Ch 21 - Parliament Flashcards
Who makes up parliament?
- The King
- The House of Commons
- The Senate
What branches are in parliament?
- Executive
- Legislative
Who approves laws?
- Executive and Legislative Branches
What is the role of members of parliament?
- Create laws
- Help constituents with problems
Why is a member of parliaments job varied?
- Many regions in Canada with different needs
What are the different theories of representation?
- PArty Delagate
- Trustee
- Constituency Delegate
- Descriptive / Microcosmic Representation
What is a Party Delegate?
- MPs vote according to their party
What is a Trustee?
- MP vote according to personal conscience
What is a Constituency Delegate?
- MPs vote according to the will of people in their constituency
What is descriptive / microcosmic representation theory?
Legislature should be microcosm of society
- MPs should reflect demographic/experience of people in general population
What is the arguement for the declining role of non-cabinet MPs?
- Executive dominated
- Harsh party discipline
- Limited role of ordinary individual
What does party discipline require?
- MPs to vote according to their party’s position
Why do people argue party discipline is important to the functioning of a parliamentary government?
- Government could fall
- Connected to majority rule, responsible government, and votes of confidence
What does it mean to ‘toe the line’?
- Members of same caucus expected to vote with their party on whipped votes
What is a whipped vote?
- A vote that all party members are supposed to vote the same on
What is a Free Vote?
- MPs allowed to vote in whatever way they want
What do free votes provide party members with?
- An opportunity to speak their mind
What doesnt happen in a free vote?
- Votes are not whipped
When do MPs get an opportunity to speak their mind, aside from free votes?
- Committees
- Private Meetings
- Open Debates
- Question Period
What are the critics of party discipline?
- Gives to much power to PM and Cabinet
Can the speaker rule on a free vote?
- NO
What does a free vote do to party discipline?
- Loosens it
When might a free vote occur?
- on votes of morality or conscience
- Divisions across party lines
What does the supremacy of parliament mean?
- No other organ of government can overrule parliament or its laws