Parliament Flashcards
1
Q
What is the UK parliament?
A
2 houses that work on behalf of UK citizens to check and challenge the work of Government, make and shape effective laws, and debate/make decisions on the big issues of the day.
Bicameral but has 3 parts
2
Q
Define “Bicameralism”
A
A political system in which there are 2 chambers legislature
3
Q
What are the 2 chambers of parliament?
A
House of Commons
House of Lords
4
Q
Which house is the lower chamber?
A
House of Commons
5
Q
What is meant by the “lower chamber”?
A
Usually more representative (elected in a general election), more dominant and larger
6
Q
Which house is the upper chamber?
A
House of Lords
7
Q
What is meant by the “upper chamber”?
A
Usually smaller and having more restricted power than the lower chamber.
8
Q
What are the benefits of bicameralism?
A
It makes for equal and adequate representation of the people.
The Upper chamber provides checks and balances which provides greater scrutiny and revision of legislation as well as correcting any errors made by the lower chamber.
The delay of bills in the two chamber makes it possible for public opinion to be properly expressed on the issue concerned before Bills are passed.
9
Q
What are the disadvantages of bicameralism?
A
Causes serious delay in the process of law making.
Unnecessary rivalry as to which of the two houses is superior to the other.
Many of the members appointed in the second Chambers have advanced in age and therefore inactive.
Appointment rather than election of members of the upper house as is done in Britain is undemocratic.
10
Q
What is the House of Commons?
A
A democratically elected chamber within Parliament
11
Q
How many members are there in the House of Commons?
A
650 members
12
Q
What are members of the House of Commons called?
A
Members of Parliament (MP’s)
13
Q
What do MP’s do?
A
An individual who is elected in by the public to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons
14
Q
What is an MP’s role in parliament?
A
Raising issues affecting their constituents
Attending debates
Voting on new laws
15
Q
What is an MPs role in their constituencies?
A
MPs often hold a ‘surgery’ in their office, where local people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them.
MPs also attend functions, visit schools and businesses and generally try to meet as many people as possible. This gives MPs further insight and context into issues they may discuss when they return to Westminster.
16
Q
What is an MP’s salary?
A
As of April 2022, MP’s are paid £84,000 per annual
17
Q
What is an MP’s salary used for?
A
To cover the costs of running an office and employing staff, plus accommodation in and travel to London.
18
Q
Give an example when an MPs salary has been questioned and explain the effect it had in politics
A
The 2009 expenses scandal revealed the widespread misuse of allowances and expenses permitted to Members of Parliament (MPs).
Including a public outrage, the scandal resulted in hundreds of MPs having to pay back expenses they had claimed, and four of them being jailed in which they attempted to use their parliamentary privilege to avoid charges.
19
Q
What is parliamentary privilege?
A
Legal immunity enjoyed by members of the House of Commons and House of Lords which ensures that they can carry out their parliamentary duties without interference.
20
Q
What are the 2 elements of parliamentary privilege?
A
Freedom of speech
Exclusive Cognisance
21
Q
What is meant by freedom of speech in terms of parliamentary privilege?
A
Members of both houses are free to raise any issue in parliament without fear of prosecution. MPs have, for example, revealed information subject to court injunctions
For example, the identity of celebrities who have been granted an injunction to remain anonymous.
22
Q
What is meant by exclusive cognisance in terms of parliamentary privilege?
A
The right of each house to regulate its own internal affairs without interference from outside bodies; for example the courts.
23
Q
Does parliamentary privilege mean MPs are above the law?
A
Parliamentary privilege does not mean that MPs are above the law.
MPs who are imprisoned, or suspended from the House for at least 21 sitting days, may be dismissed by voters under the Recall of MPs Act 2015
24
Q
How is each MP elected into the House of Commons?
A
Each MP is elected in a single-member constituency by the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system
25
Is the number of MPs fixed?
The number of MPs is not fixed and can change following reviews of parliamentary constituencies.
26
Give an example in which reducing the number of MPs in parliament was considered
In 2016, the Conservative government confirmed its commitment to cut the number of MPs to 600 and equalise constituency size by 2020.
27
Where do members of the governing party sit in the House of Commons?
Right hand-side of the speaker’s chair
28
Where do the members of the opposition parties sit in the House of Commons?
