11.2c Parliament & Executive: Voting Flashcards
Voting and backbench rebellions
Backbenchers in the House of Commons and House of Lords can control the executive by voting against government-backed Bills.
In the House of Commons, backbench rebellions can take place, where MPs of the party in government can vote against their own party’s legislation to prevent the executive from introducing laws.
Voting effective
The House of Commons has blocked government legislation through successful backbench rebellions.
MPs voted against the government by 309-305 votes, with 12 Conservative MPs voting against its party’s government, in favour of giving Parliament a vote on a final Brexit deal.
The House of Lords has caused the government to change its policies by voting against the passing of legislation.
The government was defeated 38 times in the House of Lords from 2016-2017.
Voting ineffective
Voting against the government is a less effective control on the executive if there is a large majority in parliament for the party in government.
Backbench rebellions can be difficult if three-line whips are in place. If an MP defies the whip they may be expelled from their party, but keep their seat and have to sit as an independent MP.
The House of Lords can only delay legislation passing, and propose amendments, rather than stop it passing into law.
The government is able to veto any delays by the House of Lords.
Votes of confidence
A vote of no confidence motion can be put down by the opposition party in the House of Commons where MPs vote on whether they have confidence in the government.
The prime minister can put down a vote of confidence in their government in an attempt to restore authority in parliament if their own MPs vote against the government on a key issue.
If the government loses a confidence vote then, by convention, the government resigns.
Votes of confidence/no confidence effective
Votes of confidence have taken place and been successful in removing governments from power.
PM James Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence in 1979 which caused him to step down as prime minister and call a general election, which he lost.
Votes of confidence can be successful in restoring government authority.
John Major called a vote of confidence in 1993 because MPs were opposed to his government’s support for the Maastricht Treaty.
Votes of confidence ineffective
Votes of no confidence are unlikely to succeed if the government has a majority of MPs in the House of Commons who would not vote to remove their own party’s government from power.
