Academics quotes

Question 1

Academics on the House of Lords

Answer 1

Griffith
- ‘a House of Lords with gretaer powers to restrain government’ would restrict the executive
- This is because he argues that politicial decisions should be made by ‘people who are removeable’, so are held accountable
vs. Lord Bingham = as they are not political, have ‘excelled in the work of its select committees’ and scrutiny of the Commons.

Question 2

Lord Hailsham

Answer 2

• ‘Elected Dictatorship’
• checks and balances and seperation of powers ‘diffuse power’ to prevent tyranny
• ‘the will of the majority will always prevail’

Question 3

Henry VIII powers

Answer 3

Barber and Young =
‘a rise in the use of broad Henry VIII clauses in legislation, and, additionally, an increasing use of prospective clauses.’
— VS. ‘The clause may be required to allow for flexibility’ due to tight timetabling issues in the Commons

Question 4

King and Crewe:

Answer 4

• ‘almost pure fantasy’ of accountability in the English parliament due to the dominant executive
• ‘they [PMs] can almost always count on the support of a majority in Parliament’
• vs. ‘the very strength and decisiveness of the British government may be a curse as well as a blessing’ as it results in efficiency but also a dominant executive