The British Prime Minister Now Has Presidential Powers

Thâ€Å"The British Prime Minister now has Presidential Powers† Discuss the Validity of this Statement It would be correct to say that over the years the British Prime Minister has become more of a Presidential figure in Parliament. Recent prime ministers that have been referred to as presidential include Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Harold Wilson. Prime Ministers are supposed to be ‘First Among Equals’ (Primus Inter Pares), however recent Prime Ministerial actions have got people questioning whether or not the Prime Minister has more power and is becoming a Presidential figure.The idea that the prime minister is now more presidential is drawn from the knowledge of the United States president and how the British Prime Minister compares to him. Firstly, the media turns the Prime Minister into a political celebrity. The actions the Prime Minister takes inside parliament and also much of the PM’s personal life is publicised in newspapers and television. T he Prime minister is the spokesperson for the government. Although their access to the media can be used for personal benefit, the media has been more critical of politicians in recent years.There is evidence of this as the BBC made allegations that the Iraq dossier was ‘sexed up’ during Tony Blair’s time as Prime Minister (class notes). The U. S President tends to have media coverage also. The wider use of special advisors increases how presidential the Prime Minister appears. The ‘Spatial leadership’ that the Prime Minister now adopts also gives us this impression. Prime Ministers now distance themselves from parties and government and develop their own ideologies. Examples of this include Blairism and Thatcherism (class notes).In times of distress in the country the people often turn to the Prime Minister in search of a solution. They PM tends to reach out to the people in times of crisis, for example, David Cameron returned home from his holiday early last year to address the issue of the London Riots (class notes). The power of the PM has increased in recent years as the prime minister has now increased control over Cabinet Office, which has turned it into a small scale Prime Minister’s department. The Prime Minister has the capability to dominate his cabinet. This makes him more like a president asCollective Responsibility is an effective way of ‘gagging’ his ministers. All ministers are expected to support publicly all decisions made in cabinet, or else resign. For example, in 2010 David Cameron was discussing with cabinet about building a Millennium Dome. Before a decision was made, he went outside and told the awaiting media that a dome was being built. Therefore the Prime Minister made the decision alone and cabinet couldn’t disagree (class notes). Another example of this is that Gordon Brown announced his decision to give independence to the Bank of England.Blair and Brown took this decisio n alone and Mo Mowlam, one of the most popular ministers in Blair’s cabinet stated, â€Å"I read about the bank of England decision in the newspapers† (Politics Review). This clearly shows that the Prime Minister can dominate his cabinet and make decisions despite him being â€Å"Primus Inter Pares† (first among equals). As the years go on, Prime Ministers are also having shorter and less frequent cabinet meetings and are holding more bilateral meetings. The amount of cabinet meetings has declined from 100 a year to approximately 40.Under Margret Thatcher’s parliament, her Cabinet was used less than previous Prime Ministers and annual meetings took place about 35 times. Under Blair, meetings rarely lasted an hour. This is evidence of the Prime Minister becoming more presidential and tackling decisions alone rather than with Cabinet. Thatcher and Blair also tended to have more committees and sub-committees. Blair’s ‘Sofa government’, Th atcher’s ‘Wise men’ and Wilsons ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ are all operating through bi-lateral meetings between the Prime Minister and advisors, so policy was ratified before it reached cabinet.These are all examples of Prime Ministers taking matters into their own hands and becoming more dominant and presidential. The dominance of the Prime Minister over Parliament is also shown in the ways that he/she chairs important cabinet committees and sets the cabinet agenda. Setting the cabinet agenda allows the Prime Minister to leave anything that may be difficult to come to an agreement on in Cabinet, to the end so that there will eventually be no time to cover it and the Prime Minister has to come to a decision on his/her own. Margaret Thatcher was said to have done this quite frequently.This shows that the Prime Minister can therefore decide on important affairs without having to consult cabinet. Tony Blair was noted to have used cabinet Committees a lot. The P rime Minister is also considered presidential because of what is seen as a growing ‘West Wing’ in Downing Street. This is due to the increase in Political Advisors in the PM’s office. The advisors help the Prime Minister make decisions even though they are unelected themselves. This means that they effectively influence his decisions and help him bypass cabinet, for example Blair gave his advisors power of Civil Servants.On the other hand, the Prime Minister can give considerable control to his cabinet members, which isn’t evident in American politics. For example, during Blair’s reign as PM, the Labour party was said to have a ‘Duel Monarchy’ due to how much power was given to Gordon Brown. Other ministers can constrain the Prime Ministers power and effect his decisions, which doesn’t happen with the U. S president. The Prime Ministers personality is an issue in how much power they have over Cabinet. They have powers over office but some may be more proficient than others in the exercise of those powers.Some Prime Ministers have been good in government management and other haven’t. Some adopted an autorical approach and some others focus on policy reflections. The amount of authority a PM had depends on how assertive a personality he/sh has. For example, John Major was often ridiculed for his inability to make decisions and was seen as a pushover (class notes). The PM’s popularity with the public also dictates how much power they have. At the moment, David Cameron is restricted from acting presidentially as a result of the constraints of a coalition government.The coalition government may weaken the powers of Cameron as many compromises need to be made to keep the government stable. For example, Cameron had agreed to a referendum on the electoral system. He had agreed to introduce fixed term elections. Liberal democrats hold key cabinet positions. Unlike the president, the PM may face resista nce in cabinet as particular cabinet members may not go along with a particular proposal. For example, Thatcher’s parliament lost a bill as the majority of cabinet voted against it.The PM cannot completely ignore his cabinet. Unlike the U. S. A, the cabinet is Britain is elected. The cabinet can overthrow the Prime Minister is he is disliked. This cannot happen in U. S government. In conclusion, the Prime Minister, in many ways over the years has increased his/her power to such an extent as to appear presidential. However, there are many constraints on PM power to conflict with this view. Whether or not the Prime Minister remains in high powers depends on power, personality and circumstance.

