functions of HOC Flashcards
why is scrutiny an important function of the HOC?
Scrutiny of the executive is when the party in government is held to account for their actions.
MPs can question government ministers on actions they have taken and have the power to remove ministers and the government from power.
why is debate an important function of the HOC?
Debate is a function of the House of Commons.
MPs debate major issues of importance to voters and the country
why is providing ministers an important function of the HOC?
The House of Commons provides ministers to form the government.
The majority of ministers are MPs, including the prime minister.
Ministers are chosen from the House of Commons by appointment by the prime minister.
Ministers make up the cabinet, and shadow ministers in the opposition make up the shadow cabinet.
why is representation an important function of the HOC?
MPs must protect the needs and interests of people in their constituency in Parliament.
MPs speak on behalf of their constituents in Parliamentary debates and make voting decisions on laws which appeal to their constituents.
why is law making an important function of the HOC?
House of Commons makes legislation (laws) that are binding to all UK citizens.
The Constitution states that under parliamentary sovereignty, parliament is the ‘supreme’ law-making authority in the UK
why is legislation an important function of the HOC?
Legitimation is a function of the House of Commons where it must approve all bills which become laws and has the power to support or question the government in the actions it takes.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of representation?
HOC represent all the uk geographical region. each of the mps reprenst an average of 75,000 voters. MPs represent their constituents’ interests in debates and votes. MP Ken Clarke voted to give Parliament a vote on any Brexit deal reached, as his constituents voted to remain, going against Conservative policy.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of law making?
The government’s planned laws for the year are outlined in the King’s speech. Government bills are often successfully passed by Parliament.
The Data Protection Act (2018) is an example of government legislation, which increased regulation of personal data.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of law making ?
Private members’ bills are introduced by MPs and become laws if they pass through the law-making process. The City of London Corporation Act (2018) is a private members’ bill which allowed the City of London Corporation to have a greater management of open spaces in London.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of legitimation?
The House of Commons approves important decisions that impact people in the UK, and has used its legitimacy function to stop, change, and question Government action.
In 2013 the House of Commons voted against military intervention in Syria which was proposed by the Government.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of scrutiny? Question Times
the hoc holds the gov to account through question times where minsiters have to provide answers for actions of the government. there are pm questions every wednesday where the pm is questioned by the leader of opposition and other members of parilament.
how does the hoc fulfil the function of scrutiny?
Select Commities
Departmental Select Committees scrutinise government department work and ministers.
Departmental Select Committees ask more in-depth questions than Question Times.
e.g badenoch vs starmer
how does the hoc fulfil the function of scrutiny?
indivual minsterial responsibility
The convention of individual ministerial responsibility holds all ministers in government accountable for the actions of themselves and their department.
how is the effectiveness of represenation not fulfileld?
The House of Commons fails to represent the UK’s social makeup. Age: 52% of MPs in the House of Commons as of 2017 are aged over 50, while only 2% of MPs are aged under 30.
Ethnicity: 8% of MPs elected in 2017 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, but 14% of the UK population are of an ethnic minority background.
Education: 23% of MPs went to Oxford or Cambridge.
how is the effectiveness of law making not fulfileld?
The process of making laws can take a long time because a bill has to pass through a number of stages before it becomes a law. The Assaults on Emergency Workers Act (2018), which increased protection for people working for emergency services, took over a year to pass through Parliament and become law.
how is the effectiveness of law making not fulfilled in lawmaking party whips?
The government and party leadership use party whips, who are MPs appointed by each party, to force bills through Parliament.
how is legimation not fulfilled in the house of commons?
The House of Commons has legitimated Government action which was not in the interests of people in the UK.
The war in Iraq was legitimated by the House of Commons despite lots of public opposition. Over 750,000 people protested in London on a single day in February 2003 against the war.
how is srutiny in question time not properly done?
Some see Question Time and Prime Minister’s Questions as lacking the power and effectiveness to properly scrutinise the government.
Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) has been nicknamed ‘Punch and Judy’ politics because it becomes a political shouting match rather than a tool to hold the government to account.
Members of Parliament often ask planted questions at PMQs to make the government and party leaders appear strong to the public.
how is scutinty not propelry done in selct commitess?
Select committee scrutiny can also be ineffective at holding the government to account when ministers are unhelpful in providing evidence when questioned.
In 2016 Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary at the time, was accused of “waffling” by the committee chair of the foreign affairs select committee during questioning.
