2- Gannon- Parliament

Question 1

Define a backbencher.

Answer 1

An MP who does not hold a ministerial/ shadow ministerial position. They sit on the back benches in the HOC.

Question 2

Define a frontbencher.

Answer 2

An MP who holds a ministerial/ shadow ministerial post. They sit on the front benches of the HOC.

Question 3

Describe the make up of parliament.

Answer 3

1. House of Commons
2. House of Lords
3. The monarchy

Question 4

Define a private member bill.

Answer 4

A bill that is proposed by an MP who is not a member of the government, usually through an annual ballot.

Question 5

Name the 5 functions of parliament.

Answer 5

1. Legislation
2. Representation
3. Scrutiny and oversight
4. Recruitment and training of ministers.
5. Legitimacy

Question 6

What are white papers?

Answer 6

A white paper is a policy document produced by the government which roughly outlines their proposals for future legislation. It can be discussed further before it is proposed to the HOC.

Question 7

What are green papers?

Answer 7

A green paper is a consultative document, where different options for legislation are outlined. The aim of it, is to gain feedback from groups outside of parliament.

Question 8

Define parliamentary government.

Answer 8

A system of government where the government governs through parliament (the legislative branch). It is based on a fusion of powers between the executive and the legislative branches

Question 9

What are the features of parliamentary government.

Answer 9

1. Government is formed as a result of parliamentary elections.
2. Government personnel come from government.
3. Government is responsible to parliament.
4. Government can dissolve parliament.

Question 10

What are the 4 factors affecting the efficiency of government?

Answer 10

1. Extent of party unity
2. Size of majority
3. Advent of coalition government
4. Impact of the Lords.

Question 11

Define bicameralism.

Answer 11

Bicameralism is practice of breaking legislative power between 2 chambers.

Partial bicameralism is when the legislature has 2 unequal chambers.

Full bicameralism is when the legislature has 2 co-equal chambers.

Question 12

Define descriptive representation.

Answer 12

The idea that parliament should reflect the demographic of the population. (class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality)

Question 13

Define functional representation.

Answer 13

The idea that all groups can be represented in parliament without it being descriptively representative. For example, an MP can represent the needs of the Black Community, without actually being black.

Question 14

Define legitimacy

Answer 14

The authority the government has to rule.