Chapter 8 - 8/10 - The executive and Parliament

Question 1

What is an elective dictatorship?

Answer 1

If the government commands a majority in the House of Commons it an behave like a dictator.

Question 2

Who coined the term ‘elective dictatorship’ and when?

Answer 2

Conservative minister Lord Hailsham in 1976.

Question 3

What are the 2 conflicts between the executive and Parliament?

Answer 3

• Parliament is sovereign.

- The government has a mandate to carry out its manifesto commitments.

Question 4

What normally solves the conflict between the government’s mandate and parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 4

When the government has a majority the sovereignty of Parliament is also the sovereignty of the elected government.

Question 5

When was the first Parliament Act?

Answer 5

1911

Question 6

What did the first Parliament Act do?

Answer 6

• Prevented the House of Lords controlling the finances of government (spending and tax).
• Limited the amount of time the Lords can delay legislation to 2 years.

Question 7

When was the second Parliament Act?

Answer 7

1949

Question 8

What did the second Parliament Act do?

Answer 8

Limited the amount of time the Lords could delay a piece of legislation to 1 year.

Question 9

When was the Salisbury Convention developed?

Answer 9

During the 1940s.

Question 10

What is the Salisbury Convention?

Answer 10

An unwritten piece of the UK constitution which means the House of Lords cannot block any legislation contained in the government’s election manifesto.

Question 11

What are the 4 controls on the powers of the executive?

Answer 11

• The Commons can in theory veto it if there are enough votes to do so.
• Both Houses may amend legislation.
• Parliament can call government and its ministers to account.
• A vote of no confidence can be passed in extreme circumstances.

Question 12

In what 3 ways does the executive dominate Parliament?

Answer 12

• The government normally commands a majority and can expect loyalty from its MPs.
• The power of patronage focuses the minds of MPs if they want to get a promotion.
• Party whips exercise control and particularly disruptive MPs can be suspended from the party.

Question 13

How has the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 undermined loyalty?

Answer 13

Prior to this MPs were less likely to do things that might bring down a government, but now the prime minister cannot call an election whenever they like MPs might be braver in dissenting as there is no risk of facing an early election.

Question 14

Which circumstances favour executive power?

Answer 14

• Government enjoys a large majority.
• Government is united around an ideology or leader.
• The opposition is weak.
• Strong leader.

Question 15

What circumstances favour parliamentary power?

Answer 15

• Government with no or small majority.
• Governing party is split.
• Strong opposition.
• Weak leadership.

Question 16

How did the Iraq intervention in 2003 change the relationship between the executive and Parliament?

Answer 16

Parliament now demands to approve major military adventures and directs military policy. It has been directing the nature of the UK intervention in Syria.

Question 17

How did the House of Lords Act 1999 change the relationship between the executive and Parliament?

Answer 17

The removal of most hereditary peers and their replacement with life peers has seen an increasingly active and obstructive House of Lords since 1999.

Question 18

How has the Backbench Business Committee changed the relationship between the executive and Parliament?

Answer 18

Backbenchers now control part of the parliamentary agenda and can use this time to criticise or influence government.

Question 19

What are the growing powers of Parliament?

Answer 19

• More influence over foreign and military policy.
• Select committees are increasingly influential and are under backbench control.
• The Liaison Committee calls the prime minister to account.
• An increasingly proactive and obstructive House of Lords.

Question 20

What factors retain executive power?

Answer 20

• Governments normally have a majority.
• Collective responsibility.
• Government controls the legislative programme and the Public Bill Committees which propose amendments.
• Prime ministerial patronage creates loyalty.
• Government has many more resources at their disposal compared to MPs.