HOC Flashcards by coal vxu

what are roles of whip x2

instruct how to vote by underlining bills
management/discipline - can remove MPs from the party or give promotion

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

how are speakers neutral
and x2 examples of speakers

they are elected so must be moderate to have bipartisan support
party affiliation is given up and can’t vote
Sir Bernard Wetherill and Betty Boothroyd - highly impartial and unbiased

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

example of biased speakers - Bercow

John Bercow
granted emergency debates to remainers who wanted to delay Brexit.
was also pictured alongside remainer merchandise

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

example of biased speakers - Hoyle

Lindsay Hoyle
SNP put forth debate that there should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Hoyle is approached by the Labour party and amends it so say there should be an intermediate humanitarian ceasefire.
= 86 people signed petition for his resignation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

weak point about how the speaker can be biased

increasing polarisation. dont want to be seen voting with the other party so will just vote with their party. means that the speaker is increasingly loyal to the party.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

basic how are the HOC better than HOL

greater legitimacy and accountability as the elected branch

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acts for HOC sovereignty

Parliaments Acts 1911 and 1949
the lords should not interfere with matters of taxation and have no right to delay money bills
the lords’ power of veto was replaced with the power of delay for 2 parliamentary sessions (1 year)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

EXCLUSIVE power of HOC

commons can remove the executive in a case of no confidence

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is the salisbury convention

the lords would not oppose a bill that fulfilled a commitment that is in the manifesto of the winning party

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is the reasonable time convention + example

the lords must consider government business in “reasonable time”
example - Asylum Bills (RWANDA) - HOL amended Rwanda Bill 5 times and sent back to commons for debate

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

evidence to suggest the HOL has become more assertive tho x3 examples x1 exp

Sexual Offences Amendment Act 2000
Asylum Bills (Rwanda Bill) 5 amendments.
Hunting Act 2004
= examples of HOL refusing to drop its opposition to a bill - forcing the govt to enact the Parliamentary Act and push it thru

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

beast example of HOL delaying bill

EU withdrawal Bill
HOL delayed this bill 2017-19. HOC didnt have a majority so HOL was in a greater position to block

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

how is the HOL becoming similar to HOC or at least better x2

enhanced legitimacy since 97, removal of hereditary peers in the House of Lords Act 1997
more people with expertise eg Lord Robert Winston in STEM cell research

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

functions of parliament

legislative, scrutiny, representative

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

function of parl - legislative basic no evidence +5 -3

+ parliamentary sovereignty
+ powers over taxation
+ government proposed measures rarely defeated
+ speed
+whips system

-speed
-unworkable laws
-Private members bills

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

function of parl - legislative - parliament sovereignty +3

they are the only ones who can change statute law.
90% laws passed
Hunting Act 2004 was blocked and the Parliament Act was invoked and it passed

function of parl - legislative - powers over taxation +2

parliaments act 1949 forbids HOL from intervening in money bills

function of parl - legislative - government proposed legislation is rarely defeated +2

limited opportunity for backbench and opposition MPs to propose measures of their own.
parliament mostly reacts to measures put forth by the executive rather than making

function of parl - legislative - speed +2

boris johnson was able to pass the Coronavirus Act 2020 in 3 days
= government can react quickly in times of crisis. parliament is able to legislate when needed.

function of parl - legislative - unworkable laws -2

small number of bills are so poorly written that they are unworkable.
eg Dangerous Dog Act 1991 was ineffective as RSPCA report showed 30 deaths happened that were not specified in the act

function of parl - legislative - policy-making legislature/ legislature making policy -2

there are not many bills that come from individual MPs and those are private members bills. the government passes what they want.
not fulfilling its function to propose legislature

function of parl - legislative - speed -2

Blair’s Terror Act was passed so quickly without scrutiny in parliament and stripped away the right to a fair trial for 28 days in detainment.
also Theresa May with the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

function of parl - scrutiny BASIC +4 -1

+questions to ministers
+select committees
+official opposition
+short money
-proportion of seats in parliament determines the proportion of seats in select committees

function of parl - scrutiny - questions to ministers +3

all ministers are questioned by parliament.
PMQs
may was seen as unnatural, weakening her position = May lost snap election.
= they can be held accountable + govt not too powerful

function of parl - scrutiny - select committees +2

- have extended and enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. - AMBER RUDD said the Windrush generation were treated fairly. Home Affairs Select Committee found they should be able to hold citizenship. = Amber Rudd resigned due to scrutiny.

function of parl - scrutiny - short money +2

- the opposition is given short money and cranborne money to fund their party while they scrutinise the government - labour in 2015 got £6.7 million

function of parl - scrutiny - the proportion of seats in parliament determines the proportion of seats in Select Committees -1

not good if there is a large majority eg under Blair 1997 it is hard to scrutinise bills (E.g. Terror Act)

function of parl - representative - BASIC +4 -4

+Private Member's Bills + MPs as delegates or trustees + MP-constituency link (HB) +increasing diversity - House of Lords unelected - Mirrors UK society?!! - single member constituencies - Are MPs delegates for constituencies or party?

function of parl - representative - Private Members Bills +4

significant laws like the - abolition of the death penalty (Murder Act 1965) - Abortion Act 1967 - Assisted Dying Act 2024 result of PMBs - the creation of the Backbench Business Committee in 2010, and the Petitions Committee in 2015 has created more opportunities for MPs to raise public concerns

function of parl - representative - MPs as delegates or trustees +2

- some MPs represent their constituency's wishes over their party's whip - eg JAN 2025 - 4 Labour members (eg Sarah Champion) voted in favour of an inquiry into grooming gangs despite being whipped to go against it. (Wanted to delay it for a new probe but needs tackling now)

function of parl - representative - Represent constituency +1

- Hazel Blears joined a protest against hospital closures around her constituency of Salford. went against govt issued policy.

function of parl - representative - HOL unelected -5

The HOL unrepresentative - 26% women. - average age is 71 - corruption or misbehaviour allegations (Lord Stone of Blackheath investigated for harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying) - Johnson appointed Jo Johnson (brother) as Lord = does not reflect wishes nor mirror UK society

function of parl - representative - Mirrors UK society?!! -5

- primarily white, independently educated and old - women only 29% of parliament - ethnic minorities are only 6% - 1/3 MPs attended private schools compared to 7% of population. - in 2016, there were only 10 women in a 30-person cabinet

function of parl - representative - working in best interest of country? -4

- MPs expenses scandal 2009. - Bojo partygate - Matt Hancock = do not act alongside the Nolan report which requires they act with authority.

function of parl - representative - single member constituencies -1

Richmond, Liverpool Walton are all safe seats in 2019, Liverpool Walton has labour 84.7% majority

function of parl - representative - are MPs delegates for their constituencies or for their party? -1

- Lee Anderson elected as a Conservative MP but then defected to Reform - the constituents did not vote for Reform.

examples of acts being easily adaptable through time x4

- terrorism act 2006. Strengthened counter-terrorism measures in the UK, enhancing powers to prevent and investigate terrorism, passed in response to London bombings. Offence to encourage or glorify terrorism. Extended the length of time a terror suspect could be detained without charge to 14 days - fixed term parliaments act 2011. **repealed 2021** Set fixed terms for UK Parliaments, changing the process for calling general elections - is repealed in 2022. - coronavirus act 2020 Firearms Amendment Act 1997 (after Dunblane)

examples of government defeats in the HOC x1

NOV 2005 - an amendment to the Terrorism Bill to allow terrorist suspects to be held without charge for 90 days

example of more Lords corruption x1

between 2020 and 2015, 62 peers claimed £360,000 in expenses despite not voting in a single division