Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Politics > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

Main roles of parliament

A
  • recruitment of ministers of gov
  • scrutinise the gov
  • to represent
  • to debate
  • to legitimise the executive
  • to legislate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

define a bicameral parliament

A

parliament with 2 chambers- HOC (elected) and HOL (unelected)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

adv and dis of bicameral parliament

A

adv
- HOL provides checks and balances= provide increased scrutiny and revision of legislation
- represent wider interests
dis
- institutional conflict between houses= produce legislative gridlock
- indirectly HOL may frustrate will of democratically elected HOC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

how many members in HOC

A

650 MPs elected under FPTP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

why does FPTP lead to single party majority in HOC

A
  • winners bonus= no 1 party’s % seats is higher than % votes
  • tactical voting= favours 2 major parties
  • wasted votes= smaller parties like UKIP voters know won’t win= lead to tactical voting
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

compare seats in HOC and HOL

A

HOC
- single tory majority 364 (2019)
- more parties= 11 lib dems and 47 SNP= increase diversity and wider representation
HOL
- tory majority= 248= always be tory majority due to HP tradition
- more lib dems= 83
- 183 crossbenchers
- no majority= all under 50%
- no SNP or green etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

exceptions of non single party majority

A

2010 tory and lib dem coalition= 5 years long
2017-2019 Theresa May won with minority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

describe hereditary peers

A
  • before 1999 were more than 750 HPs
  • peerages act 1963 permits women peeresses and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the HOL and allows newly inherited hereditary peers to be disclaimed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

describe life peers

A

LPs act 1958= PM right to appoint members to HOL for life
= not inherited= largest current HOL category
= 2016- 674 LPs= increase diversity and expertise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

describe Lords Spiritual

A

2 archbishops and 24 senior bishops of church of england

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe crossbenchers

A

non-party political peers, by tradition sit on benches that cross chamber of HOL
= can be HPs or LPs= currently 183

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe PMQs

A

Prime Minister’s Questions in Commons Chamber is a ticketed event = every Wednesday at 12 noon
Tickets are free of charge and available only to UK residents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

adv and dis PMQs

A

adv
- address recent topics, give PM a voice, allow political scrutiny, reach wider audience, put leaders under pressure
dis
- cause political apathy= not taken seriously, misguide from main issues, superficial discussions, become personality focused and point scoring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

roles of parliamentary whips

A
  • ensure MPs attend votes and approve MPs absence when their vote isn’t required
  • give MPs instructions every week
    = debates w votes underlined, ‘3 line whip’ strict instruction to attend and vote to party line, if not face disciplinary action
  • enforce discipline within party= rebellious MPs can be expelled from party and become independent MP
  • persuade MPs to votes their party by providing assurances and making offers or threats
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

why is whipping system weaker in HOL than HOC

A
  • HOL members have life membership= less reliant on good will of party membership= can’t be removed from HOL
  • crossbenchers are independent= no whip to control them
  • less likely to be recruited into executive than MPs= less need to be a ‘team player’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

describe frontbenchers

A

MP or HOL member either ministers or shadow ministers (chosen by the Prime Minister for actions of success)
- eg Lord Cameron and Keir Starmer

17
Q

describe backbenchers

A

members of parliament wo ministerial position
= less ability to influence gov but hold opinions of constituents
= can impact policy making= introduce Members Bills like 1967 Abortion Act
= potential to overthrow piece of legislation
- eg Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt

18
Q

role of the speaker (elected by MPs in a secret ballot)

A
  • presides over the House’s debates, determining which members may speak and which amendments are selected for consideration - -
    -responsible for maintaining order during debate, and may punish members who break the rules of the House
19
Q

how did the speaker Bercow increase parliament scrutiny

A

granted more than 670 requests for urgent questions to HOC
= called more backbench MPs to speak in debates and support measures to increase female MPs

20
Q

describe parliamentary privilege

A

legal immunity of members of parliament
- freedom of speech= both houses raise issues wo fear of prosecution
- exclusive cognisance= house’s right to regulate internal affairs wo outside body interference

21
Q

recent expenses issues with parliamentary privilege

A

2009- 3 Labour MPs and a Tory peer charged with theft over expenses claims= trying to keep cases out of the criminal courts by attempting to invoke a 320-year-old law protecting them under parliamentary privilege

22
Q

describe public bill

A

bill concerning general issue of public policy= introduced by a gov minister
25-35 public bills per year

23
Q

describe private members’ bills

A

bills sponsored by a backbench MP
eg murder act 1965 and abortion act 1967
7 bills became law= 2019-2021

24
Q

ways private member bills introduced

A
  • ballot= 20 MPs in favour of bill drawn and allocated time to represent
  • 10 minute rule bill= MPs make short speech introducing a bill= few bills pass hurdle but draws attention to issue
  • presentation= MP presents bill on floor of house
25
Q

why do most private bills fail

A

time constraints and difficulty of persuading MPs
= must have support of gov to succeed

26
Q

Describe the 1911 parliament act

A

Restricted powers of Lords to only delay bills for up to a year
Lords can offer amendments
Became the ‘revising chamber’

27
Q

Powers HOC has over HOL

A
  • choose amendments from HOL
  • if HOL unhelpful upper house choose to back down or block bill for a year
28
Q

Describe select committees

A
  • Groups of MPs or HOL members that investigate specific issues in detail
  • They can call for wya rations and gov must respond within 60 days
    = scrutinise gov for policy accountability
  • 334 reports in 2019-21
  • 60% of recommendations rejected by gov
29
Q

What changed about select committees

A

Wright Reform 2010 act created secret ballot AV system where all MPs voted for select committees
= originally chosen by whips
= caused party alignment and part bias

30
Q

Adv of select committees

A
  • can question ministers etc and request access to gov papers
  • election of chairs by MPs enhanced independence of select committees
  • many select committee recommendations accepted by gov
31
Q

Parliament’s representation vs the public’s

A

Females- 51% public, 34% HOC, 29% HOL
Ethnic minority- 18% public, 10% HOC, 7% HOL
Private education- 5.9% public, 29% HOC, 57% HOL

32
Q

Parliament’s role

A
  • to debate
  • to represent
  • to scrutinise executive
  • recruit ministers of gov
  • legitimise executive

Politics (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions