Parliament Flashcards
How are candidates picked?
-Skills
-Loyalty
-Charisma
The more valued will be given safer seats
In what events do elections happen early
1) Vote of no confidence
- > James Callaghan 1979
2) Supermajority
- > 2019
3) MP retires or dies
- > Sir Davis Amess, Southend West by-election
What are the categories of Lords
Hereditary -> 92
Life -> 659
Lords Spiritual -> 25
When were peers allowed to resign or retire. An example of this?
House of Lords Act 2014
-> Lord Archer now has to sit as non-affiliated after perjury
how are appointments vetted (and non affiliated recommended)
House of Lords Appointments Commission
- Recommends non affiliated
- Vets all nominations
What day do the Commons usually not debate?
Saturday, although they do in cases of emergency
2019 -> Brexit Bill vote
How well is the function of debate fulfilled?
+laws continually stalled and implemented
-> Hillary Benn: debate on Syria, 2015
+large majorities can be defeats (2005 - Blair)
- MPs tend to toe party line
-> Blair not defeated until 2005
-E petitions have minimal effect
-> Trump meeting the Queen 1.8m signatures, no effect
-Tyranny of the majority
How does the Commons legitimise decisions?
Parliament Act 1911 - Parliament has to approve the budget
2003 - Blair makes convention to ask Parliament before War (BUT disobeyed in 2018 airstrikes)
Miller v Secretaty of State for Leaving the European Union 2017 - vote on Brexit
Difference between private member and government bills>
In 2016, all 11 bills that received royal assent in the Commons were government bills (none introduced by backbenchers)
What percentage of MPs are women?
33%
What percentage of MPs are BAME
10% (compared to 15% UK). THIS IS WHERE I MUST REVISIT DELETED NOTES
Why are Lords better at scrutiny?
Not affiliated Expertise Unelected Ignore party whips No constituency commitments
What is Salisbury Convention?
Lords can’t reject a bill in manifesto more than 2-3 times
-> EU withdrawal agreement 2020
When have government ignored Lords?
Sexual Offences Act 2000
Where have government taken into account advice of Lords?
Counter Terrorism Bill 2008 - 42 day detention
How do Lords Committees work?
Their reports are debated in Commons
No majority
Each has a Chair
-> EU Committee - Lord Hay, a hereditary peer
What are ad hoc committees?
Discuss relevant issues not in permanent committees
-> Rural economy
What are short money schemes?
Money allocated to:
Parties with 2 seats
Party with 1 seat and 150,000 votes
Provides funding for opposition
What are whips
Organise party contribution to Parliamentary business
Ensure members vote the way they want
3 line whips threaten removal
What is the backbench business committee?
Decide Commons agenda 35 days per year
2019 -> Grenfell Tower
What is the 1922 Committee?
Backbench Conservatives, who sit 1 day a week
-> 2020: protest against lockdown
Role of backbencger
+select committee
+constituency
+awareness of issues
+Private Member Bills (House of Lords Act 2014)
+Backbench Business Committee
+Vote of no confidence
+legitimize (e.g. 2013 syria)
+not bound by Individual Ministerial Responsibility
+can make government drop legislation (90 day detention)
-ignored sometimes
-3 line whip
-lobby fodder when they aspire to front benches
-Public Bill committees are whipped
-private members bills are short of time
-government dominates the agenda
-secondary legislation limits legislation process (Parliament cannot amend it, like it can with normal legislation)
- PM has royal prerogative
- Government doesn’t have to support a private members bill
- With a large majority, the gov can ignore backbench rebellions
What are opposition days?
20 days a year
Only ever victorious once: Gurkha citizenship, 2009
Diane Abbott and Amber Rudd affair
2018: Abbott claimed Home Dept was deporting immigrants in Windrush generation. Amber Rudd resigned.
