Government Flashcards

Question

members of parliament

Answer 1

- represent a constituency - usually belong to a party - hold seats for 5 years - shadow cabinet (opposition MPs) - backbenchers

Answer 2

second 'upper' house of parliament - 800 members (not elected) sit by hereditary right or appointed by a politician - 26 lords spiritual

Answer 3

- public bills (affect whole population) - private bills (affect specific areas of population) - hybrid bills (mix of two) - private members bills (not introduced through government)

Answer 4

powers which are given to ministers by acts of parliament allowing them to enact laws - statutory instrument

Answer 5

oversees spending commitments - manages fiscal policy, tax levels, investment into public services, national debt, the budget

Answer 6

1. green paper 2. white paper 3. first reading in the house of commons (title) 4. second reading in hoc (principles and vote) 5. committee stage (discussed in detail) 6. report stage (committee amendments) 7. third reading in hoc (final time in commons) 8. goes to house of lords (amendments) 9. bill given royal assent by monarch

Answer 7

'substantially verbatim' report of what is said in parliament

Answer 8

members of the public can petition to house of commons and press for action - 100,000 signatures are needed to debate

Answer 9

MPs or members of house of lords appointed by a party to organise business and ensure voting the right way - 3 line whip = underlining it 3 times, means it is urgent to attend vote (defying can lead to being expelled)

Answer 10

- 27 states - 449 million people - used to be eec (european economic community)

Answer 11

- local government act 1985 = press and public have access to all council, committee and subcommittee meetings (unless info is confidential) - local government act 2000 = limited press and public right to access meetings with 'executive' style decision making - localism act 2011 = made councils hold all meetings in public (unless confidential)

Answer 12

- national security - crime prevention - negotiations - info protected by legal privilege - commercial/personally sensitive info - secret government info/info legally prohibited by official secrets act

Answer 13

provides public access to info from public authorities - obliged to publish certain info - public entitled to request info (began in 2005)

Answer 14

public access to information about state of environment and hazards

Answer 15

- detecting or exposing crime or threat of - protecting public health and safety - protecting public from being misled by an individual or organisation - disclosing failure or likely failure to comply with an obligation - disclosing a miscarriage of justice

Answer 16

- check if info is already in public domain - must be in writing (email/letter) - include name and address - specific and clear to authority - they have 20 days to respond

Answer 17

- held every 5 years - MPs represent constituencies - first past the post system = overall majority is needed (326 seats in house of commons) - person with the most votes wins constituency, party with the most seats/constituencies wins the election

Answer 18

chosen by the Prime Minister from the members of the houses of commons or lords - responsible for the actions, successes and failures of their departments - can also enact laws

Answer 19

Have a leader - either mayoral or leader model Mayoral - directly elected mayor by local electorate and cabinet, powers held by mayor ho may delegate, elected every 4 years and not a councillor Leader - councillor who is elected by full council for up to 4 years and cabinet, holds all powers but may delegate

Answer 20

Does not have a leader and is comprised of councillors who collectively make decisions. Powers are delegated and each has say on issues and decisions.