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.
What are the limitations of opposition holding ministers to account?
Position will always be refilled by someone else
What is the role of the opposition
- ensure government justifies legislation committees
- form shadow cabinets
- use PMQs