Civil Rights Essay

Although the 1960’s are usually considered the decade of greatest achievement for black civil rights, the 1940’s and 1950’s were periods of equally important gains. Asses the Validity of this statement. Equality was always a touchy subject following the civil war. Following the war, the north did not put emphasis on equality for all men. It took almost a century longer for complete equality to be achieved. Clearly these changes did not come around quickly, and it took a large group effort to bring about change. The ending results of the fight for Civil Rights that came in the 1960’s are of equal or even lesser importance to the events that enacted the change during the 1940’s and 1950’s. The 1960’s were a time of great results of the effort to establish civil rights for African Americans. In the earl sixties, movements such as the Freedom Riders were still in full effect, but the government was beginning to sway to the black side. President Kennedy brings the Civil Rights Bill to congress in 1963. It is put down by the southern democrats. As a result, Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement organize a massive political march in Washington. One of the high points of this march is Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. The efforts come to fruition with the passing of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964, and Voting Rights Bill of 1965. But the Efforts made in the sixties are mere fractions of the total amount of drive from the previous decades. Civil Rights was an important issue that came up after, and during, WWII. Many Blacks wanted to serve their country in the army, but couldn’t due to military segregation. President Truman brought the Civil Rights issue to light when he established his Committee on Civil Rights. Shortly after the committee was established, the President passed a series of executive orders removing segregation in the military and in the government workforce. This was the first effort taken by the government concerning equal rights for the African Americans. These Efforts promptly continued at the turn of the decade. The Civil Rights movement really began to sink in leading up to it’s peak in  the late fifties. In 1950, a major court ruling changed the face of racial segregation involving schools. The Supreme Court case Brown v Board of Education was a shock to the US population that had Blacks all over seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Segregation in schools was ruled a violation of the fourteenth amendment by the court. This ruling was put to the test in 1952 when nine black students attempted to enroll in a public high school. Crowds gathered in order to stop the students. Then, President Eisenhower sent in a group of troop to escort the students to school; showing that the federal government would support the court ruling. More and more Blacks decided to take a stand. In Montgomery, Alabama, Civil Rights activists staged a bus boycott. These events turned more and more people towards the cause. As time went on, activists grew more organized. The events of the 1950’s set up the success that came in the 1960’s The 1940’s and 1940’s were just as important as the 1960’s for the Civil Rights movement because, major events during this era created a sense of unity that allowed for organization in the sixties. It is important not to overlook the necessary preludes to the march on Washington. Although results are finally felt in the sixties, it could never have happened without the bravery of the previous twenty-so years.

