Functions Of parliament Flashcards
What are the six functions of the House of Commons?
- law making
- scrutiny (accountability)
- representation
- debate
- providing ministers
- Legitimacy
Who appoints ministers of the government?
The prime minister chooses ministers to form their government.
Who makes up the cabinet?
Ministers
What does the constitution state regarding parliaments law making ability?
Under parliamentary sovereignty parliament is the “supreme” law making authority in the uk.
What is scrutiny?
When the government is held to account for their actions.
When can Mps scrutinise the government?
Question time and prime ministers questions.
What is representation?
MPs must protect the needs and interests of people in their constituency in parliament. Mps Speak on behalf of their constituents in parliamentary debates
How many people are in a constituency?
average 75,000 people
What do MPs do in their constituency?
They spend time meeting constituents, visiting local businesses, hold regular surgeries where constituents can discuss their concerns.
Example of an MP representing their constituency?
Ken Clarke voted to give parliament a vote on any brexit deal reached as his constituency voted to remain, going against Conservative party policy.
When are the governments planned laws for the year outlined?
In the queens speech.
Example of a successful government legislation being passed?
The Data Protection Act (2018)- it increased regulation for personal data .
Example of a successful private members bill being passed?
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.
Example of successful legitimation?
In 2013 the House of Commons voted against military intervention into Syria which was proposed by the government.
When are prime ministers questions held?
Every Wednesday
What do departmental select committees do?
Ask more in depth question than question times.
Example of a select committee questioning?
Nick Hurd, the home office minister, was questioned by the housing, committees and provided for some people affected by the Grenfell tower fire.
Example of the home affairs select committee investigation?
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.
What does a convention of individual ministerial responsibility do?
Holds all ministers in government accountable for the actions of themselves and their departments.
Example of individual ministerial responsibility?
Amber Rudd resigned as Home Secretary after she mislead the House of Commons over her departments targets for removing illegal immigrants from the uk.
What percentage of MPs are aged over 50?
52%
What percentage of MPs are aged under 30?
2%
What percentage of MPs are from an ethnic minority background and what % of the UK population are from a ethnic minority background?
8% of MPs were from an ethnic minority background whereas 14% of the UK population were from an ethnic minority background.
How many MPs are women and what percentage is that?
208 women which is 32%
What percentage of MPs are Oxbridge educated?
23%
What are the arguments against parliament not being able to fulfil its law making function (with an example)?
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.
How many private members bills have become law since 2017?
On two private members bills.
Why might parliament be failing its law making function with party whips?
Mps cannot always freely debate and vote on laws because the party leadership can tell them to follow the party line.
An example of when a 3 line whip used?
Was used by labour leadership to order MPs to vote for triggering article 50 to begin the brexit process
Argument against parliament fulfilling its legitimation?
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
Arguments against parliament fulfilling its scrutiny role ?
- 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.
Why can select committees be seen as ineffective? (Example)
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.
Example of a high profile select committee inquiry?
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
Example of a high profile select committee inquiry?
- business, energy and industrial strategy committee inquiry into the sale and acquisition of the high street department store chain BHS
What are examples of non-departmental select committees?
- liaison committee
- public accounts committee
- public administration and constitutional affairs committee
How many “urgent considerations” were held in 2015-16 and what were they held on?
4 - one on the refugee crisis and one on the UK steel industry
What does the back bench business committee do?
Gives MPs greater opportunity to shape the parliamentary agenda - deciding the topic for debate on the floor of the commons.
Arguments for the BBBC being a success.
- 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
