British Constitution Flashcards
The UK has a bicameral legislature, what does this mean?
This means that Parliament has two chambers being the House of Lords and House of Commons. House of Commons holds primacy over the House of Lords due to Salisbury-Addison Convention and Parliament Act.
What is the House of Commons?
The lower elected chamber made up of the 650 candidates elected to represent their constituencies. There are 2 opposing sides in the HoC; the Government (the elected party by FPTP by the people to govern and usually has a majority) and the Opposition Government or Parliament (the parties who were not elected by the people)
There are crossbenchers; Independent MPs who unaffiliate themselves with any parties and are bipartisan
What is a majority government?
An elected government that has managed to achieve 326 seats within the House of Commons. The size of the majority increases the power of the government which offers executive dominance and decreases the power of Parliament.
What is a minority government?
An elected government that has the highest number of seats but fails to meet the majority quota of 326 seats. Minority governments are usually weak and fickle so they form coalition or rainbow governments to increase their number of seats to achieve majority
What is the House of Lords?
A primary appointed chamber of Parliament made up of 805 members. They are made up of life peers who are appointed but cannot pass on their roles to family members. Hereditary peers are appointed members who inherited their position from family members. Their main function to scrutinise the legislation of the House of Commons and to check and assess the power of the executive.
Why does the House of Commons hold primacy over the House of Lords?
They hold primacy over the House of Lords due to them being an elected chamber and being seen as more democratic than being an appointed chamber.
Another reason is due to the Salisbury-Addison Convention which states that the House of Lords are not able to vote against a bill that seeks to implement a manifesto commitment which limits the ability of scrutiny the House of Lords can provide
Parliament Act 1949 which reduced the time that the House of Lords can delay bills up to only a year
They cannot defeat the government in a “vote of no confidence”
What are the roles of the Cabinet?
Resolving disputes between government departments usually involving the Treasury and other departments
Reports on current issues and allow ministers to keep abreast of events and discuss policy priorities
Respond to major issues and ultimately make decisions in major or unexpected developments/issues
Registering decisions-“Rubber Stamping” decisions made in bi-laterals or in cabinet committees
What is the Cabinet?
Group of around 20-25 senior ministers who meet regularly, usually weekly. The Cabinet is chaired by the prime minister and is the key decision-making body in UK government
Patronage powers
Ability to appoint individuals to key offices. It is arguably one of the most important prerogative powers
What are Public Bills?
The most common type of bills that are introduced by relevant government ministers
What are Private Members Bills?
Bills that aren’t introduced by ministers but backbenchers and are often to do with moral issues and Parliament doesn’t see it as a problem
Level of scrutiny from PMQs on the executive
They usually start on Wednesdays weekly and directly question and scrutinise the PM on the latest issues. For example, Keir Starmer describing Boris Johnson describing him as the ‘Pinocchio prime minister’ and highlighted the government’s inaction on living standards. However, PMQs can lead to a rowdy environment in the House of Commons- Punch and Judy politics where its petty, confrontational ‘point-scoring’ or ‘Softball questions’- when the PM is given easy questions to make them appear to be more charismatic and presidential.
Level of scrutiny from Select Committees on the executive
This is when up to 11 chair members of a committee who are appointed by the House of Lords. They are chosen to scrutinise a specific government department of their own choosing. For example, Dominic Cummings in the 2021 Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee. One of the most powerful Commons select committees is the Liaison Committee which directly questions the PM on full range of government activity. For example, Boris Johnson was questioned of his response to Russian war in Ukraine and cost of living crisis. The Wright Reforms had got rid of Whips (Ministers) in selecting chairs on select committees. However, the Government doesn’t have to always listen to the recommendations of the Liaison Committee
Level of scrutiny from HM Opposition on the executive
Second largest and concurrent parties
What is the Core Executive and its functions?
The policy-making network that includes the prime minister, senior ministers, cabinet committees and top civil servants.
One of them being the national first responder
Passing legislation
Making policy from cabinet meetings or in cabinet committees
Financing and deciding what to spend the budget on
How does the power of the PM depend on?
It depends upon the circumstances being the size of majority, party unity, economic status of the UK and others. For example, Theresa May’s premiership is seen as weak due to
