as PM, hence ensuring the projection of his enemies and rivals. He made sure to hold some of his ‘inner circle’ including Ed Balls sometimes named Mr Browns ‘representative on res publica’ [9] A second constraint on the powers of the PM is the support of the media or wishing of it.\r\nIf a PM is to be popular and hence successful, he or she unavoidably the support of a large constituent of the media; this usually itself can be myrmecophilous on the popularity of the PM. The Murdoch press is often credited, oddly by the newspapers themselves as having more influence than they really turn over, a Guardian word affirms ‘ Rupert Murdochs spell is broken. plainly not his maleficent influence’[10]. Moreover when they transferred their support from study to Blair in the mid-1990s/ it was certainly harmful to major(ip)’s electoral success.\r\nHowever, if Major had gloss over been popular in the count ry, it is unlikely that the temperateness and the times would engender switches sides as they did. Brown initially enjoyed a favourable press, largely due to the novelty factor. ‘By the happy and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a volume suck even heaven as nether region or an extremely wretched sustenance as paradise’ Adolf Hitler’s remarks about the media make the impression that the correct use of it can prove a powerful thing. But by contrast we have seen that when the media turns against the PM it can be a constraint on the power of the PM.\r\nFinally, the size of the majority in the commons can have a substantial nitty-gritty on the premenstrual syndrome ability to crowd things through. Tony Blair enters Downing Street on a wave of goodwill after a landslide election victory, his Commons majority of 179 ending 18 years of button-down rule[11]. Tony Blair was fortunate between 1997 and 2005 with two large majorities. This was an important factor in his success, and his ability and his government’s ability to get programs passed in parliament.\r\nHowever, it is arguable that because his majority was so huge, some dissidents on the backbench were more uncoerced to cause trouble than they otherwise would have been. In 2993-5, there were a number of Labour backbench revolts which greatly reduced the government’s theoretical majority in the commons. So perhaps it is better to have a large, rather than enormous majority. But governments with small majorities such as Wilson and Callaghan in the period 1974-0 and then John Major in 1992-7 can suffer easily in the event of a backbench revolt.\r\n over Europe, Major had great problems within his own party and only managed to ratify the Maastricht accord with a majority of one vote because of a backbench revolt. This sort of difficulty undermines the PMs Authority more generally, in the media and among the voters as a whole. Blair found this out for himself in his third term, with a reduced majority, and his first defeat in 2005 on the terrorism bill. Brown of course inherited this slimmer majority from Blair and in March 2008 he face up back-bench rebellions over his counter terrorism bill.\r\nIn conclusion, it has been argued that the PM has acted beyond the constitutional role which is primus inter pares (first among equals). The PM can exercise powers held by the crown or prerogative powers for example the ability to go to war. as well as the PM decides the election date. But most importantly, he or she is leader of government and by definition the most powerful politician in the country. However, should the PM forget the connection established between the press, the people and his or her party the PM will find it hard to succeed as Margaret thatcher’s downfall highlighted.\r\n'