3. Parliament

Question 1

What is the House of Commons?

Answer 1

Primary legislative chamber

Government

Question 2

Powers of the HOC

Answer 2

Examine and approve financial affairs
Complete veto of legislation 
Dismissing a Government 
Final approval of amendments 
Sovereign powrs

Question 3

2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act

Answer 3

Elections held every 5 years

Can only be held earlier if a government loses a vote of no confidence or Parliament agrees

Question 4

Expenses Scandal

Answer 4

2009
Parliamentary privilege does not mean MPs above the law
2000 Freedom of Information Act used to uncover waste of money

Question 5

What is the ‘whips’?

Answer 5

Ensure party discipline

Three line whip - strict instructions to vote in the party line

Question 6

What is the ‘speaker’?

Answer 6

Presides over debates

Maintains order

Question 7

John Bercow Urgent Questions

Answer 7

2015-2016 granted 77 urgent questions

Question 8

What is the ‘opposition’?

Answer 8

Second largest party in Parliament
Forms a shadow government
Holds Government to account

Question 9

What is the House of Lords?

Answer 9

Second chamber with no limit on its membership
Consists of peers - hereditary, life and Lord Spirituals
Unelected chamber

Question 10

Powers of the HOL

Answer 10

Examines secondary legislation
Debates primary legislation for up to 1 year
Propose amendments

Question 11

What conventions bind the HOL?

Answer 11

1911 Parliaments Act
1949 Parliaments Act
Salisbury Convention

Question 12

Functions of the House of Lords

Answer 12

Scrutinise non-financial legislation and that which is not in a manifesto

Question 13

How has the HOL became more assertive?

Answer 13

No party majority in the HOL
Enhanced legitimacy because of reforms
Support from MPs

Question 14

Examples of HOL being more assertive

Answer 14

2010-2015 coalition government suffered 99 defeats in the Lords
Coalition Gov dropped key provision from the Public Bodies Bill 2010-12 after it agreed to 1237 out of 3449 amendments

Question 15

Should the HOL be reformed?

Answer 15

Yes - needs to become accountable to the people, more representative in which it would become more confident in its scrutiny

Question 16

Why should the HOL not be reformed?

Answer 16

Elected second chamber would create gridlock
It is accountable to the electorate
Conflict between two chambers
HOL is better without party majority

Question 17

Functions of Parliament

Answer 17

Pass legislation
Scrutiny of the executive
Providing members
Represent the electorate

Question 18

What is a Government Bill?

Answer 18

Comes from Government in the form of a White Paper

2012 Health and Social Care Act

Question 19

What is a Private Bill?

Answer 19

Rare
Considered by a small group of MPs and Lords after being sponsored by an organisation
2017 New Southgate Cemetery Act

Question 20

What is a Hybrid Bill?

Answer 20

Proposes changes to the law which would affect certain groups

Question 21

What is a Private Members Bill?

Answer 21

MPs or Lords present these 
Chosen in a ballot 
Very rare to succeed 
1967 Abortion Act 
2010 Sundes Regulation Act

Question 22

Are MPs representative? Is Parliament representative?

Answer 22

45 MPs openly identify as LGBTQ (40% increase since 2015)
As of 2017:
208 women
52 BAME

Question 23

How is Government held to account?

Answer 23

PMQs
Opposition
Select Committees
Backbenchers

Question 24

PMQs

Answer 24

Provides opportunity for leader of opposition to ask 6 questions to PM
Gladitorial style
2015-16 Jeremy Corbyn introduced questions asked by electorate

Question 25

Opposition

Answer 25

Right to respond to the PM at PMQs
Appoints a Shadow Cabinet
17 days to choose topics for debates

Question 26

Select Committees

Answer 26

Most effective
Extend and enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive
Hold government departments to account individually
19

Question 27

Public Accounts Committee

Answer 27

Scrutiny on taxation and government spending
2010 - investigation into the BBC’s use of public funds
2016 Investigation into the tax affairs of Google - £130 million for 10 years was considered too low