Content Shitttt Flashcards
The Queen’s role regarding Parliament
The Queen’s Speech
> At the opening of Parliament
> The government writes it - it covers their agenda
Royal Assent
> Agreeing to pass laws
Appoint the PM and ask him/her to form a Government
> By tradition this is the general election
> She could choose whoever she wanted, despite the result of the general election
Open and Dismiss Parliament
> She has control over the sitting of Parliament
Descriptive Representative Statistics (2014))
House of Commons: > Women = 29% > Ethnic minorities = 6% > Privately educated = 33% > Oxbridge education = 24% > Average Age = 50 years
House of Lords > Women = 25% > Ethnic minorities = 5% > Privately educated = 50% > Oxbridge educated = 38% > Average Age = 70 years
Functions of House of Commons
Representation Legislation Debate/Deliberation Scrutiny / Accountability Recruitment of Ministers Providing legitimacy
How laws are passed in Parliament - the stages a government bill must go through to be passed
Preparatory Stages
> Before bills are passed, their provisions must be outlined in either a White Paper or a Green Paper
First Reading
> The bill is introduced to Parliament through the formal reading of its title (and usually the setting of a date for its second reading)
> There is no debate or vote held at this stage
Second Reading
> The first substantive stage
> Involves a full debate that considers the principles of the bill (rather than the details)
> The first stage that a bill can be defeated
Committee Stage
> When the details of the bill are being considered line by line
> Carried out by a public bill committee
> Consists of about 18 MPs
> May be considered by a Committee of the Whole House
> Most amendments are made at this stage and new provisions can be included
Report Stage
> When the Committee reports back to the full House of Commons on any changes made during the committee stage
> HofC may amend or reverse any changes at the report stage
Third Reading
> Replicates the second reading
> A debate of the full chamber
> Enables the whole House to take an overview of the bill in its amended state
> No amendments may be made at this stage
> Unusual for bills to be defeated at this stage
The ‘Other’ Place
> Major bills are considered first by the HofC
> Other bills may start in the HofL
> Once a bill is passed by one chamber, it goes through essentially the same process in the other Chamber
> Finally goes to the Monarchy for the Royal Assent
Sarah Wollaston
Conservative MP
> Despite often voting with her party, she sometimes votes the other way
> Entered the HofC on the 6th May 2010
Studied medicine at Guy’s hospital in London
> Qualified in 1986
> Had 20 years as a general practitioner before running for political office
> Had no background in politics when she was voted for her constituency - only real life experience, approachability and enthusiasm
> The Chair of the Health Committee
Member of the Liaison Committee
Dennis Skinner
Labour MP
> Sometimes differs from party opinion
> Entered Parliament in 1970
Has been suspended from Parliament at least 10 times - often for ‘unparliamentary language’ when attacking oponents
e.g. He was suspended from Parliament for accusing Margaret Thatcher of bribing judges (1984)
He attended 89.5% of debates in the last Parliament (2010-2015)
> Above average among MPs
Caroline Lucas
Green Party MP
> The leader of the Green party in England and Wales from 2008-2012
> Principle speaker of the Green party from 2007-2008
> Member of UK Parliament and EU Parliament
Reprimanded in August 2013
> Arrested at a non violent protest against Cuadrilla Resources fracking operations in Sussex
> Found not guilty
Once wore a t-shirt saying “NO MORE PAGE THREE” in Parliament
> Referring to page three of the Sun where there are pictures of half naked women
> Very controversial part of the newspaper
Mhari Black
Scottish National Party (SNP) MP
> Assumed office on the 8th May, 2015
Sits on the Work and Pensions Select Committee
> Her maiden speech included criticisms of the government’s approach to unemployment in her constituency and food banks
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Conservative MP
> Assumed office on the 6th May, 2010
Commonly uses filibustering in Parliament
> Long speeches on the Sustainable Livestock Bill
> Recited poetry once
Tuition Fee Legislation (2010)
In order to fight the deficit, the Coalition government proposed to stop subsidising university places and increase tuition fees
> Passed 323 in favour to 302 against
> Conservatives:
> 298 For - 6 Against - 2 Abstained/Absent
> Labour:
> 258 Against
> Liberal Democrats:
> 28 For - 21 Against - 8 Abstained/Absent
The bill was passed + approved in the House of Lords and went forward to Royal Assentation
Lib Dems suffered a significantly damaging blow which resulted in the receiving only 8.7% of the vote in the 2015 General Election
Conservatives were barely affected at all and continued to make large advancements with their plans to cut the deficit
Fixed Term Parliament Act Legislation (2011)
Introduced 5 year fixed - term elections to Westminster
The bill was passed
Reflected well on the coalition
> Shows that hey could function properly together
House of Lords Reform Legislation (2012)
A vote to make the Lords mostly elected
The bill wasn’t passed due to breaking of the coalition contract
Reflected badly upon the Coalition
> Lack of cooperation - broke the coalition contract
Marriage (Same Sex) Bill Legislation (2013)
Legalised same sex marriage in England and Wales
The bill was passed
Reflected well on the coalition
> Decisive and cooperative
Syria Vote (2013)
A vote deciding whether or not to bomb Syria
The bill wasn’t passed
Reflected poorly on the coalition
> Uncooperative and not decisive
Action in Syria against ISIS (2015)
A vote following a debate on whether or not to intervene in Syria alongside other Western countries to combat ISIS
The bill was passed - 397 for to 223 against
Different forms of Scrutiny in Parliament
Programme/ Bill Scrutiny
> Legislative Scrutiny
> Stages that a Bill has to go through in order to be passed
> Public Accounts Committee
> Always headed by an opposition MP
Questioning
> Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs)
> Once a week at 12pm on Wednesdays
> Oral Questions to Ministers
> Like PMQs but for Ministers
> Written Questions for Ministers
> Possible scrutiny on constituents' behalf
Committees
> Select Committees
> Based on departments
> Detailed scrutiny
> But…
> MPs don’t have to turn up
> Dominated by the governing party
> Chairmen and the majority of members
> Liaison Committee
> Composed of all the chairmen of the other committees
> Meets twice a year
Debates
> Annual Debate on the Address
> Debate on a Motion of No Confidence
> Only once since 1945
> 20 Opposition Days
> 3 Estimates Days
> Private Members Debates/Adjournment Debates
> Only 1/2 and hour a day
> Early Day Motions
> Never really debated - more of a petition to make the government aware of unrest
Public Accounts Committee
Appointed by the House of Commons
The committee doesn’t consider the formulation of merits of policy
> Focuses on value-for-money criteria which are based on economy, effectiveness and efficiency
Questioning - PMQs
The prime minister answers questions from MPs in the HofC for half an hour every Wednesday from Midday
The session normally starts with a routine question from an MP about the PM’s engagements
> Known as open question
> The PM can ask supplement question on any subject
Following the answer, the MP raises a particular issue - often one of current political significance
> The leader of the opposition follows up on this or another topic - permitted to ask a total of six questions
> The only MP who is allowed to come back with further questions
PMQs have become more of a farce than a form of scrutiny
> The criticism of PMQs doesn’t apply to all MPs
e.g. Corbyn is very calm and collected throughout PMQs
> Often just full of hooting and jeering at the opposition