Left hand-side of the speaker's chair
29
What are frontbenchers?
MPs that occupy the front benches (closest to the floor) on either side of the Chamber when the House is in session
30
What type of people are frontbenchers?
Government ministers
Opposition shadow spokespersons.
31
What are backbenchers?
MPs that occupy the back seats, behind the frontbenchers
32
What type of people are backbenchers?
MPs that are neither government ministers or opposition shadow ministers
33
What do most MPs represent?
Political parties
34
What are MPs that don't represent political parties known as?
Independant
35
Give an example of an independent MP
Sylvia Hermon was re-elected as an independent in North Down in 2010 and 2015
36
What are the key office holders in the House of Commons?
Whips
The Speaker
37
What are whips?
MPs or members of the House of Lords appointed by each party to inform and organize their own members in Parliament
38
What are roles of the whips?
Ensuring that MPs attend parliamentary divisions (votes), and approving the absence of MPs when their vote will not be required.
Issuing instructions on how MPs should vote
Enforcing discipline within the parliamentary party.
39
What is the speaker?
An MP who has been elected by other MPs to act as Chair during debates in the House of Commons.
40
What are roles of the speaker?
Presides over debates in the chamber
Selecting MPs to speak
Maintaining order
They may temporarily suspend MPs who break parliamentary rules.
41
How is the speaker chosen?
Elected by MPs in a secret ballot
42
Does the speaker get a vote?
The speaker is expected to be impartial and does not vote unless there is a tie, in which case he or she has the casting vote
43
Why is the speaker dragged to the chair?
The idea of ‘dragging’ the speaker to the commons apparently symbolises the speaker’s reluctance to take on his position.
44
What is the House of Lords?
An unelected chamber and is subordinate to the House of Commons.
45
How many members are there in the House of Lords?
As of 2022, there are estimately 800 members of the House of Lords
46
What are members of the House of Lords called?
Peers
47
What are the categories of members in the House of Lords?
Hereditary Peers
Life Peers
Lords Spiritual
48
What are hereditary peers?
Those whose right to sit in the Lords is due to their title being inherited from their parents
49
How many hereditary peers are there?
92 hereditary peers
50
Which piece of legislation reduced the number of hereditary peers?
The House of Lords Act 1999 reduced the number of hereditary peers from 750 to 92
51
How did the Peerage Act (1963) affect hereditary peers?
It allowed hereditary peers to renounce their titles and membership of the Lords as well as allowing women hereditary peers in the House of Lords
52
How did the House of Lords Act (1999) affect hereditary peers?
It transformed the hereditary elements into "elected hereditary peers"
The 15 hereditary peers who became deputy speakers were chosen in a ballot of the whole house.
Two others hold royal appointments.
The remaining 75 were elected by ballots of hereditary peers from their party and crossbench groups.
53
How many elected hereditary peers are there?
75
54
What happens when an elected hereditary peer dies or resigns?
A by-election is held in which peers from the same group as the former member choose a replacement from the register of hereditary peers.
55
What are life peers?
Members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited
56
How are life peers appointed?
The Life Peerages Act 1958 gave the prime minister the right to appoint members to the upper house for life.
57
Which category of members is the largest in the House of Lords?
Since the removal of most hereditary peers, life peers are now the most common members
58
How did the creation of Life Peers significantly impact the House of Lords?
Increased the diversity and professionalism
It includes former MPs and leading figures from business, education and the arts.
Life peers also play a more active role in the Lords.
59
What are lords spiritual members?
The religious aspect of the House of Lords
60
What are the lords spirituals made up of?
2 archbishops and 24 senior bishops of the Church of England.
61
How did the House of Lords Act 1999 affect the House of Lords overall?
The reduced hereditary peerage ended the Conservative Party’s historical predominance in the upper house. Now, no party in the House of Lords have a majority.
Crossbench members of the upper house have no formal party allegiance.
Prime ministers use their power to nominate life peers to alter the party balance within the Lords.
The removal of hereditary peers also increased the proportion of women in the Lords. In May 2017, there were 207 women peers – making up 26% of the house compared to 9% before 1999.
62
What is the House of Lords Reform Act 2014?
It allowed peers to resign voluntarily and further legislation in 2015 allowed members convicted of serious criminal offences to be expelled or suspended.
63
Is the size of the House of Lords a problem?
