2. The structure and role of parliament

Question 1

What is the structure of parliament?

Answer 1

• 2 chambers:
  House of Commons
  House of Lords

Question 2

What is the functions of the Commons, Lords and the exectuive?

Answer 2

• Parliament is the main law-passing body in the UK - although certain legislative powers are delegated to the devolved assemblies in Scot, Wales and Northern Ire
• One key function of parliament is to scrutinise and check on the government
• Westminster is a place of national debate

Question 3

How does parliament scrutinise the executive?

Answer 3

• PM Q’s
• Debates
• Select committees
• scrutiny of draft legislation
• vote of no confidence

Question 4

What are the advantages of PM Q’s?

Answer 4

• They can give positive publicity to the opposition e.g. Blair accused Major of being weak weak weak 1997
• They allow unwelcome questions to be asked of the PM and ministers and can expose weaknesses e.g. Brown said “we not only saved the world” when he meant “saved the banks”
• They keep PM and ministers on their toes e.g. Blair said “most nerve-racking experience in my Prime Ministerial life”

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of PM Q’s?

Answer 5

• They can convey an image of rowdiness e.g. “an exchange of pointless and useless declamations” from Labour MP Kaufman
• 2014, Speaker Bercow wrote to party leaders asking them to help moderate behaviour

Question 6

What are the advantages of parliamentary debates?

Answer 6

• They allow free expression of views and opinions about issues of the day
• They are on TV so the public can watch and be informed - improves the accessibility and transparency of parliament
• They are an opportunity to change how MPs and peer might vote

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of parliamentary debates?

Answer 7

• Most debates are set-piece occasions - MPs usually adopt the party line - many use their speech to impress party leaders
• Few minds and voter are changed by the debates

Question 8

What are the advantages of select committees?

Answer 8

• They are less partisan and confrontational of debates and PM Qs
• They are often chaired by MPs from opposition parties - the powerful Public Accounts Committee scrutinise value for money across departments
• They can call witness from government and outside
• Reports are often hard hitting e.g. 2018 Health Select Committee recommended a number of measures to reduce child obesity and within a month the government announced further measure such as stopping sale of sweet at checkouts

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of select committees?

Answer 9

• The governing party always has a majority on each committee
• Consensus between parties is not always reaches, leading to majority and minority reports along party lines
• Witnesses can be evasive and elusive
• Governemnt can and do ignore the findings in the select committees

Question 10

What are the advantages of scrutiny of draft legislation and voting on the final bill?

Answer 10

• Enables bills to be properly checked, amended and discussed
• Parliament can reject the final bill

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of scrutiny of draft legislation and voting on the final bill?

Answer 11

• Strong party loyalty and discipline mean a government bill stands little chance of failing
• The government party has a majority on each public bill committee, so any changes to bills will be minor

Question 12

What are parliamentary debates?

Answer 12

• One of the main ways MPs, especially those on the opposition benches, get to scrutinise and challenges government policies and bills
• most bill in parliament get debated at the second reading stage

Question 13

What are Public bills?

Answer 13

• measures that are universally applicable to all people and organisation - vast majority of legislation comes under this category

Question 14

What are private bills?

Answer 14

• usually promoted by organisations including councils and private businesses to give themselves powers beyond, or in conflict with, existing laws
  e.g. New Southgate Cemetery Act 2017

Question 15

What are government bills?

Answer 15

• created and promoted by the government, often to fulfil manifesto promises

Question 16

What are private member bills?

Answer 16

• public bills independently introduced by backbench MPs - either as Ten-Minute Rule Bills or being selected in the annual ballot

Question 17

What are the stages of the legislative process?

Answer 17

1. First reading - bill is formally introduced to parliament - no debate
2. Second reading - main opportunity for deabte - amendments can also be proposed
3. Committee stage - a chance to go over the bill and amendments made in the 2nd reading - its own public bill committee go through clauses
4. Report stage - any changes made at the committee stages are discussed and voted on
5. Third reading - short debate - no changes can be introduced - final vote
6. Consideration of amendments - each house considers the other’s amendments before the bill goes to the sovereign for royal assent

Question 18

What are the theories of representation in parliament?

Answer 18

• Burkean or trustee model
• Delegate model
• Mandate theory

Question 19

What is the Burkean or trustee model?

Answer 19

• electors should entrust their MP with acting in their best interests
• involves exercising their own judgement

Question 20

What is the delegate model?

Answer 20

• MPs are views as mouthpieces for their constituents and entirely bound by their wishes
  e.g. Goldsmith stood down as Conservative MP and resigned his seat in 2016 to fulfil a promise made to his voters about opposing a third runway for Heathrow

Question 21

What is the mandate theory?

Answer 21

• MP’s are elected primarily to carry out the manifesto promises of their party

Question 22

What roles does the MPs and peers have?

Answer 22

• vote on legislation
• sit on parliamentary committees
• serve in the governemnt as a minister
• make media appearances

Question 23

What are the types of committees?

Answer 23

• public bill committees
• commons select committees
• lords select committees
• public accounts committees
• backbench business committee
• commons liaison committee

Question 24

What is the public bill committee and the significance?

Answer 24

• Go through bills clause by clause, debate and suggest amendments
• temporary, only meet while a bill is in the committee stage
• significance:
  + ensure bills are properly written and can fulfil the aims of their writers
  + opportunity for other MP’s, peers to suggest change - major changes are unlikely due to party whips

Question 25

What is the commons select committees and the significane?

Answer 25

• Provide a more general oversight of the workings of government departments
• less partisan
• chaired by opposition
• significance:
  + comprised entirely of backbench MPs
  + committee chairs are elected by fellow MPs
  + produce reports and gov must respond in 60 days

Question 26

What is the lords select committees and the significance?

Answer 26

• Investigate specialist subjects, taking advantages of the Lords expertise
• significance:
  + Often contain genuine specialists in their field
  + governing party does not have a majority

Question 27

What is the public accounts committee and the significance?

Answer 27

• Scrutinises value for money in public spending and how well the government delivers public series
• significance:
  + covers a wide range of policy areas

Question 28

What is the backbench business committee and the significance?

Answer 28

• selects topics for debate in parliament on days not given over to government business
• significance:
  + enables backbenchers to have a greater say in what debated

Question 29

What is the commons liaison committee and the significance?

Answer 29

• Comprises all the chair of the commons select committees
• cases select committee reports for debate in Westminster
• significance:
  + provides a more measured and focused way for ordinary MPs to make the PM accountable

Question 30

How effective and significance are select committees?

Answer 30

• between 1997 and 2010 select committees produced around 1,500 inquiry reports and almost 40,000 recommendations
• 40% recommendations are accepted by the government

Question 31

What is the role of the opposition?

Answer 31

• provide scrutiny and reasoned criticism of government policies
• suggests amendments to bills
• provide a government in waiting

Question 32

How does parliament influences government decisions?

Answer 32

• The committee systems and committee report
• Election of select committee chairs
• debates and questions
• backbench rebellions in the commons
  HOWEVER
• government can ignore select committees reports
• select committees are poorly resourced compared to government departments

Question 33

How is discipline enforced in the Commons?

Answer 33

• most governments have large and stable enough majorities to defeat backbench rebellions e.g. Blair and student tuition fees 2003
• Three line whips - parliamentary votes when MPs must follow voting orders of the whips - however, voting on matters of conscience such as assisted dying or abortion are normally free votes