Committees Flashcards
Definition of a Public Bill Committee
Committees that deal solely with proposed legislation
What are the roles/responsibilities of a Public Bill Committee
They assess a bill carefully, interview ‘stakeholders’ affected by the bill and scrutinise it in detail, adding potential amendments which will be voted on in the report stage
What is membership like within a Public Bill Committee
16 to 50 members
No government minister can be on a committee - backbenchers only
Membership is designed to reflect the House
List three strengths/advantages of a Public Bill Committee
New powers to call for Persons and Papers - created a lot more accountability and scrutiny & allows open-minded MPs their chance to add weight to the conversation
More independent minded MPs can exist when a Government majority is low
Government control can ensure that the bills they want and need are delivered fast and efficiently
List three weaknesses/disadvantages of a Public Bill Committee
Committee members argue that their ability to actually choose who they interview is limited
Whips control the business of committee members
The Government always has a majority and a chair
Give one explained example of a Public Bill Committee and work it has carried out
Definition of Select Committees
Their role is to scrutinise particular Government Departments/Public Bodies and hold them to account
What are the roles/responsibilities of Select Committees
Examining or shadowing the work of a Government Department e.g., Foreign Office
For looking at a specific area (Public Accounts Committee)
- They consider spending (use of money), policy (if said policy is effective or not) and administration (consider matters of public concern are within their department)
What is membership like within a Select Committee
There are 19 Select Committees
The membership is designed to reflect party strengths in the Commons - giving the Government an advantage
The membership of each committee is voted through a secret ballot in Party Groups - it still gives the Government a majority but removes the previous influence of the whips and adds a degree of backbencher independence
List three advantages/strengths of a Select Committee
Select Committees does give the legislature chance to hold the Government to account on major failings
Select Committees can increasingly call the Government to account - especially since there is a coalition and therefore no party has a big majority on any committee
It also allows MPs the chance to quiz outside bodies for their failings
List three weaknesses/disadvantages of a Select Committee
Party Discipline is still there and some argue as strong as ever
MPs are not specialists like in the US
MPs cannot force a witness to attend or speak
Give one explained example of a Select Committee and work it has carried out
NI Affairs Committee - Windsor Framework Inquiry:
