British politics then and now

Question 1

three components to parliament

Answer 1

house of commons
House of Lords
monarch

Question 2

House of Commons

Answer 2

650 Members of parliament
MP represent constituency
elected by their constituents
represents particular political party, vote with them
holds majority of most, legislation starts here
majority vote required to pass legislation

Question 3

House of Lords

Answer 3

just under 800 sitting members
life peers= appointed lords by monarch
hereditary peers= inherited titles
bishops= representing the Church of England
vote and debate issues, cannot overrule commons but can delay

Question 4

monarch

Answer 4

purely ceremonial
perform state opening of parliament, represent country by acting figurehead, royal sent to bills
dissolve parliament on advice of prime minister for general election

Question 5

prime minister

Answer 5

leader of largest party in commons
must have majority or wouldn’t pass any legislation and effectively run country
MP and must face re-election
appoint cabinet of ministers to form government

Question 6

constitutional monarchy

Answer 6

power shared evenly between monarch & parliament
monarch assisted by cabinet of ministers, appointed themselves
patronage used to exercise political influence by rewarding loyalty
1783= George III on throne, power somewhat limited by Bill of rights of 1689

Question 7

parliaments rights

Answer 7

debate issues & propose new laws
control taxation & government spending
regulate monarch’s income

Question 8

monarch’s power

Answer 8

appoint & dismiss ministers
summon & dissolve parliament, can’t rule without it
veto legislation, rarely used

Question 9

composition of parliament

Answer 9

same as today parliament in 1783 made up of two different chambers, commons & lords

Question 10

house of lords (1783)

Answer 10

220 members 1793
large aristocratic landowners
unelected hereditary peers
monarch could create new peers
could veto measures passed

Question 11

house of commons (1783)

Answer 11

558 elected MP
most gentry
controlled taxation
check on executive
PM needs majority in commons to govern
1783= lords major influence, power shifting to commons

Question 12

PM & cabinet (1783)

Answer 12

first lord of treasury traditionally monarch’s PM
chosen/appointed by monarch & advised on who should be in cabinet
George III’s PM usually peers, needed to be reasonably popular in commons
generally held weekly meetings

Question 13

monarch (1783)

Answer 13

could accept & react advice of ministers
parliament more assertive after loss of American colonies between 1775 * 1783
PM’s role becoming more powerful than monarch
commons gaining more control over PM
George III sought to reassure authority through William Pitt the Younger

Question 14

elections - representation by the few

Answer 14

needed serious reforms:
dominated by wealthy aristocratic & land owners
protect own interest & did little for average person
elites believed political system ideally democratic, opposed to further changes
reality of democracy:
franchise limited
urban areas underrepresented in parliament

Question 15

parliament- representation by the few

Answer 15

dominated by men of wealth
lords= peers wealthy aristocratic backgrounds, linked through marriage blood & common interest
political power, wealth & social dominance derived from ownership of land
commons= landed gentry or other wealthy individuals, had to own land, not paid salary so needed separate income

Question 16

franchise

Answer 16

1783= 250,000 men could vote, number diminishing and no uniform system of franchise
countryside= 40 shillings freeholders had to vote
boroughs= dependent if property ownership e.g freemen & lot boroughs

Question 17

other issues with voting

Answer 17

pocket boroughs= constituency controlled by single landowner, no vote as landowner nominate candidate
rotten boroughs= time number of voters, represented by MP’S
open voting= voters intimated & bribed

Question 18

whigs

Answer 18

dominated politics 1741 to 1783 (whig oligarchy)
wealthy aristocratic landowners
reducing power of crown & crown patronage
maintain dominance of aristocracy
accepting of emerging middle class
tolerant of non- conformists
willing to see limited electoral system

Question 19

tories

Answer 19

less successful during early 18th century
wealthy aristocratic landowners
sought to maintain the status quo
preserve power of landed elite
defend rights of monarch
maintain dominance of Church of England

Question 20

factions not parties

Answer 20

factions rather than political parties
individual moved between groups, both composed largely of same social class
vast majority of both groups opposed radical democratic change

Question 21

end of whig supremacy: tory ascendancy

Answer 21

1783= tories & whigs become more like parties
George III disliked whigs, William Pitt the Younger to keep them out of power
encouraged whigs to become more organised & form more official opposition