Parliament 1

Question 1

Parliamentary government

Answer 1

A system of politics where government is drawn from Parliament and is accountable to Parliament. In other words, the government has no separate authority from that of Parliament

Question 2

Presidential government

Answer 2

In contrast to parliamentary government, a president normally has a separate source of authority from that of the legislature. This means that the executive (president) is accountable to the people directly, not to the legislature.

Question 3

Separation of powers

Answer 3

A constitutional principle that the three branches of government - legislature, executive and judiciary - should have separate membership and separate power and should be able to control each other’s powers. It is largely absent in the UK

Question 4

Features of parliamentary government

Answer 4

1. Parliament is the highest source of political power
2. The government must be drawn from Parliament
3. No separation of powers between that of the legislature and executive
4. Government must be accountable to parliament

Question 5

Features of Presidential government:

1. The legislature and the executive have separate sources of ___________. They are separately __________.
2. The president is not part of the ____________.
3. The president is accountable directly to the people, not to the ___________
4. There is a clear separation of powers between the ____________ and the legislature
5. There must be a __________ constitutional arrangement that separates those powers

Answer 5

Authority
Elected
Legislature
Legislature
Executive
Codified

Question 6

Features of presidential government:

Answer 6

1. The legislature and the executive have separate sources of authority. They are separately elected.
2. The president is not part of the legislature
3. The president is accountable directly to the people, not to the legislature
4. There is a clear separation of powers between the executive an the legislature
5. There must be a codified constitutional arrangement that separates those powers

Question 7

Define: Legislature

Answer 7

Law-making body

Question 8

What is the legislature in the UK?

Answer 8

Parliament in the UK - doesn’t normally make law - primarily concerned with providing formal consent to proposed laws by the govt.
Congress in USA - makes laws

Question 9

Define: Executive

Answer 9

Has three main roles

1. Develop new legislation
2. Arrange implementation of laws
3. Run the state

Question 10

Executive in the UK?

Answer 10

Government

Question 11

Define: Judiciary

Answer 11

Refers to the legal system and judges in particular

Question 12

Define: Authority

Answer 12

The right to exercise power

Question 13

Define: Legitimacy

Answer 13

Refers to the degree to which the state or its government can be considered to have the right to exercise power

Question 14

Features of parliamentary soveriegnty

Answer 14

It is the source of all political power

1. It may restore itself any power that may have been delegated to others
2. It may make any laws it wishes and they shall be enforced by the courts
3. It’s not bound by its predecessors
4. Cannot bind its successors

Question 15

5 ways parliamentary sovereignty has been eroded

Answer 15

1. Power moved to the EU (which is superior)
2. Growth in executive power
3. Increased use of referendums
4. EUHR act is effectively supreme
5. Devolution

Question 16

Define: Bicameralism

Answer 16

A system where there are two houses of the legislature or parliament which complement each other.
Most political systems are bicameral, e.g UK, USA and France

Question 17

How many members normally make up departmental select committees

Answer 17

11-14

Question 18

Roles of departmental select committees

Answer 18

1. To investigate the work of government departments to determine whether they have acted effectively and efficiently
2. To consider major departmental policies
3. To consider proposed legislation
4. To consider matters of major public concern that fall within the remit of the committee
5. To investigate any serious errors made by the department, making recommendations to correct the problem
6. To propose future legislation where there is an overwhelming need

Question 19

What is a statutory instrument

Answer 19

A form of legislation which allow the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be subsequently brought into force or altered without Parliament having to pass a new Act.

Question 20

Function of the Public Accounts Committee

Answer 20

Highly independent - charged with investigating financial arrangements of the government. Checks public spending has been used for intended purposes

Question 21

Function of the Standards and privileges committees

Answer 21

Deals with disciplinary matters against MPs

Question 22

Function of Statutory instruments committee

Answer 22

Checks governments use of ‘secondary legislation’

Question 23

Function of European Scrutiny Committee

Answer 23

Examine proposed legislation or regulation from European commission - Alerts parliament to any concerns

Question 24

Function of Liaison committee

Answer 24

Chair of all departmental select committees - Questions PM biannually

Question 25

Function of legislative committees

Answer 25

Scrutinise legislation and suggest amendments

However amendments unwanted by govt rarely succeed

Question 26

Functions of departmental select committees

Answer 26

To investigate the work of govt. departments
To consider major departmental policies
To consider proposed legislation
To consider matters of major public concern

Question 27

List 4 committees

Answer 27

Public Accounts Committee
Standards and Privileges Committees
Statutory Instruments Committee
European Scrutiny Committee

Question 28

Importance of Public Accounts Committee

Answer 28

Independence of govt influence

Checks against corruption

Question 29

Importance of Standards and Privileges Committees

Answer 29

Ensures MPs behave appropriately and responsibly

Question 30

Importance of statutory instruments committee

Answer 30

Checks power of minister

Ensures full parl. debate on important issues

Question 31

Importance of Liaison Committee

Answer 31

Holds PM to account

Question 32

Limitations of committees

Answer 32

They lack influence on policy

Cannot amend legislation

Question 33

Types of committee

Answer 33

1. Legislative committees
2. Departmental select committees
3. Non-departmental
4. Ongoing committees
5. Backbench business committees