Market Structure / Supply & Demand Essay

Monopoly – one person or company dominates provision of a particular product or service, in the absence of competitors. Consumers do not have a choice for provision of the product in question. A monopoly can ‘call the shots’ on their product (price, availability etc.) as there is no alternative on offer to consumers. Monopolists tend to produce a limited number of product which are then sold at a high price (there is no need to compete). (Control of demand) The British Government seeks to restrict the behaviour of monopolies, so preventing unfair business behaviours. Oligopoly – a small number of dominant firms or individuals compete to provide a product or service. Competition is limited and as a result, very closely related. Everything a competitor does directly affects your business. E.g. If one company drops its prices all the other businesses in the oligopoly are affected. Business decisions must always consider competitor’s influence / reaction. An oligopoly may agree to maintain artificially high prices – technically illegal but difficult to prove if nothing is in writing. Duopoly – taken literally a duopoly means 2 firms control a market. In reality is usually means that 2 firms dominate a market by having the biggest share in it. Examples of duopolistic markets include Coca Cola and Pepsi as dominant suppliers of soft drinks. There are many competitors in the field but Coke and Pepsi have such a huge share of the market that they don’t usually see them as competition or influence on their business decisions. Perfect competition – theoretical – as are all the above definitions. Multiple providers offer a wide choice to a broad spectrum of consumers. Consumers benefit from freedom of choice and businesses competing for their  custom through competitive pricing and customer service. Supply and Demand The concept of supply and demand is at the heart of a market economy. Prices, earnings, and the supply of goods is determined by the demand for it by consumers. Demand – In economic terms this is the amount of a product (or service) desired by consumers. Supply – The quantity of a product or service a producer is willing to make available to consumers and the price at which they want to sell that product. Demand Curve – a graph showing the correlation (or demand relationship) between the price of a product or service and how many consumers would desire it at different prices (if all other variables are unchanged). It is an attempt to quantify preference. I.e. how much a consumer is willing to pay for something and at what point the cost outweighs the desire. Companies may use this demand relationship as a pricing guide and to determine how much of a product to manufacture, which in turn indicates the level of resources required. The simplest interpretation which can be drawn is that as prices rise, demand drops and vice versa. As we can see from the graphic above, at point A the highest price (P1) reflects the lowest quantity demanded (Q1). Conversely, at point C the number of units in demand (Q3) is much greater when the price (P3) is considerably lower. The downward slope of the curve reflects a negative relationship between price and quantity demanded. I.e. as one factor rises, the other drops and vice-versa. Variables other than price affecting demand. Demography – the statistical make up of consumers (age range, income bracket, education, political persuasion etc.) all influence the demand for goods and services. Income – a rise in income often correlates with a rise in demand for a good. The exception to this is if a good is considered ‘inferior’ – a rise in income may result in a switch to goods considered to be of higher quality. (e.g. ‘plonk’ to fine wine) Substitutes –  Supply Curve The basic premise from the supplier’s point of view is that the higher the price a good can be sold for – the more a business will be willing to supply. References Bized.co.uk. 2014. Biz/ed – Interactive Supply and Demand 1 | Biz/ed. [online] Available at: http://www.bized.co.uk/learn/economics/markets/mechanism/interactive/part1.htm [Accessed: 8 Apr 2014]. Heakal, R. 2014. Demand Curve. [image online] Available at: http://i.investopedia.com/inv/tutorials/site/economics/economics3.gif [Accessed: 8 Apr 2014]. Heakal, R. 2014. Supply Curve. [image online] Available at: http://i.investopedia.com/inv/tutorials/site/economics/economics4.gif [Accessed: 8 Apr 2014]. —————- BBC News. 2014. Economy tracker: Inflation. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10612209 [Accessed: 7 Apr 2014]. HM Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs. 2013. Government incentives help 1,100 companies lift off. [press release] 7 November 2013. Staff, I. 2012. Economies Of Scale Definition | Investopedia. [online] Available at: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economiesofscale.asp [Accessed: 8 Apr 2014]. http://www.etoro.com/blog/etoro-voice/19112013/8-things-investors-watching-google/?dl=30001303&utm_medium=Media&utm_source=46599&utm_content=6579&utm_serial=google3.aspx&utm_campaign=google3.aspx&utm_term=http://paid.outbrain.com/network/redir

