Executive-legislative relations

Question 1

Why is the relationship between the two branches unequal in the UK?

Answer 1

The executive enjoys various institutional advantages

Question 2

State the three main institutional advantages enjoyed by the commons

Answer 2

• Control of the legislative agenda
• Secondary legislation
• Prerogative powers

Question 3

How does the executive control the legislative agenda?

Answer 3

Most bills are proposed by the government and it controls the legislative timetable. This means that most government bills become law

Question 4

What is the benefit of the executive controlling the legislative timetable?

Answer 4

They can limit debate on certain bills

Question 5

What does secondary legislation do?

Answer 5

This gives ministers the power to amend some existing legislation without requiring an act of parliament

Question 6

What are prerogative powers?

Answer 6

The are powers exercised by ministers, on behalf of the crown, that do not require parliamentary approval. They include making and ratifying treaties, and deploying the armed forces overseas

Question 7

What two things does the government usually benefit from under the Westminster model?

Answer 7

• A parliamentary majority
• Party cohesion

Question 8

Who enforces party discipline?

Answer 8

Whips

Question 9

What two factors are executive-legislative relations shaped by?

Answer 9

• The institutional resources of each branch
• The political context

Question 10

What is the benefit of a parliamentary majority?

Answer 10

• It makes it less likely that other parties will be able to amend government bills
• It makes it more likely that any dissent within the ruling party can be absorbed

Question 11

What has happened to executive-legislative relations in recent years?

Answer 11

They have become more balanced

Question 12

What are the 5 main factors that have contributed to parliament becoming more effective in recent years?

Answer 12

• Select committees
• Backbench business
• Backbench rebellions
• Weakening of prerogative powers
• An assertive house of lords

Question 13

What do select committees do?

Answer 13

They scrutinise the policy and administration of government departments. Many of their recommendations are taken up by the government

Question 14

What has happened to further enhance the independence of select committees?

Answer 14

The introduction of elected committee chairs and members

Question 15

What does the Backbench business committee (BBBC) do?

Answer 15

Allows non-government MPs to select issues for debate. It has increased the use of ‘urgent questions’ to ministers. This has weakened executive control of the parliamentary timetable

Question 16

Why are backbench rebellions significant?

Answer 16

Backbench MPs from the governing party are more likely to rebel than was the case before WWII. Rebellions, or the threat of them, has forced governments to withdraw or amend policy proposals on issues such as counter-terrorism, air strikes in Syria and Brexit

Question 17

Explain the recent weakening in prerogative powers

Answer 17

Under the 2011 fixed term parliaments act, parliament decided whether there should be a general election, rather than the PM. There is an emerging convention that the UK does not engage in armed conflict overseas without the consent of the commons

Question 18

Explain how the lords have become more assertive in recent years

Answer 18

No party has a majority in the lords, and the lords has become more assertive since the removal of hereditary peers in 1999. Government defeats in the lords have become more common and, on many occasions, have forced the government to rethink its legislation