Chapter 1- Parliament

Question 1

the executive

Answer 1

the government

Question 2

the legislative

Answer 2

the houses of parliament

Question 3

the judiciary

Answer 3

the supreme court

Question 4

UK parliament

Answer 4

• the highest source of all political power
• all members of government must come from parliament
• there is no separation of powers between the legislative and the executive, they are fused

Question 5

Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 5

• parliament is the source of all political power. no power may be exercised by anyone else unless granted by parliament
• can restore any power that it delegates
• no laws it can’t pass
• cannot bind it predecessors/successors

Question 6

PMQs

Answer 6

• held once a week on a Wednesday at 12 pm
• provides an opportunity for the opposition and the third largest party and backbench MPs to question the prime minister
• attracts lots of media attention
• huge criticism for being overdramatic, petty, not useful and not focus enough on policy

Question 7

Pros of PMQs

Answer 7

• the PM is held accountable/has some command over all areas of policy
• gives PM a high degree of control

Question 8

Cons of PMQs

Answer 8

• impossible to get straigh answers
• backbench MPs always speak out of turn
• noisy and confrontational

Question 9

Should PMQs be replaced

Answer 9

• 54% say they had seen or heard it in some form over the last 12 months
• the public are not satisfied with the format and it’s an ineffective method of accountability
• attitutes of participants are described as childish, noisy, over the top and pointless

Question 10

Ministerial questions

Answer 10

• better scruitiny is provided when ministers answer questions about their own department
• given notice of oral questions so they can prepare with civil servants

Question 11

Backbench MP

Answer 11

a name given to MP who do not hold any government post or are not senior members of the main opposition party. They are typically more independant than frontbench MPs but are still “whipped” by the whips to try and ensure that they support their party

Question 12

1922 committee

Answer 12

• an influential group of all consevative backbenchers
• they meet every week when parliament is sitting and it gives the backbenchers a chance to air their concerns
• one of their biggest responsibilities is overseeing leadership elections
• can call a vote of no confidence if 15% of the parliamentary party write a letter calling for the vote

Question 13

whip

Answer 13

a party official appointed by the party leader whose role it is to mantain party displine and loyality, to inform MPs about parliamentary buisness and to act as a communication between backbench and party leadership

Question 14

Private member bills

Answer 14

a bill is presented if it attracts the attention of ministers, it may recieve government support. MPs know that their bills are unlikely to go through, but hope to catch the attention of the government

Question 15

Backbench buisness committee

Answer 15

made from backbench Mps and they determine what should be debated on that day . take and discuss requests from MPs

Question 16

select committees

Answer 16

they extend and enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive
the overall aim is to hold governments accountable for policy, decision making and support parliament in scrutinising legislation and government spending

Question 17

house of commons select committees

Answer 17

• scrutinise policy, administration and spending of government departments
• consists of 11 backbench MPs
• chairs are now elected by their fellow MPs instead of the party whips
• members decide on what areas they want to investigate. they have the power to summon witnesses, gather oral/ written evidence and can appoint special advisors to assist them
• they produce a report and the government is expected to respond within two months

Question 18

tasks of select committees

Answer 18

• examine government strategy
• examine policy
• examine departmental spending and delivery
• scrutinize draft bills
• help commons consider bills and legislation
• examine the implementation of legislation
• scrutinise EU policy developments and legislative proposals
• consider departmental appointments and hold pre-appointment hearings if necessary
• produce reports and debate in the commons
• help commons make their work accessible to the public

Question 19

house of lords committee

Answer 19

• they scrutinise legislation and investigate particular issues
• deliberately try to avoid duplicating the work of the Commons committees
• their wider impact is usually limited