Definitions (Ch 7+8) Flashcards
Collective government
Legislature is decided by a group (the cabinet)
Features of Westminster Model
Parliamentary sovereignty, uncodified constitution, cabinet government, FPTP electoral system and two party system
Parliamentary sovereignty
Parliament is the supreme law making body
Public Bill Committee
A group of backbench MPs who analyse and scrutinise a public bill
Private Member’s Bill
A bill sponsored by a backbench MP
Public Bill
Any bill that affects society in general
Private Bill
Bills that have an impact on private organisations/ businesses
Accountability
Principle that an MP should face a vote, where their record is taken into account
Legislature
The branch of government responsible for passing laws
Select Committee
Cross-party panel of backbench MPs who scrutinise a specific department’s operations eg Home Affairs SC and Home Office
Coalition government
When two or more parties join to form a government as the biggest party doesn’t have a seat majority
Positive aspects of parliament scrutiny
More control of timetable for scrutinisers, greater check on government policy, no majority party in HofL, Select Committees more influential
Negative aspects of parliament scrutiny
Government defeats are rare, Commons can bypass Lords, Select Committees have little power, Select Committees are proportional to Commons
Executive
The branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation
Cabinet
Committees of senior ministers that act as the main decision making body of the government
Select Committee
A panel of backbench cross-party MPs who scrutinise a certain department’s actions eg Home Office and Home Affairs Select Committee
Executive
Branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation
Cabinet
Panel of senior ministers, led by PM, who are the main collective decision-making body of the government
Majority government
When one party has over half the seats in the commons, so can form a single-party government
Minority government
No party has an overall majority, but the largest party forms a government anyway. Relies on other parties’ support
Coalition government
When two or more parties join in a formal agreement to make up a collective majority
Patronage
The power of an individual to appoint someone to an important position
Cabinet Reshuffle
A series of changes to the personnel of the cabinet and positions they occupy
Cabinet government
Executive power is vested in a group of senior ministers who exercise collective responsibility
