Parliament Flashcards
1
Q
What is parliament? The role:
A
As sovereign or supreme legislature.
2
Q
What is parliament? The location:
A
At the Palace of Westminster.
3
Q
What is parliament? The time:
A
In between elections.
4
Q
What does parliament do?
A
- Makes law by enacting legalisation [statutes].
- Sustains the executive (government0 through the supply of money.
- Holds the executive (government) to account.
- Forum for national debate.
5
Q
The composition of parliament
A
- The House of Commons is elected.
- It is the lower chamber.
- 650 members of parliament.
- ‘First past the post’ Electoral system.
- Qualification.
6
Q
The House of Commons
A
- The speaker - ‘the first commoner’
- The role of Her Majesty’s opposition.
7
Q
The House of Lords
A
- It is the unelected ‘upper chamber’
- Most members of HL are appointed by the executive
- It is the oldest legislative body in the world
- It is also the second largest!
- Undemocratic?
8
Q
House of Lords Reform
A
- This is a controversial area
- There have been repeated attempts at reform
- The last successful reform was the House of Lords Reform Act 1999
- Lords reform is not a ‘priority’ for the Current government.
9
Q
The legislative process - How laws are made in parliament
A
- Most bills introduced by Government Ministers (are contained in the Kings speech)
1. First reading
2. Second reading
3. Committee stage
4. Report stage
5. Third reading
6. Bill approved by one chamber considered by the other
7. Royal assent.
9
Q
Parliamentary privilege
A
- ‘The bedrock of our constitutional democracy’
R (Chaytor) v AG [2010] - Article 9 Bill of Rights 1688/9
- Freedom of speech inside parliament
- Absolute privilege.
10
Q
The relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords
A
Parliaments Act 1911 & 1949
- The powers of the House of Lords are now limited by a combination of law and constitutional conventions.
- The elected House of Commons can bypass the unelected House of Lords using the Parliament Acts.
