3. Parliament Flashcards
What is the House of Commons?
Primary legislative chamber
Government
Powers of the HOC
Examine and approve financial affairs Complete veto of legislation Dismissing a Government Final approval of amendments Sovereign powrs
2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act
Elections held every 5 years
Can only be held earlier if a government loses a vote of no confidence or Parliament agrees
Expenses Scandal
2009
Parliamentary privilege does not mean MPs above the law
2000 Freedom of Information Act used to uncover waste of money
What is the ‘whips’?
Ensure party discipline
Three line whip - strict instructions to vote in the party line
What is the ‘speaker’?
Presides over debates
Maintains order
John Bercow Urgent Questions
2015-2016 granted 77 urgent questions
What is the ‘opposition’?
Second largest party in Parliament
Forms a shadow government
Holds Government to account
What is the House of Lords?
Second chamber with no limit on its membership
Consists of peers - hereditary, life and Lord Spirituals
Unelected chamber
Powers of the HOL
Examines secondary legislation
Debates primary legislation for up to 1 year
Propose amendments
What conventions bind the HOL?
1911 Parliaments Act
1949 Parliaments Act
Salisbury Convention
Functions of the House of Lords
Scrutinise non-financial legislation and that which is not in a manifesto
How has the HOL became more assertive?
No party majority in the HOL
Enhanced legitimacy because of reforms
Support from MPs
Examples of HOL being more assertive
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
Should the HOL be reformed?
Yes - needs to become accountable to the people, more representative in which it would become more confident in its scrutiny
Why should the HOL not be reformed?
Elected second chamber would create gridlock
It is accountable to the electorate
Conflict between two chambers
HOL is better without party majority
Functions of Parliament
Pass legislation
Scrutiny of the executive
Providing members
Represent the electorate
What is a Government Bill?
Comes from Government in the form of a White Paper
2012 Health and Social Care Act
What is a Private Bill?
Rare
Considered by a small group of MPs and Lords after being sponsored by an organisation
2017 New Southgate Cemetery Act
What is a Hybrid Bill?
Proposes changes to the law which would affect certain groups
What is a Private Members Bill?
MPs or Lords present these Chosen in a ballot Very rare to succeed 1967 Abortion Act 2010 Sundes Regulation Act
Are MPs representative? Is Parliament representative?
45 MPs openly identify as LGBTQ (40% increase since 2015)
As of 2017:
208 women
52 BAME
How is Government held to account?
PMQs
Opposition
Select Committees
Backbenchers
PMQs
Provides opportunity for leader of opposition to ask 6 questions to PM
Gladitorial style
2015-16 Jeremy Corbyn introduced questions asked by electorate
Opposition
Right to respond to the PM at PMQs
Appoints a Shadow Cabinet
17 days to choose topics for debates
Select Committees
Most effective
Extend and enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive
Hold government departments to account individually
19
Public Accounts Committee
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