The Lords is the world’s second largest legislative chamber and its size risks damaging its reputation and ability to function. For example, it has expanded with more than 650 life peerages.
64
Why have the reforms of the House of Lords been stalled?
MPs and peers have been unable to agree on whether a reformed upper chamber should be wholly appointed, partially elected or wholly elected.
65
Give examples of legislation which reformed the House of Lords
Free Vote 2003
White Paper 2007
House of Lords Bill 2012
66
What is the Free Vote 2003 legislation and how did it reform the House of Lords?
MPs had a free vote on 7 options proposed by a parliamentary joint committee
None secured majority support
Peers voted for a wholly appointed house
67
What is the White Paper 2007 legislation and how did it reform the House of Lords?
This proposed a hybrid house (50% appointed and 50% elected)
A wholly elected house was approved by MPs whereas the Lords supported a wholly appointed house
68
What is the House of Lords Bill 2012 and how did it reform the House of Lords?
This proposed a chamber of 360 elected members, 90 appointed members, 12 bishops and 8 ministerial members.
MPs approved the second reading of the bill but 91 conservative MPs rebelled and Labour indicated that it would vote against a "programme motion"
Government abandoned the bill.
69
What is the third part of UK parliament?
The sovereign (monarchy)
70
List the roles of the monarch
Meets with the prime minister weekly
Leads the privvy council
Gives royal assent to legislation
Approves the Honours list
Speech during the State opening of parliament
Commander in chief (controlling military)
Appoint government ministers, peers of House of Lords, senior judges and archbishops
71
What are the 3 types of bills?
Public bills
Private bills
Hybrid bills
72
What are Public bills?
Bills that affect the general public
73
How many public bills are created each session?
Between 25 and 35
74
What are the 2 types of public bills?
Government bills
Private Members bills
75
What are Government bills?
A new law, or a change in the law, that is put forward by the Government for consideration by Parliament.
76
What do government bills normally become?
Acts of Parliament
77
Who are responsible for government bills?
The minister responsible for that area of policy.
78
Why are government bills introduced?
To honour manifesto promises
In response to a specific incident or matter of concern
In order to comply with international treaties
79
Give an example in which a government bill was created as a response to a serious matter
Football Spectators Act 1989, as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000, allows magistrates to ban potential trouble-making fans from travelling abroad for five days
80
What is a Green paper?
A consultation document issued by the Government before it introduces a bill and contains outline policy proposals before a decision is taken
81
What is a White paper?
Policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation
82
What are Private Members bill?
They are introduced by individual MPs or members of the Lords rather than by the Government which changes the law as it applies to the general population
83
What are Private bills?
Bills are introduced into Parliament through a petition by the individuals, organisations or local authorities concerned or affected
84
Give an example of a private bill
(Marriage Enabling) Act 1980 allowed a stepfather and stepdaughter to marry as long as they were adults when they first met.
85
What are Hybrid bills?
A cross between a public bill and a private bill.
They are introduced by a government minister and will affect particular individuals, organisations or localities.
86
Give an example of a Hybrid bill
Channel Tunnel (Rail Link) Act 1996, which has a particular impact on landowners and residents in Kent.
87
State the stages of the legislative process
First reading
Second reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
House of Lords
Royal assent
88
What is the first reading?
The title and main aims of the bill are announced, and copies of it are distributed.
There is no debate at this stage.
A date is set for the second reading
89
What is the second reading?
The House debates the whole bill, focusing on its general principles.
The minister or other promoter of the bill starts the debate. At the end of the debate, there is a vote for or against the bill progressing further.
If the bill passes this stage, it's likely it will become an Act of Parliament
90
What is the Committee Stage?
Bill is passed to a Standing Committee, which is made up of between 16 and 50 MPs selected to represent the proportions of the parties in the House
The MPs chosen will generally have a particular interest in the bill or specialist knowledge of its content.
Standing Committee scrutinises the bill line by line and clause by clause, and makes amendments as required
91
What is the report stage?
The Standing Committee reports any amendments made to the bill during the committee stage back to the whole house. Each amendment is debated, and a vote is taken to decide whether it should be accepted or rejected.
92
What is the third reading?
A review of the whole bill, and a vote is taken to decide whether the bill should proceed to the other House.
93
What is the House of Lords stage in the legislature process?
