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Politics A-Level > GOVP2 - Legislature > Flashcards

GOVP2 - Legislature Flashcards

1
Q

Benefits of bicameralism

A

Check on first chamber, more scrutiny, more representation/expertise with Lords

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2
Q

Issues with bicameralism

A

Delaying legislation, full role can be done by Commons, causes conflict and too conservative

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3
Q

Example of Select Committee power

A

2018 Amber Rudd forced to change policy on immigration targets due to Home Affairs Select Committee questioning - Windrush Scandal

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4
Q

When were life peerages brought about?

A

1958 Life Peerages Act

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5
Q

Use of 1949 Parliament Act

A

Blair passing Hunting Act 2004 when blocked in Lords

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6
Q

1997 Labour Manifesto on Lords

A

End ‘the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords’

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7
Q

When was the Lords changed by New Labour?

A

1999 House of Lords Act

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8
Q

4 roles of Lords

A

Consideration/revision of bills, initiation of non-controversial legislation, power of delay, general debating

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9
Q

Who are non-controversial bills begun in the Lords?

A

25% of laws are to even out the workload on either House, and also where peers want to air their opinions on social reform

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10
Q

Example of key Lords committee

A

Select Committee on EU, with around 70 peers working to scrutinise EU legislation

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11
Q

Benefit of Lords to revise bills

A

Have time and expertise to clarify bills which have come straight out of the Commons

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12
Q

Why does the type of peers in the Lords make it in need of reform?

A

Hereditary peers do not turn up to debate, and are not democratic, and life peers are political tools with no independence (Blair’s use against Tory cronies)

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13
Q

Why does the make-up of the Lords make it in need of reform?

A

26 Bishops of Church of England, no other religions, and also 26% women and few minorities particularly with hereditary peers

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14
Q

How has the House of Lords become more active in recent years?

A

Diversity with a large number of specialists who can debate government on issues, and New Labour revision reaction turned to Brexit fight

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15
Q

Unitary reason for not reforming Lords

A

No need to have an outlet for federal regions rights

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16
Q

Political reasoning for not reforming Lords

A

Many from all parties dislike the idea, too controversial for too few votes

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17
Q

Which areas to Private Members Bills focus on?

A

Moral issues outside party interests such as abortion

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18
Q

Difference between green and white papers

A

Green made for Commons discussion, white for ministers to outline bill before publishing

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19
Q

Number of departmental select committees

A

19

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20
Q

2005-06 number of Private Members Bills passed in each chamber

A

3 in Commons, 13 in Lords

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21
Q

2 examples of important scrutiny

A

Westland Affair of 1986 (where Trade and Industry Secretary Brittan resigns after lack of candour with Parliament in debate) and high level of debate without party guidelines on Iraq

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22
Q

Role of Parliament for executive

A

Future government, recruiting

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23
Q

Work MP’s most proud for in 2001 (Guardian using 200 MPs)

A

43 - Introducing own legislation, 27 - Constituency investment, 25 - Select Committee Service

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24
Q

MP’s 4 obligations

A

Party, constituency, nation, conscience/special interests

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25
Q

Main role of MP’s to constituents

A

Solving welfare problems

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26
Q

Example of MP divide on opinion and constituency

A

Pro-EU MP’s in areas voting Leave

27
Q

Percentage of minority MP’s and across country

A

8% and 14%

28
Q

2015 average age of MPs

A

51

29
Q

2015 percentage of university educated MP’s who went to Oxbridge

A

31%

30
Q

How does the electoral system affect women?

A

Party lists could have led to more women as discrimination can be blamed on one source, not many constituencies

31
Q

Example of international restraint on Parliament

A

IMF, when borrowing there need be high levels of economic austerity

32
Q

Basis of 1989 Factortame case

A

Merchant Shipping Act of 1988 contradicting EC Law

33
Q

Conservative peer Lord Hailsham on executive power

A

Elective dictatorship

34
Q

How does the government have power over the Commons in terms of it’s timetable?

A

It controls the business of the Commons, which bills are entered and which private members bills are passed, controlling legislative agenda, make sure most time is spent on government policies

35
Q

How does the government have power in the Commons in terms of the outcome of legislation?

A

Ministers usually only add or allow amendments from pressure groups, not the opposition, and have more information from cabinet committees and Whitehall in order to put forward view stronger, and also statutory instruments can be used

36
Q

Number of statutory instruments in 1990 and 2006

A

2700 and over 4000

37
Q

Example of back bench power over executive

A

Major and policy on EU

38
Q

Type of non-debate scrutiny

A

Early Day Motions, MPs can sign up to them to raise government’s awareness of an issue

39
Q

Type of debate scrutiny

A

20 opposition days in Commons

40
Q

Example of power of PMQs

A

Failures of IDS led to overthrow

41
Q

How are Question Times sometimes better than votes for scrutiny?

A

MPs on both sides of the House ask critical questions, often pertaining to constituency, not party

42
Q

When were committees introduced?

A

1980

43
Q

Weaknesses of committees

A

Whips keep effective or critical MPs away, too small budget, paper ignored, government in majority, information often withheld from them

44
Q

Classic examples of more committee powers

A

Now chairperson on equal salary to minister, and 2006 Select Committees can hold hearings and collect evidence

45
Q

How do Public Bills Committees and Select Committees differ?

A

Public one are larger, non-specialist, scrutinise bills not government and not investigatory

46
Q

3 roles of Opposition

A

Oppose, support (such as on NI) and be an alternate government

47
Q

Issues for opposition in terms of ability to oppose

A

Lack of knowledge like ministers do, ministers can take best opposition policies

48
Q

Issues for opposition in terms of membership

A

Need for clear difference for party members to support, morale can be low ie post-1997, lack of likelihood of re-election as a government causes disinterest

49
Q

4 constraints on MP effectiveness

A

Poor facilities, complexity of government difficult to penetrate, high level of constituency work, service on public bill committees

50
Q

2005-2006 rebels

A

95 of the, including 114 MPs, 4 losses

51
Q

What is a pairing?

A

When 1 majority and minority MP decides to agree not to vote, registered with whips

52
Q

Issues of a lack of party unity

A

Inability to legislate, often exploited by media, difficulty to understand party line (such as Labour on Brexit)

53
Q

How can MPs have power inside party?

A

Backbench committees such as 1922 and PLP (used in 2003-4 to achieve concessions from ministers on tuition fees)

54
Q

Example of loss of the whip

A

8 Euro-sceptics under Major, lose privilege to attend meetings

55
Q

Power of backbench on fox hunting

A

In 2004 able to force full ban when Blair preferred licenses

56
Q

Largest rebellion

A

137 MPs on Iraq

57
Q

4 types of MPs

A

Useful party members, good constituency members, individualists and part-timers

58
Q

4 desires of changes to Commons

A

Faster passage of legislation, better scrutiny, better working hours, removal of outdated practices

59
Q

Supporter of current system due to checks in system

A

Norton

60
Q

Changes in terms of scrutiny since 1997

A

One PMQs session, since 2003 Liaison Committee used by chairpersons to question PM, more pre-legislative scrutiny with white papers, debates in Westminster hall

61
Q

Changes not about scrutiny since 1997

A

Since 2002, earlier working hours, more office space with Portcullis House

62
Q

Push and pull on full time MPs

A

Some say can’t do 2 jobs, others say up to date experience avoids monasterial Parliament

63
Q

Example of change to ease resources

A

Plans to reduce MP numbers to 600, Michael Howard had called for 450

64
Q

Time when MPs have most power as individuals

A

Free votes, this is often when debates are strongest

Politics A-Level (11 decks)

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