Parliament Flashcards
how are MPs elected?
chosen through election to represent a constituency via first past the post
what are the 3 types of Lords?
- life peers
- hereditary lords
- ‘lords spiritual’
What are the 3 functions of parliament?
- scrutiny
- pass legislation
- representation
How often a PMQs?
every Wednesday 12-12:30
How often are MQTs?
1 every day except Wednesday
give an example for PMQ?
David cameron once attacked Corbyn on his choice of suit
how are PMQs effective?
- televised -so public can see what happens
- PM more judged- show their leadership style
- house is full, more people+Qs
- PM has to attend - can’t hide a no.10
how are PMQs ineffective?
- questions planned to make PM look good
- lack detail as only 30mins
- can’t give detailed answers
how are MQTs effective?
- longer w/ more detail - able to prepare
- allows MPs to inform themselves about govt polioy - can raise issues of interest to their constituents
how are MQTs ineffective?
- boring
- less people, less often - due to number of govt departments, each department generally answers once a month
what are adjournment debates?
- allow commons to debate on something without question and the house must decide
- 30 mins @ end of each day
Who deals with e-petitions?
backbench business committee
give an example of an adjournment debate?
2015 - military action in Syria - govt. then lost vote
give an example of e-petition?
Donald trump e-petition, 1.8 million votes (no state visit)
how are adjournment debates effective?
- commons can raise important questions
- frequent + up to date
how are e-petitions effective?
- allows people to voice their opinions
how are adjournment debates ineffective?
- only 30 mins each day - not that much
- people might not have much info on debate
- not binding vote
what are opposition days?
opposition parties are allocated 20 days a year to propose subject topics for debate
give an example for opposition days?
post office + passport delays (see case studies)
how are opposition days effective?
- case study shows they are good as they can win
- opposition parties have a say
how are opposition days ineffective?
case study - mainly helped by public
- most don’t actually happen
- govt chose when opposition days are
What do DSCs do?
scrutinise policy, administration and spending of each government department
example of DSC?
Treasury Committee
- examine policy, administration and policy of HM treasury
how are DSCs effective?
- go into great detail when examining actions of govt.
- cross bench, so no govt. bias
how are DSCs ineffective?
govt. don’t have to act on them - only have to reply
What % of DSC reforms are acted upon?
30%
What is functional/descriptive representation?
looks like what society looks like
Give 5 things an MP or peer could claim to represent?
age gender sexuality ethnicity/religion class
What are the 3 things an MP or peer could claim to represent? (not functional/descriptive)
electorate
party
constituency
why can an MP or peer claim to represent the electorate?
because of the doctors mandate e.g. Brexit / syria vote
why can an MP or peer claim to represent their party?
party chooses them to run + fundraise. expects loyalty in return - whip
why can an MP claim to represent their constituency?
constituents elect them
what is the average constituency size in UK?
60,000 - 70,000
describe the process a bill has to go through to become a law?
- first reading
- second reading
- committee stage
- report stage
- third reading
- the same in the Lords
- royal assent
give an example of a DSC summoning witness
- Home affairs select committee
- amber Rudd to talk about govt policy regarding windrush scandal
what are urgent questions?
- MPs apply for UQ because they need rapid response from govt
- have to ask speaker by 9:30am
- govt minister has to come and answer by 11:00
give an example of an urgent question?
11 July 2016, Helen Goodman applied for Q on topic of whether parliament could trigger article 50
what is the % split between men and women in society?
women 51%
men 49%
in 2017 what % of MPs were women ?
32%
what % of conservative and labour MPs are women?
labour 45%
conservative 21%
how has the number of female MPs changed since 2015?
2017 - 208 women
2015 - 191 women
in UK what % go to uni? what % of MPs go to uni
19% and 84%
what happens to a bill after 1st and 2nd reading?
bill scrutinised by public bill committee
who makes up a public bill committee and what do they do?
- Made up of MPs with knowledge and passion for subject
- They review the bill and suggest any possible amendments
what can lead to legislation being rushed?
external factors e.g. media and news
what lead to the 1991 dangerous dogs act being passed?
passed in response to a number of tabloid stories about dog attacks by so called ‘dangerous dogs’
why was the 1991 dangerous dogs act so poor?
- Act didn’t take into account the biological determination between safe and dangerous animals
- it was completely unenforceable and without sentencing instructions
why do whips undermine legislation ?
force MPs to vote with party rather than by their own beliefs
why do MPs obey whip?
MPs sacrifice their beliefs in order to climb up ladder within party
give an example of an MP climbing up party ladder
- Nicky Morgan had never defied whip
- went from MP to minister in 5yrs
why are the lords superior due HoL act 1999?
- removed hereditary peers
- more people turn up
who are lords appointed by
- committee according to their suitability
- look meticulously over lords ability for role
how many defeats did Conservative govts 1979-97 have?
241 defeats to lords
how many defeats did Conservative govt 2015-16 have
60
which type of peers have a particularly important role in holding govt to account ?
Cross-bench peers play important role in holding govt to account
give an example of cross bench peer challenging govt
- lord Owen, former doctor, played key role in opposing coalition govt controversial health and social care bill
- passed march 2012 after govt accepted all amendments proposed in lords
give an example fo govt forcing bill through ?
2004 banning hunting with dogs
what did the departure of most of the hereditary peers remove?
traditional conservative dominance in house
what did Lib Dem peers do in 2005?
- opposed proposals for identity cards, even though it had been a Labour policy announced in advance
- Argued salisbury convention no longer applied as govt re-elected on v.low share of popular vote
what does govt use majority to do?
overturn critical lords amendments
give an example of govt using majority to beat lords
- feb 2012, coalition rejected 7 amendments to its welfare reform and work bill
- argued only commons were entitled to take decisions w/ large financial implications
