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politics > parl structure > Flashcards

parl structure Flashcards

1
Q

benefits of having 2 chambers

A
  • represents different interests, states in federal system
  • greater scrutiny and revision for legislation (rwanda bill, HoL)
  • upper house has checks and balances
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2
Q

who sits where in the Hoc

A
  • governing party on the right and opposition on the left
  • shadow mins and ministers are front benchers
  • non mins mps are backbenchers
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3
Q

what is it like being an MP

A
  • 2023: £86,584
  • parl priveledge: legal immunity, right to free speech (no fear of prosecution)
  • parl expenses also paid, running office, employing staff, accommodation, travel
  • each house has the right to regulate its own internal affairs without interference from outside bodies (courts)
  • expected to be totally loyal in the chamber if your party is in gov
  • no induction into how to be a ‘good’ mp, cannot effectively scrutinise or make effective change as they are not taught how
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4
Q

what are mps not allowed to do

A
  • address another MP by name only by title
  • speak until called by the speaker by bobbing
  • cannot clap to show approval in the HoC
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5
Q

erskine may and mp behaviour rules

A
  • cannot call others liars or hypocrites
  • mp is called to apologise for foul language to others or will be ejected
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6
Q

mp behaviour in the HoC

A
  • PMQ heckling, roaring, screeching, bellowing etc
  • either wrong foot a speaker on the opposition or one liners shouted in short silences
  • practiced hecklers: michael dugher, labour
  • tory have heckling squads –> departmental support groups
  • dennis skinner: called C members crooks and apologied by reversing the statement, called david C as dodgy dave
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7
Q

public opinion of PMQ

A

22 feb 17
- 2% watched it to the end
- less than 1/3 said they had watched ones before but not thsi one
- 54% said they had never watched it
- 77% said there was too much ‘party political point scoring instead of answering the question’
- 23% said it put them off politics

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8
Q

arguments for and against changing the structure of the HoC

A

FOR
- adversarial chamber that damages our politics
- encourages less confrontational debates if semi circle
- reduces the tribalism which puts the public off

AGAINST
- shape cannot change culture and personality –> this is the issue
- creates clear divisions against parties
- debate and disagreement makes sharp policy

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9
Q

what do whips do

A
  • ensuring mps attend parliament divisions and approving absence when their role is not needed
  • instructing how mps should vote, debate with votes are underlined –> ‘3 line whip’, strict instruction to vote according to party line or face disciplinary action, most important divisions
  • alistair campbell: chief w of L of Hoc
  • lord kennedy of southwark: chief w of L and HoL
  • simon hart: C and HoC
  • baroness williams of trafford C and HoL
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10
Q

what does the speaker do

A
  • presides over debates and maintains order
  • cant temp suspend rule breakers
  • elected by mps by secret ballot, no party affiliation, vote is for tie breaker and debate
  • stand down at GE but usually re-elected
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11
Q

john bercow as a speaker (significance)

A
  • allowed multiple urgent questions a day, MPs talked of major issues, rather than to be appearing to ignore them
  • significance: increased scrutiny of gov by backbenchers, allowed for different party views to be expressed and elected MPs could express the opinions of people in parl
  • allowed parl expression to a major current of public opinion
  • annoying, bullying allegations, attempted secret vote to get him removed
  • allowed emergency motions to be more than a bland formulation
  • procedural rulings: commons maj = real authority over events making mps unhappy
  • partisan: bias and party alliance, allows pregnant and new mother mps to cast proxy votes
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12
Q

lindsay hoyle as a speaker

A
  • elected by AV
  • hoyle is experienced, impartial on brexit and can handle a crisis
  • equality and reputation –> tolerance
  • difficult to depart from conventions, not as willing as bercow
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13
Q

life peers in the HoL and significance

A
  • 695 in nov 2016
  • life peerages act 1958: appoint members to the upper house for life, no inheritance
  • PM: recommends individuals for appointments
  • life peerages act 1958 and HoL act 1999, diversity and professionalism –> former mps, business people, educations and arts sector all have lords
  • having diff professionals allows for expertise to review gov policy
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14
Q

hereditary peers in HoL and significance

A
  • 92 –> HoL act 1999, elected
  • 75 elected by ballots of hereditary peers from their party and crossbench groups
  • peerages act 1963: H peers can renounce titles and memberships of the Lords
  • why is this bad: unelected representatives, PMs can influence who is appointed (michelle moan and ppe)
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15
Q

how is lords reform effective or not effective

A
  • increased equality, removal of unelected peers
  • increased diversity and professionalism
  • having different professionals have different people review policies of gov
  • independent HoL appointment, commission, unbiased

BUT
- pm can influence who is appointed, blair 2006-7, michelle m and johnson
- unelected house