Bill is sent to the House of Lords, where these stages are repeated.
If amendments to the bill are made in the Lords, the Commons may agree to them, reject them or amend them further.
A bill may go back and forth between the two houses in a process known as ‘parliamentary ping-pong’
Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 the Lords can delay the passage of a money bill for one month and all other bills for one year.
Commons can send the bill for royal assent without the House of Lords assent
94
What is royal assent?
It requires Royal Assent to become law
Assent is now given by the Speaker in the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords
On the day that Royal Assent is granted, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
95
What is secondary legislation also known as?
Delegated legislation
96
What is delegated legislation?
The verb ‘delegate’ means to pass power, responsibility or authority to another person or body.
Delegated legislation is law made by a person or body to which Parliament has delegated law-making power.
97
What does secondary legislation do?
Make small changes to an Act
98
Why might details need to be added to legislation?
A new law may be required for a specific area of the country.
A new law on a technical matter, such as health or agriculture, will require specialist technical knowledge.
Sometimes, an emergency or a new situation may require a new law to be made very quickly.
99
Why are parent (enabling) acts needed?
In order for Parliament to delegate its power to another, a parent Act, otherwise known as an enabling Act, must be passed.
Parliament gives authority to others to make law. The parent Act will enable further law to be made under this authority.
The parent Act will enable further law to be made under this authority.
100
Give an example of an enabling act
"Access to Justice 1999" which gave the Lord Chancellor wide powers to alter various aspects of the legal funding scheme.
101
Who is delegated powers given to?
A specified person (such as a government minister) or body.
Law-making power is given to the person or body best equipped with the knowledge and resources to make the type of law required.
102
What is the Privvy Council?
A body of advisors
420 members
Consists of current and former government ministers, senior politicians, members of the Royal Family, two Archbishops, senior judges, British Ambassadors, and leading individuals of the Commonwealth
One of the remaining functions of the Privy Council is to make Orders in Council.
103
What are orders in council used for?
Transferring responsibilities between government departments
Dissolving Parliament before an election.
Bringing an Act of Parliament into force
Dealing with foreign affairs
In times of national emergency (when Parliament is not sitting)
104
What are statutory instruments?
Laws made by a government minister under the authority of a parent / enabling Act within the area of their ministerial responsibility
Often used to update a law
Can be enforced in the courts and are just as much part of the law of the country as Acts of Parliament
105
Give an example of a statutory instrument
regular increase in the amount of the national minimum wage under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.
106
What are by-laws?
Made by local authorities and public corporations or companies.
They must be ‘confirmed’ (approved) by the relevant government minister, and are enforceable in the courts.
107
Give an example of a by-law
The Railways Act 1993 is when railway companies can issue by-laws about the behaviour of the public on their stations and trains.
108
What are the 2 ways in which secondary legislation can be controlled?
Parliamentary control
Judicial control
109
How does parliament control secondary legislation?
Only the people or bodies specified in the parent Act have power to make law, and the extent of that power is also specified.
Parliamentary supremacy is not compromised because Parliament ultimately remains in control of what law is made and how it is made.
Parliament may repeal or amend the piece of delegated legislation.
All by-laws are confirmed or approved by the relevant government minister
Most statutory instruments must be laid before Parliament.
110
What are the disadvantages of parliaments control of secondary legislation?
Time-consuming, defeating one of the main objectives of delegated legislation, which is to save Parliament time.
Statutory instruments cannot by amended by Parliament, only approved, annulled or withdrawn.
The control is also limited in that, while it exists to control ministerial power, the Government by virtue of its majority in the House of Commons, will usually win a vote.
111
What is Judicial control?
Validity of a piece of delegated legislation can be challenged in the High Court through the judicial review procedure.
When the delegated legislation is made beyond the powers conferred by the parent / enabling Act, the delegated legislation can be declared ultra vires by the court and therefore void.
112
What does Ultra Vires mean?
‘beyond the power’ or ‘exceeding the authority of’.
113
What are the 2 types of Ultra Vires?
procedural ultra vires and substantive ultra vires.
114
What are procedural ultra vires?
Concerned with how the delegated legislation is made.
Any delegated legislation made without following these procedures of parent acts can be declared ultra vires and therefore void
115
Give an example of procedural ultra vires
The Aylesbury Mushroom case is an order against mushroom growers was declared void because a letter informing the Mushroom Growers’ Association of the new law did not comply with the requirement in the parent Act to consult interested parties.
