Functions: Legislating and debating

Question 1

Legislating

Answer 1

Both Houses review the laws gov wants to pass and after debating and scrutinising them, Parliament is generally expected to pass them
Commons can amend legislation and ultimately veto it
Lords can suggest amendments, but does not have the power to veto laws, only to delay them for a year

Question 2

Debating

Answer 2

Way for Parliament to hold executive to account
Each bill debated in second reading
Backbenchers and opposition debate significant issues of the day as well as legislation
Adjournment debates are held at the end of every day - MP can raise matter affecting their constituency with a minister
Emergency debates can be held e.g. 8th Nov 2021 – over Owen Paterson Lobbying Scandal, debate requested by Lib Dems

Question 3

Legislating strengths

Answer 3

+ 128 HoL defeats for gov in 21-22 session - Shows helathy opposition and effective scrutiny
+ Government doesn’t always get its way
+ May’s majority was 13, meaning she had to work hard to get her MPs to back her

Question 4

Legislating strengths: Examples of government not always getting its way

Answer 4

Priti Patel’s Nationality and Borders bill suffered 12 defeats in HoL
Particular issue with dividing refugees into classes depending on how they arrived in UK
4 April 2022

Question 5

Weaknesses of legislating

Answer 5

• Govs usually enjoy majority control of Commons, rarely defeated, undermines effectiveness of Parliament E.g. Blair didn’t lose in HoC from 1997 to 2005
• Coalition only defeated twice on legislation in HoC
• Backbenchers vote with their party because their career prospects are in the hands of the PM e.g. Saqib Bhatti has never rebelled against gov in current parliamentary session

Question 6

Strengths of debating

Answer 6

+ Due to implementation of Wright Committee recommendations, MOs now have more control over the parliamentary agenda via the Backbench Business Committee. Parliament now engages more in debates on issues of the day e.g. Labour MP Carolyn Harris put forward debate on the Menopause which was debated on 9th June 2022
+ PMs have become reluctant to initiate military action without Parliament. In recent years, Parliament has been given a chance to debate this matter e.g. in 2015, Parliament given opportunity to debate issue of air strikes in Syria. MPs voted to approve air strikes after 10 hour debate in HoC

Question 7

Weakness of debating

Answer 7

• Limited time for genuine debate and whips control and curtail MPs independence e.g. in 2019, Conservative Party withdrew the whip from 21 MPs including Kenneth Clarke. 4 had whip restored - due to rebelling to prevent a no-deal Brexit in 2019