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16
Q
A
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17
Q

what are the 5 functions of parl

A
  • legislation
  • debate
  • scrutiny and accountability
  • recruiting minsters
  • representation
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18
Q

what is scrutiny and accountability

A
  • parliament examines the policies and work of the executive to hold it to account
  • ensures gov is accountable by requiring ministers to explain and justify their actions
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19
Q

parliamentry questions are effective scrutiny

A
  • allows opposition leader, leader of third party and backbenchers to scrutinise PM
  • designated opportunity for all MPS to question the executive
  • weekly: constant scrutiny over a period of time
  • gov are forced to justify their actions in a public form
20
Q

parliamentary questions are not effective scrutiny

A
  • govt backbenchers are usually given questions by whips to flatter rather than probe
  • speaker bercow: fails to effectively reduce in chamber –> leads to parl theatre not effective S, questions not answered directly, one-liners etc
  • leader of opposition tries to influence shape of agenda + highlight gov failures
  • gov drive agenda, not opposition, 4/5 times a year
  • no follow up Q for mps
  • backbenchers can be ignored if not seen to fit the gov agenda
21
Q

why is the oppositon effective scrutiny

A
  • appears as an alternative gov in waiting, needs to develop its own policies and may support government measures
  • can force policy retreats when gov has a small maj
  • 20 opposition days a year, advance agenda or expose government failure
  • opposition leader, 6 questions at PMQ for further scrutiny of the PM
22
Q

why is the opposition not effective scrutiny

A
  • has limited opportunities to set agenda in parliament
  • opposition is divided and in a minority as they just lost a GE, weak opposition
  • 17/20 for main opposition, other parties have little question time between them
23
Q

what are select committees

A
24
Q

why are select committees effective scrutiny

A
  • select C scrutinise policies and actions of gov, conduct detailed examinations of controversial issues
  • question ministers and can request access to gov papers
  • many select C recommendations are accepted by gov
  • election of chairs and members by mps has enhanced the independence of SC
25
Q

why are select committees not effective scrutiny

A
  • a gov with a maj in HoC will have a maj in committees
  • mins and civil servants: may not give enough into and can deny documents
  • no power to propose policy: gov can ignore recs made by SC
  • some do not attend reg: overly abrasive when questioning witnesses
26
Q

when were select committees introduced and what do they focus on

A
  • introduced in 1980
  • focus on the work of specific government departments or agencies
27
Q

what different roles can a select committee be tasked with

A
  • pre legislative scrutiny –> gathering information before the drafting of new leg or while a bill is in its early draft stage (environmental, food and rural affairs committee on draft animal welfare bill (2017)
  • post legislative scrutiny –> evaluating the impact and function of a new act of parliament since it has come into law to determine whether it has achieved its intended purpose
  • scrutiny of an individual minister, agency or departments performance –> shadowing their work and examining policy issues
28
Q

how do select committees function

A
  • comprise a min of 11 mps and/or peers who draw evidence from a wide range of sources
  • question gov ministers and civil servants and may appoint experts and invite members of the public to give evidence
29
Q

cross departmental select committees

A
  • public accounts committee –> monitors how money is spent on public services
  • environmental audit committee –> role is to check how gov policies comply with sustainability and the protection of environment
30
Q

why do select committees have a high level of internal democracy

A
  • reflects the party political balance of the house of commons
  • the proportion of seats in each committee given to opposition parties will be equal to the proportion of seats they hold in the commons
  • elected by MPs across parliament, individual parties select members to sit on each committee
31
Q
A
32
Q

act of parliament

A

law passed by parliament

33
Q

bill

A

proposal for a new law/change to a current law that has yet to complete the parliamentary leg process

34
Q

green paper

A

gov document setting out various options for legislation and inviting comment

35
Q

public bill

A

bill concerning a general issue of public policy, introduced by a gov minister –> most important type of bill, debated in parliament

36
Q

white paper

A

gov doc setting out a detailed proposal for legislation

37
Q

private bill

A

sponsored by an organisation (company or local authority) –> group affected by a bill has the right to petition parliament against it

38
Q

hybrid bill

A
  • combination of public and private
  • propose changes to the law which would affect the general public but also certain groups or areas in particular (HS2 railway link)
39
Q

private members bill

A
  • introduced by backbench MPs or a member of the lords and are unlikely to become law
  • in the commons, the names of MPs applying to introduce a private members bill are drawn in a ballot
  • mps can make a proposal using a 10 minute rule, in a time limited speech
40
Q

process of passing a bill

A
  • first reading
  • 2nd reading
  • committee stage
  • report stage
  • third reading
  • house of lord stages
41
Q

first reading, bills

A
  • formal presentation of the title of the bill on the floor of the house by a minister from the responsible department
  • no debate/vote at this stage
42
Q

2nd reading, bills

A
  • main debate on bill principle
  • gov min explains + justifies bills objectives
  • shadow ministers responds, backbenchers contribute to debate
  • if bill contested, vote taken, rarely lost by gov at reading stage
43
Q

committee stage, bills

A
  • detailed scrutiny of each clause takes place and amendments can be made
  • new committee formed for each public bill, which is dissolved when bill has completed this stage
  • membership (16-50) reflects party strength in the commons and the whips instruct MPs how to vote and public bill committees may take evidence from outside experts
  • finance bills and bills of constitutional significance (EU ref) are scrutinised on HoC floor –> committee of the whole house
44
Q

report stage

A
  • amendments made by committee are considered by the full HoC -> can accept, reject or alter
  • mps not on public bill committee now have an opportunity to table amendments
45
Q

thirs reading

A
  • debate on amended bill on the floor of the house, no further amendments are permitted
46
Q

hose of lord stages

A
  • bill sent ot HoL where stages are repeated
  • amendments in Lords can be agreed, rejected or amended again
  • parl ping pong –> bill can go back and forth between the houses
  • gov can accept changes, leave bill or invoke parl act
  • most public bills must pass all these stages in one session of parl
47
Q
A

politics (26 decks)

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