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Obesity - Essay Example A big size of the budget on farm subsidies is spent on crops like wheat, corn, soybeans, rice and cotton. (Edwards). This is how nutritionists link obesity to farm subsidies. The products made from these crops are mostly unhealthy and contribute to the disease. Data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows 35.7% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents are obese. (Ogden) Americans have been battling obesity for a long time. One cause of the disease is eating unhealthy foods. I do not agree that farm subsidies should be blamed for American’s obesity problem. It is true that farm subsidies make food items cheap. However, Americans can choose not to buy these foods. Farm subsidies are not forcing consumers to buy their products. Currently, there are other healthier options in the market. There are Americans who are not obese by choice. If an individual really wanted to overcome obesity, it should not start and stop with just food choices. Also, the fast food industry should be challenged into creating their menu more health-friendly. Fast food is a necessary aspect of American culture because of how busy people are. Despite this, I believe sufficient research on the part of these fast food companies will enable them to create fast food items that are nutritious as well. Lastly, continuous information about the dangers of obesity and its causes should be given to schools and neighborhoods. Media can help with this. I think if people are constantly re minded about obesity they will start eating for their health and not for their

Strategies for managing symbiotic resource interdependencies Research Paper

Strategies for managing symbiotic resource interdependencies - Research Paper Example Insiders rule the first 18 months and Outsiders from then. It looked like Insiders are used primarily to alleviate and uphold the obtained company, so that its important arrangement is not lost, and then Outsiders are used for major inter-organizational alteration (Agwin, 2004). Duncan & Maureen (2009) add that extensive efforts are made to encourage trust between the two organizations and change enterprises begin to switch towards the boundary. This is where Outsiders are then engaged as they are more responsive to the dynamic features of the two developing unions. Audia (2006) shows that when two associations take part in continuing financial exchange, they can be thought to be in direct contact. Consequently, both traders and consumers get direct contact with instruments producers. Traders and consumers are tied to instruments manufacturers by a symbiotic relationship since their disparities supplement each other according to Ecologists. The transfer of information across organiza tional boundaries is the by-product of these financial relations. As Duncan & Maureen (2009) affirm, symbiotic acquisitions have great tactical interdependence, as worth is generated by high levels of independence and inter organizational synergies since its arrangement is highly valued. Moreover, the urge to achieve synergies through conveying capabilities entails high levels of interdependence and high levels of change. Advantages of Symbiotic Resource Interdependencies Symbiotic relationship is deemed as a prospective vehicle for pursuing diverse intentions that would be hard to realize through internal solutions. Particularly, it has been established that they have normally been used... The development and success of any industrial action or a business is frequently bound by few natural resources on which firms rely, in addition to limited space for operation. Moreover, most companies are faced with problems of monopoly and unsafe competition. Symbiotic resource interdependencies encompass joint resource management by varied firms in geographic closeness to attain ecological and economic advantages. These advantages might include decreases in operational costs and releases, more safe access to raw materials and fundamental utilities, and augmented durability of the resource base. Symbiotic resource interdependencies present various benefits to firms and industries. This includes ecological advantages due to decreases in resource exploitation, economic benefits resulting from cuts in the costs of resource production, inputs and waste disposal and from creation of extra income owing to higher value of by-product and waste streams. There are also business advantages du e to enhanced associations with external parties, and growth of new products and their markets. In addition, there are social advantages by creating new employment and raising the eminence of existing employments, and by creating a cleaner, secure, natural and working condition. Despite these advantages, there are some limitations to formation of these relationships. These are majorly presented by uncertainties of merging, management problems and fast technological alteration.

