Govt vs Parl

Question 1

relations

Answer 1

fusion of powers
- exec is formed out of the leg and the exec sits within the leg
- PM appoints the exec and some of the leg ie HofL

elected dictatorship
- view of Lord Hailsham in the 1970s
- the only real check on the govt is during general elections
- only really applicable to govts with large majorities

Thatcher - had a landslide maj -> declined popularity - had a landslide maj after the Falklands of 144+
Blair - 1997 landslide -> 2005 suffered first defeat over increasing detention for suspected terrorists - weak maj
Cameron - relied on coalition to pass leg
May - relied on DUP confidence and supply agreemtn to pass leg - Cabinet was divided
Johnson - had maj but ultimately defeated due to public pressure and exec pressure

Question 2

how effective is Parl in checking the govt

Answer 2

backbench rebellions
growing assertiveness of the HofL
increase use of select committees and public inquiries
erosion of powers of royal prerogative
use of PMQs
BBBC and control of the legislative agenda

Question 3

backbench rebellions

Answer 3

increase number of backbench rebellions
- under May - 33 defeats
- under Johnson - pre election 12
BUT these high numbers come from minority govt
under maj govt - the max number of defeats is only 6

Question 4

growing assertiveness of the HofL

Answer 4

post 1999 reforms
- no whips
- no party has a maj

eg 2008 - voted against Blair’s IDs
eg 2007 - defeated the Fraud Bill
eg recently ABC has been highly critical of the Illegal Migrants Bill
eg 2023 - amended strikes bill - removed the clause that removed protection of unions who did not comply with work notices
eg 2023 - opposed retention of EU laws
eg 2023 - added clause to the Energy Bill - ensure there was regard to net zero target

Question 5

increase use of select committees

Answer 5

2009 - Wright Committee - determined select committees must be elected by whole house
Privileges Committee - current investigation into BJ
Liaison Committee - drilled Sunak on Economics issues + more

public inquiries
Covid Inquiry
Leveson Inquiry

BUT have no enforcement powers - 40% of recommendations are taken on
eg BJ did not attend Liaison Committee investigation

Question 6

powers of royal prerogative

Answer 6

PM can dissolve parliament
PM can declare war
PM can ratify treaties

all these powers have been eroded by precedence set by PMs

Question 7

BBBC, PMQs

Answer 7

BBBC - allows backbenchers to control legislative agenda
BUT
there are 20 opposition days - 17 are set by the official opposition - motions decided on opposition days are not legally binding
Ballots have 13 Fridays only

PMQs - allows direct scrutiny of govt - many criticisms of PMQs and other question times