116
What are substantive ultra vires?
Concerned with whether the content of the delegated legislation is within the limits set out in the parent Act.
Any delegated legislation beyond these limits can be declared ultra vires and therefore void.
117
Give an example of substantive vires
Customs and Excise Commissioners v Cure and Deeley Ltd (1962). The parent / enabling Act gave the Commissioners power to make laws concerning the collection of taxes.
118
Why might courts declare a piece of legislation ultra vires and void?
Where it levies taxes.
Where is allows sub-delegation – no body to which law-making powers have been delegated has power to delegate to another body.
Where all interested parties have not been consulted as required by the parent / enabling Act.
Where the delegated legislation conflicts with European legislation.
119
What is meant by comparative powers?
Comparing the powers of the Commons and the Lords
120
Which chamber of Parliament is more dominant?
The House of Commons as it has many exclusive powers
121
What are the exclusive powers of the House of Commons?
The right to insist on legislation. In cases of conflict over legislation, the Lords should ultimately give way to the Commons.
Financial privilege. The Lords cannot delay or amend money bills.
The power to dismiss the executive. If the government is defeated on a motion of no confidence, it must resign.
122
Which legislation covers the relationship between the House of Commons and Lords?
The Parliament Acts
The Salisbury Doctrine
123
How do the Acts of Parliament limit the House of Lords?
House of Lords does not have a veto over legislation approved by the House of Commons.
It can only delay most bills passed by the House of Commons for up to 1 year.
Lords can propose amendments to bills passed by the Commons. The Commons can then accept these amendments, reject them or introduce new amendments of its own. But the Lords cannot force the Commons to accept its amendments.
124
What is the financial privilege of the House of Commons?
The House of Lords cannot delay or amend money bills (also known as ‘supply bills’): that is, bills solely concerned with national taxation, loans or public money
The Parliament Act 1911 states that any bill certified by the speaker as a money bill which is not passed by the Lords unamended within 1 month can receive royal assent without the agreement of the Lords.
The Commons can also claim financial privilege when the Lords passes an amendment to legislation that has financial implications, such as creating new spending.
125
What is meant by confidence and supply?
Government requires the confidence and supply of the House of Commons to remain in office. Supply refers to the authorisation of government spending by the Commons.
The Commons can remove the government by defeating it in a motion of no confidence (also known as a vote of confidence) or a confidence motion.
126
What is the Salisbury convention/doctrine?
States that the House of Lords should not vote against a bill that seeks to enact a manifesto commitment of the governing party on second or third reading, nor should it agree ‘wrecking amendments’.
127
What is the reasonable time convention?
The convention emerged that the Lords should consider all government business within a reasonable time. It should not deliberately overlook or delay consideration of government bills and should ensure that they are passed by the end of the session.
128
What are the 5 functions of Parliament?
Legislation
Scrutiny and Accountability
Debate
Recruitment of Ministers
Representation
129
Who creates Private Members Bills?
Backbench MPs rather than Frontbench ministers
130
What are the 3 routes that a private member bill can take?
Ballot; 20 names of MPs who want to introduce bills are drawn in a ballot and are allocated on Friday sessions but most MPs talk until the session ends.
10 Minute Rule Bill; MPs have 10 minutes to make a speech and introduce the bill and its ideas.
Presentation; An MP presents a bill on the floor of the chamber by introducing the name and there is no debate at this point.
131
What are policy making legislatures?
These amend or reject legislative proposals made by the executive and can put forward alternative bills
132
What are policy influencing legislatures?
They can modify or reject legislative proposals from the executive but are unable to develop extensive legislative proposals of their own
133
How is parliament's legislative scrutiny limited?
The dominance of the executive which is shown by parliamentary timetable as the executive controls most of it and party discipline ensures the whip system ensures that government bills rarely get rejected
134
What is scrutinized in Parliament?
Parliament exercises a general scrutiny and oversight role.
It scrutinizes the actions of executive and ensures government accountability by requiring ministers to explain and justify their actions
135
What 3 ways is the government scrutinized and held to account?
Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs)
Opposition
Select Committees
136
What is Prime Ministers Questions?
