Executive-legislative relations Flashcards
Why is the relationship between the two branches unequal in the UK?
The executive enjoys various institutional advantages
State the three main institutional advantages enjoyed by the commons
- Control of the legislative agenda
- Secondary legislation
- Prerogative powers
How does the executive control the legislative agenda?
Most bills are proposed by the government and it controls the legislative timetable. This means that most government bills become law
What is the benefit of the executive controlling the legislative timetable?
They can limit debate on certain bills
What does secondary legislation do?
This gives ministers the power to amend some existing legislation without requiring an act of parliament
What are prerogative powers?
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
What two things does the government usually benefit from under the Westminster model?
- A parliamentary majority
- Party cohesion
Who enforces party discipline?
Whips
What two factors are executive-legislative relations shaped by?
- The institutional resources of each branch
- The political context
What is the benefit of a parliamentary majority?
- 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
What has happened to executive-legislative relations in recent years?
They have become more balanced
What are the 5 main factors that have contributed to parliament becoming more effective in recent years?
- Select committees
- Backbench business
- Backbench rebellions
- Weakening of prerogative powers
- An assertive house of lords
What do select committees do?
They scrutinise the policy and administration of government departments. Many of their recommendations are taken up by the government
What has happened to further enhance the independence of select committees?
The introduction of elected committee chairs and members
What does the Backbench business committee (BBBC) do?
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
Why are backbench rebellions significant?
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
Explain the recent weakening in prerogative powers
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
Explain how the lords have become more assertive in recent years
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
