Functions Of parliament

Question 1

What are the six functions of the House of Commons?

Answer 1

• law making
• scrutiny (accountability)
• representation
• debate
• providing ministers
• Legitimacy

Question 2

Who appoints ministers of the government?

Answer 2

The prime minister chooses ministers to form their government.

Question 3

Who makes up the cabinet?

Answer 3

Ministers

Question 4

What does the constitution state regarding parliaments law making ability?

Answer 4

Under parliamentary sovereignty parliament is the “supreme” law making authority in the uk.

Question 5

What is scrutiny?

Answer 5

When the government is held to account for their actions.

Question 6

When can Mps scrutinise the government?

Answer 6

Question time and prime ministers questions.

Question 7

What is representation?

Answer 7

MPs must protect the needs and interests of people in their constituency in parliament. Mps Speak on behalf of their constituents in parliamentary debates

Question 8

How many people are in a constituency?

Answer 8

average 75,000 people

Question 9

What do MPs do in their constituency?

Answer 9

They spend time meeting constituents, visiting local businesses, hold regular surgeries where constituents can discuss their concerns.

Question 10

Example of an MP representing their constituency?

Answer 10

Ken Clarke voted to give parliament a vote on any brexit deal reached as his constituency voted to remain, going against Conservative party policy.

Question 11

When are the governments planned laws for the year outlined?

Answer 11

In the queens speech.

Question 12

Example of a successful government legislation being passed?

Answer 12

The Data Protection Act (2018)- it increased regulation for personal data .

Question 13

Example of a successful private members bill being passed?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Example of successful legitimation?

Answer 14

In 2013 the House of Commons voted against military intervention into Syria which was proposed by the government.

Question 15

When are prime ministers questions held?

Answer 15

Every Wednesday

Question 16

What do departmental select committees do?

Answer 16

Ask more in depth question than question times.

Question 17

Example of a select committee questioning?

Answer 17

Nick Hurd, the home office minister, was questioned by the housing, committees and provided for some people affected by the Grenfell tower fire.

Question 18

Example of the home affairs select committee investigation?

Answer 18

In 2011 the home affairs select committee investigated a disagreement between Theresa may the Home Secretary and Brodie Clark, a civil servant, over UK border force failings.

Question 19

What does a convention of individual ministerial responsibility do?

Answer 19

Holds all ministers in government accountable for the actions of themselves and their departments.

Question 20

Example of individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 20

Amber Rudd resigned as Home Secretary after she mislead the House of Commons over her departments targets for removing illegal immigrants from the uk.

Question 21

What percentage of MPs are aged over 50?

Answer 21

52%

Question 22

What percentage of MPs are aged under 30?

Answer 22

2%

Question 23

What percentage of MPs are from an ethnic minority background and what % of the UK population are from a ethnic minority background?

Answer 23

8% of MPs were from an ethnic minority background whereas 14% of the UK population were from an ethnic minority background.

Question 24

How many MPs are women and what percentage is that?

Answer 24

208 women which is 32%

Question 25

What percentage of MPs are Oxbridge educated?

Answer 25

23%

Question 26

What are the arguments against parliament not being able to fulfil its law making function (with an example)?

Answer 26

Can take a long time for a bill to be made into law for example the assaults on emergency workers act (2018), increased protection for emergency workers however it took over a year to pass through parliament and become law.

Question 27

How many private members bills have become law since 2017?

Answer 27

On two private members bills.

Question 28

Why might parliament be failing its law making function with party whips?

Answer 28

Mps cannot always freely debate and vote on laws because the party leadership can tell them to follow the party line.

Question 29

An example of when a 3 line whip used?

Answer 29

Was used by labour leadership to order MPs to vote for triggering article 50 to begin the brexit process

Question 30

Argument against parliament fulfilling its legitimation?

Answer 30

The war in Iraq was legitimated by the House of Commons despite lots of public opposition. Over 750,000 people protested in London in 2003

Question 31

Arguments against parliament fulfilling its scrutiny role ?

Answer 31

• PMQs and question time can lack in power and effectiveness to properly scrutiny The government.
• ministers often avoid answering the question directly
• PMQs are nicknamed “punch and Judy” politics because it becomes a political shouting match.

Question 32

Why can select committees be seen as ineffective? (Example)

Answer 32

Ministers are unhelpful in providing evidence when questioned.
- in 2016 Boris Johnson was accused of ‘waffling” by the committee chair of the foreign affairs select committee.

Question 33

Example of a high profile select committee inquiry?

Answer 33

Culture, media and sport select committee inquiry into press standards. Heard of the illegal phone hacking by journalists of News of the World - leading to the Levison enquiry

Question 34

Example of a high profile select committee inquiry?

Answer 34

• business, energy and industrial strategy committee inquiry into the sale and acquisition of the high street department store chain BHS

Question 35

What are examples of non-departmental select committees?

Answer 35

• liaison committee
• public accounts committee
• public administration and constitutional affairs committee

Question 36

How many “urgent considerations” were held in 2015-16 and what were they held on?

Answer 36

4 - one on the refugee crisis and one on the UK steel industry

Question 37

What does the back bench business committee do?

Answer 37

Gives MPs greater opportunity to shape the parliamentary agenda - deciding the topic for debate on the floor of the commons.

Question 38

Arguments for the BBBC being a success.

Answer 38

• gives backbench MPs greater say over the parliamentary timetable
• enabled debate on high profile and sensitive issues
• ## influences government policy including reducing fuel and beer duty