Effectiveness Of Parliament

Question 1

Holding government to account. Positive Aspects.

Answer 1

• The select committees are increasingly significant

- Ministers must still face questioning in both house

Question 2

Holding government to account. Negative aspects.

Answer 2

• MPs still lack expertise, knowledge and time to investigate govt properly
• PMQs remains a media ‘event’ rather than a serious session

Question 3

Providing democratic legitimacy. Positive aspects.

Answer 3

• The UKs system is stable, with widespread consent

- Parliament provides strong legitimacy

Question 4

Providing demicratic legitimacy. Negative aspects

Answer 4

• HoL cannot provide democratic legitimacy as it is not elected nor accountable

Question 5

Scrutinising legislation. Positive aspects

Answer 5

• HoL does an effective job, often improving legislation and blocking discriminatory aspects of proposals
• Experts in various fields in HoL use their knowledge to great effect

Question 6

Scrutinising legislation. Negative aspects

Answer 6

• Legislative committees in the commons are whipped

- Their scrutinising function is ineffective

Question 7

Controlling government power. Positive aspects

Answer 7

• increasingly, both houses are checking the power of govt, especially when govt doesnt have large majority

Question 8

Controlling government power. Negative aspects

Answer 8

• Power of PM patronage and control by party whips still mean many MPs unwilling to challenge govt

Question 9

Representing constituents. Positive aspects

Answer 9

• Aknowledged strength of westminster system

Question 10

Representing consituents. Negative aspects

Answer 10

• Varies from MP to MP

- Still no effective mechanism for remiving poorly performing MPs