The rule in Salomon v Salomon & Co [1897] AC 22 has been described as Essay - 2

The rule in Salomon v Salomon & Co [1897] AC 22 has been described as one of the corner stones of English Company Law - Essay Example This article will examine the rationale of the decision and its impacts towards the development of company law. The status of limited liability went to specific companies before 1825 through the provisions of express available in the Royal Charter regarding Incorporation. Section 2 of the Bubble Act of 1825 governed the first efforts in officially, introducing the concept of limited liability to the English laws. The section provided that the shareholders of a particular corporation would personally be liable in their own persons as well as their property to that extent as well as subject to the regulations and limitations as his magnificence. Although there was no opposition from the Crown to the idea of legal personality, public pressure turned in opposing any extension of legal personality that later became troubled with the stance of creditors. This provoked public suspicions because of the expectation that the Bubble Act would lead to an increase in the number of licensed companies with limited liability. This therefore was the reason for the withholding of the doctrine of limited liabil ity from Company Act in 1844 (Ferran 1999). However, public opinion moved in the reverse direction in favour of the principle of limited liability. In the 1850s, the doctrine acquired recognition in the law. In the year 1852, the Court of Exchequer chamber in the case of Hallet versus Dowdall accredited the legality of the clause of limited liability of 1952. This in turn prompted the parliament to pass the Limited Liability Act in 1855 as well as more contemporary act of Joint Stock Companies of 1856. Consequently, this led to the enactment of the Companies Act in 1862, which formed the foundation for the delivery of the rule in Salomon. The intention of the House of Lords in the Salomon rule was to send a clear message to the members of the public

E-government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12000 words

E-government - Essay Example There was a revolution in the waiting to happen and it is only with the passage of time that everyone concerned with the governmental departments will understand the true potential and advantages of implementing the E-government initiative. Surely the times have changed – for the better. (Moulder, 2001) E-government is the short form of electronic government, also known as the ‘e-gov’ and has a number of other names in digital government, online government and even transformational government. (Riley, 2003) E-government discusses the manner in which government makes use of the exchange of information and services that are pertinent with regards to the citizens, individual businesses, and other governmental agencies to name a few. (Welch, 2005) E-government thus takes care of information and communications technology, which in this paper we will call as ICT. All these processes are carried out to ensure that there is improvement within the processes, efficiency is achieved, public services are better managed and delivered and there are plenty of tasks that are done in the right manner as far as processes of democratic governance is concerned. Thus to add to the same discussion, we see that the E-governments encompass a number of different models including the Government to Citizen, also known as the Government to Customer, Government to Business and lastly Government to Government. However to coin the most significant of these activities that E-government does in the related scheme of things, we see that E-government increases efficiency between the tasks, ensures there is convenience all around and there is a better accessibility factor related with the provision of basic public services. Hence the interaction between the private sector and that of the public sector is also improved as a result of the very same. We are ascertaining as to why we are trying to incorporate E-government within the governmental ranks especially when there is