Composition of House of Commons and House of Lords

Question 1

Define bicameralism

Answer 1

A system where there are two houses of the legislature or parliament which compliment each other. Most political systems are bicameral, notably the UK, USA and France.

Question 2

What is the composition of the House of Commons?

Answer 2

Consists of 650 MPs who are all elected by FPTP, almost all represent a party - can be independent and most are backbenchers, a minority are front bencher
Conservative majority with 331
Labour with 232
Scottish National Party with 56
Liberal Democrats with 8
Democratic Unionist Party with 8
Others with 15

Question 3

What is the House of Commons?

Answer 3

It is the politically and legally dominant chamber, they have supreme legislative power - (in theory) - can make, unmake and amend any law it wishes, Lords can only delay these laws.

Question 4

What is the House of Commons subject to?

Answer 4

Only subject to the higher authority of EU laws and treaties.

Question 5

What can the House of Commons remove?

Answer 5

They can remove the government of the day - based on convention of collective responsibility and it must resign or call an election if the government is defeated on a major issue.

Question 6

What is a strength of the House of Commons regarding removal of government?

Answer 6

They have the ultimate power to remove a government from office

Question 7

What can the House of Commons do under exceptional circumstances that is a strength?

Answer 7

The MPs can veto legislation or threaten to do so and thus force compromises. They can also force legislative amendments from the government

Question 8

What is a strength of the House of Commons regarding ministerial accountability?

Answer 8

MPs can call minister to account. This is particularly effective when conducted by select committees

Question 9

What is a strength of the House of Commons regarding representation?

Answer 9

Various interest and cause groups are represented by MPs

Question 10

What is a strength of the House of Commons regarding coalition?

Answer 10

With a coalition, small groups of MPs can have influence as they thwart the will of the government

Question 11

What is a weakness of the House of Commons regarding government majority?

Answer 11

Governments normally have a comfortable majority and so can dominate MPs through patronage and discipline in general

Question 12

What is a weakness of the House of Commons regarding legislative standing committees?

Answer 12

They are largely controlled by the party whips, so the amending function of the Commons is weak

Question 13

What is a weakness of the House of Commons regarding ministerial accountability?

Answer 13

MPs have insufficient time and support to be able to call government effectively to account. Ministers are also adept at avoiding intrusive questioning

Question 14

What is a weakness of MPs regarding their role in legislation?

Answer 14

They have a limited role in developing legislation

Question 15

What is a weakness of the House of Commons regarding representation?

Answer 15

The Commons isn’t socially representative, especially lacking women and members of minority-ethnic groups

Question 16

What is a weakness of the House of Commons regarding government ignorance?

Answer 16

Governments are increasingly ignoring Parliament and consulting groups and the public directly

Question 17

How does the belief that the government may fall at any time weaken the House of Commons?

Answer 17

It can promote obedience as, generally, MPs don’t relish elections

Question 18

What is the House of Lords?

Answer 18

The second chamber of Parliament and is independent from the Commons but also complements the work of it. The Lords share the task of making and shaping laws as well as checking and challenging the work of the government.

Question 19

What does the House of Lords consist of?

Answer 19

787 members
Life Peers (entitled to sit in Lords for their lifetime, appointed by PM under Life Peerages Act 1958)
Hereditary peers (those who hold inherited titles and the right to sit in the House of Lords)
Lords Spiritual (bishops and Archbishops of Church of England, 26, appointed by PM) 
Law Lords (the most senior judges, can sit in Lords - now in Supreme Court).

Question 20

What are the powers of the House of Lords?

Answer 20

The ability to delay Bills passed by the Commons for up to 1 year, but they can’t delay money bills or measures in the governments election manifesto - Salisbury Convention.
They possess some veto powers that can’t be overridden by the Commons such as delays to general elections, sacking of senior judges (although this can only be done with the consent of both Houses) and the introduction of secondary or delegated legislation.
It was the highest court of appeal until the establishment of the Supreme Court.

Question 21

What are the weaknesses of the House of Lords?

Answer 21

Hereditary peers are unfair and 92 still remain.
They can’t delay money bills or measures in government manifesto or measures already delayed twice
Unelected

Question 22

What is the monarchy’s role in Parliament?

Answer 22

To appoint the government by choosing the PM who appoints other members of government, the Queen has little choice as the leader of the largest party in Commons can command confidence in Parliament.
Opens and dismisses Parliament
Queen’s speech delivered at the start of each Parliamentary session which informs Parliament of government legislative programme
Royal Assent - final stage of legislative process when Queen signs a bill to make it an Act, just symbolic as Queen can’t say no.