An opportunity for the leader of the opposition and backbenchers to question the prime minister for 30 minutes at 12pm every Wednesday
137
Give an example in which PMQs were changed
In 2015, Jeremy Corbyn tried to change the gladiatorial style by asking questions sent in by members of the public.
Speaker Bercow has called more backbenchers during PMQs and sought, with limited success, to reduce noise levels in the chamber.
138
How many questions are answered during PMQs and how many questions are written?
35,000 written questions in the 2015 – 16 session compared to 3,600 oral questions answered in the Commons.
139
Who forms the official opposition?
Largest party not included in the government
140
What are the special privilege's of the leader of the opposition?
An additional salary
The right to respond first to the prime minister on major statements
The right to ask six questions at Prime Minister’s Question Time
141
How is the House of Commons confrontational?
The government and opposition face directly opposite each other
142
What are the expectations of the opposition?
It should oppose many of the government’s legislative proposals.
Try to appear as an alternative government-in-waiting. It will need to develop its own policies and may support government measures that it agrees with.
143
What is the budget for the opposition?
Roughly 6 million
144
What are "opposition days"?
Days in which the opposition get to choose the topic of discussion in Parliament and normally happen every 20 days
145
What are select committees?
Select Committees work in both Houses. They check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments to economic affairs. The results of these inquiries are public and many require a response from the government.
146
What are the core tasks of select committees?
Examine the strategy of the government
Examine policy and make proposals
Scrutinize draft bills
Produce reports for debate in the House of Commons
Help the commons to make their work accessible for the public
The overall aim of select committees is to hold government accountable for policy and decision making, and support parliament in scrutinizing legislation and government spending.
147
Are select committiees effective in scrutinising the government?
They scrutinise the policies and actions of government, conducting investigations
They question ministers and civil servants
However they have no power to propose policy
A majority government will also have a majority in the committee and some members don't even attend regularly
148
What are backbench business committees?
The Backbench Business Committee gives opportunities to backbench Members of Parliament to bring forward debates of their choice.
149
How has the backbench business committees been a success?
It has given backbench MPs greater say over the parliamentary timetable.
Enabled debate on issues that never get given the chance
150
How hasn't backbench business committees been a success?
The government aren't obliged to accept or respond motions passed after the debate.
The government ignored the BBBC
Smaller parties are represented
151
What must government ministers be apart of?
House of Commons or House of Lords
152
Why has the recruitment of government ministers be questioned?
Being an effective communicator is important for an MP career but now TV is now the key arena rather than parliament.
Government needs people with experience and only 1 out of every 5 MPs have a political background.
153
How are people represented in parliament?
Delegate Model
Trustee Model
Constituency Representation
Party representation
154
What is a delegate?
An individual selected to act on behalf of others on the basis of clear instructions.
They shouldn't depart from these instructions.
MPs are expected to be a delegate but also are free to exercise their own judgement
155
What is a trustee model?
First presented by Edmund Burke
MPs are representing the interests of their constituents in parliament.
Once elected, they are free to decide how to vote based on their own independent judgement
156
What is constituency representation?
MPs are expected to protect and advance the collective interests of the constituency they represent.
MPs hold regular surgeries in which constituents can discuss their problems
157
What is the relationship like between the parliament and the executive?
Unequal as the executive is the dominant role
158
Why does the government have some control over legislative process?
If the government did not have this power, it could not fulfil its mandate or govern effectively.
But executive dominance does not mean that parliament is impotent.
159
What shapes the relation parliament has with the government?
The government’s parliamentary majority.
The extent of party unity.
160
How important is the size of the government’s majority?
The first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system often, but not always, delivers a working majority for the party that wins most votes in a general election.
A government with a large majority is in a commanding position, able to push its legislation through parliament.
The larger a government’s majority, the less likely it is that the other parties in the Commons will be able to defeat or amend government bills.
161
What is a minority government and how does it affect parliament?
In a minority government, the party with the largest number of seats governs alone. It may be able to persuade a smaller party to support it on the budget which is known as a ‘confidence and supply’ deal.
A minority government may be relatively stable in the short term but is difficult to sustain a minority government for long
162
Explain why parliament may be an effective check on the power of the executive?
The executive's control of parliamentary timetable has been weakened by backbench business committees
Backbench MPs provide greater checks on policies
The reformed House of Lords is a more effective revising chamber
Select committees have been more influential
