House of Commons Flashcards
Facts
- Executive = gov
- Legislature = law making body of the state
- Commons is elected 1st chamber of our bi-cameral parliament
- Parliament is supreme law maker
- Front bench is where PM & gov ministers sit
Key People
Party Whips
- Appointed by party leader
- Enforce party discipline in house as they rebel against party policy
- Try to keep control of MPs to make sure they vote the right way
Party Whips - enforcing discipline
- Threats/bullying
- Promises of high offence/gentle persuasion
- Three-line whips
- Westminsters secret police
Role of a backbench MP
- Helping constituents
- An MP who is not a minister, or member of opposition front-bench
- Scrutinise executive
- Debate gov policy
- Legislate (makes the law)
Backbench Revolt
- Can embarrass the gov & can bring it down on a vote of no confidence in the house
- PM with large majority can survive a huge backbench revolt
7 Principles of public life
- Honesty
- Leadership
- Integrity
- Selflessness
- Objectivity
- Openness
- Accountability
Select Committees
- Meet in public
= wide remit to investigate - Summon MPs, senior civil servant witnesses, other public officials
- All-party committees which shadow a specific gov department
Select Committee Memberships
- Minimum of 11 members
- Committee seats allocated to each party are filled by MPs who are elected by fellow party members.
- Criticised for chair person roles being taken up ‘favoured’ MPs from ruling party.
= Most chairs are elected by fellow MPs
Other Committees
- Public bill committee
- Private bill committee
- Grand committee
- Joint committee
Types of legislation
Private bills
= affect only specific individuals/organisations
Public bills
= change the ‘law of land’
White paper
= forms basis for a bill another round of feedback
Green paper
= consultation document broad outline of possible bill
Hybrid bills
= mix of public & private
Debating gov policy
- Votes may or may not be taken at end of debate
- Requires no legislation
- May move a vote of confidence by gov or opposition
- May sponsor debates on gov policy
Types of Debate
E-petition debate
= 100,000 signatures
Urgent debate
= Debate on a ‘specific & important matter’ must take place in 24 hours
Adjournment debate
= 30min debate at end of the day
= Raise an issue of concern & summon response from minister
Early day motion
= Expression of strong view, results in vote/signatures could lead to full debate
Passage of a Bill through Parliament
- First reading - title is read out
- Second reading - general principles, debated & voted on for first time.
- Committee stage - look at main clauses in detail
- Report stage - committees written report to commons debated
- Third reading - bill reviewed & read in intended form
- Passes to House of Lords - further debate & amendments from lords to be agreed by commons
- Royal assent - find approval, bill becomes an act
