Parliament

Question 1

Parliament has 2 chambers, what are they?

Answer 1

House of Lords

House of Commons

Question 2

What is the House of Commons?

Answer 2

• Consists of MPs each representing 1 of 650 constituencies (atm)
• Manifestation of Representative Democracy
• Each parliament lasts for 5 years (atm) and is divided into sessions
• Prorogued at the end of each session (parliament is suspended)
• Parliament goes into recess after a prorogation for things like holidays and party conferences

Question 3

What is the House of Lords?

Answer 3

• Not elected to the H o L
• Life and Hereditary peers
• Hereditary peers inherit their position
• Lords spiritual
• H o L processes and revises legislation

Question 4

Describe the Business of the House

Answer 4

• The Speaker- in charge of Parliament, chairs debate and keeps order
• Current speaker is Lindsay Hoyle- used to be John Bercow
• Gov usually sets agenda for proceedings because their party has a majority of MPs
• 20 days are set aside as opposition days where they set the agenda for proceedings
• Allows opposition to draw attention to certain issues
• Gov business is maintained by the Leader of the House
• Party discipline maintained by Chief Whip and Opposition Chief Whip

Question 5

Describe how bills are passed through Parliament

Answer 5

-Bills are presented to H o C first (u) then goes through a no. of stages:
first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage, third reading

• Then goes to the “other place” (L)
• Other house can make amendments
• H o C and L must agree
• Royal Assent (final stage)- PM recommends to Monarch to sign the bill
• Private members bill- proposed by backbenchers- often on issues close to MPs heart/concerns of constituents
• Doesn’t usually get long enough to be put through because gov controls Parliament’s agenda (u)

Question 6

What is green paper?

Answer 6

Consultation document- to talk with charities and things like that

Question 7

What is white paper?

Answer 7

A more concrete draft of what will be in a bill

Question 8

What does an MP do?

Answer 8

• Elected by and represent a constituency
• May be in gov or Shadow Cabinet- if not backbencher
• May have jobs outside of Parliament
• Conduct surgeries in constituency- expected to represent interests on constituents
• Raises issues in Parliament on behalf of constituents
• Question ministers and PM
• Vote on bills passing through parliament- expected to be loyal to their party
• Sit on Select Committees scrutinising gov- expected to act in public interest
• Speak in debates
• Can put forward Private Members Bills

Question 9

What are early day motions (EDMs)?

Answer 9

• A way for backbenchers to bring attention to issues or causes
• Motions are very rarely debated
• A statement akin to a petition that an MP signs
• Signatures indicate the level of support a motion has

Question 10

What is lobbying?

Answer 10

• The influence of public policy making through the private meetings with MPs, civil servants etc
• They can represent the rich and powerful or the poor and neglected