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UK Politics > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

how are MPs elected?

A

chosen through election to represent a constituency via first past the post

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2
Q

what are the 3 types of Lords?

A
  • life peers
  • hereditary lords
  • ‘lords spiritual’
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3
Q

What are the 3 functions of parliament?

A
  • scrutiny
  • pass legislation
  • representation
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4
Q

How often a PMQs?

A

every Wednesday 12-12:30

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5
Q

How often are MQTs?

A

1 every day except Wednesday

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6
Q

give an example for PMQ?

A

David cameron once attacked Corbyn on his choice of suit

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7
Q

how are PMQs effective?

A
  • 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
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8
Q

how are PMQs ineffective?

A
  • questions planned to make PM look good
  • lack detail as only 30mins
  • can’t give detailed answers
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9
Q

how are MQTs effective?

A
  • longer w/ more detail - able to prepare

- allows MPs to inform themselves about govt polioy - can raise issues of interest to their constituents

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10
Q

how are MQTs ineffective?

A
  • boring

- less people, less often - due to number of govt departments, each department generally answers once a month

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11
Q

what are adjournment debates?

A
  • allow commons to debate on something without question and the house must decide
  • 30 mins @ end of each day
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12
Q

Who deals with e-petitions?

A

backbench business committee

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13
Q

give an example of an adjournment debate?

A

2015 - military action in Syria - govt. then lost vote

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14
Q

give an example of e-petition?

A

Donald trump e-petition, 1.8 million votes (no state visit)

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15
Q

how are adjournment debates effective?

A
  • commons can raise important questions

- frequent + up to date

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16
Q

how are e-petitions effective?

A
  • allows people to voice their opinions
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17
Q

how are adjournment debates ineffective?

A
  • only 30 mins each day - not that much
  • people might not have much info on debate
  • not binding vote
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18
Q

what are opposition days?

A

opposition parties are allocated 20 days a year to propose subject topics for debate

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19
Q

give an example for opposition days?

A

post office + passport delays (see case studies)

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20
Q

how are opposition days effective?

A
  • case study shows they are good as they can win

- opposition parties have a say

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21
Q

how are opposition days ineffective?

A

case study - mainly helped by public

  • most don’t actually happen
  • govt chose when opposition days are
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22
Q

What do DSCs do?

A

scrutinise policy, administration and spending of each government department

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23
Q

example of DSC?

A

Treasury Committee

- examine policy, administration and policy of HM treasury

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24
Q

how are DSCs effective?

A
  • go into great detail when examining actions of govt.

- cross bench, so no govt. bias

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25
Q

how are DSCs ineffective?

A

govt. don’t have to act on them - only have to reply

26
Q

What % of DSC reforms are acted upon?

A

30%

27
Q

What is functional/descriptive representation?

A

looks like what society looks like

28
Q

Give 5 things an MP or peer could claim to represent?

A 
age
gender
sexuality 
ethnicity/religion
class
29
Q

What are the 3 things an MP or peer could claim to represent? (not functional/descriptive)

A

electorate
party
constituency

30
Q

why can an MP or peer claim to represent the electorate?

A

because of the doctors mandate e.g. Brexit / syria vote

31
Q

why can an MP or peer claim to represent their party?

A

party chooses them to run + fundraise. expects loyalty in return - whip

32
Q

why can an MP claim to represent their constituency?

A

constituents elect them

33
Q

what is the average constituency size in UK?

A

60,000 - 70,000

34
Q

describe the process a bill has to go through to become a law?

A
  • first reading
  • second reading
  • committee stage
  • report stage
  • third reading
  • the same in the Lords
  • royal assent
35
Q

give an example of a DSC summoning witness

A
  • Home affairs select committee

- amber Rudd to talk about govt policy regarding windrush scandal

36
Q

what are urgent questions?

A
  • 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
37
Q

give an example of an urgent question?

A

11 July 2016, Helen Goodman applied for Q on topic of whether parliament could trigger article 50

38
Q

what is the % split between men and women in society?

A

women 51%

men 49%

39
Q

in 2017 what % of MPs were women ?

A

32%

40
Q

what % of conservative and labour MPs are women?

A

labour 45%

conservative 21%

41
Q

how has the number of female MPs changed since 2015?

A

2017 - 208 women

2015 - 191 women

42
Q

in UK what % go to uni? what % of MPs go to uni

A

19% and 84%

43
Q

what happens to a bill after 1st and 2nd reading?

A

bill scrutinised by public bill committee

44
Q

who makes up a public bill committee and what do they do?

A
  • Made up of MPs with knowledge and passion for subject

- They review the bill and suggest any possible amendments

45
Q

what can lead to legislation being rushed?

A

external factors e.g. media and news

46
Q

what lead to the 1991 dangerous dogs act being passed?

A

passed in response to a number of tabloid stories about dog attacks by so called ‘dangerous dogs’

47
Q

why was the 1991 dangerous dogs act so poor?

A
  • Act didn’t take into account the biological determination between safe and dangerous animals
  • it was completely unenforceable and without sentencing instructions
48
Q

why do whips undermine legislation ?

A

force MPs to vote with party rather than by their own beliefs

49
Q

why do MPs obey whip?

A

MPs sacrifice their beliefs in order to climb up ladder within party

50
Q

give an example of an MP climbing up party ladder

A
  • Nicky Morgan had never defied whip

- went from MP to minister in 5yrs

51
Q

why are the lords superior due HoL act 1999?

A
  • removed hereditary peers

- more people turn up

52
Q

who are lords appointed by

A
  • committee according to their suitability

- look meticulously over lords ability for role

53
Q

how many defeats did Conservative govts 1979-97 have?

A

241 defeats to lords

54
Q

how many defeats did Conservative govt 2015-16 have

A

60

55
Q

which type of peers have a particularly important role in holding govt to account ?

A

Cross-bench peers play important role in holding govt to account

56
Q

give an example of cross bench peer challenging govt

A
  • 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
57
Q

give an example fo govt forcing bill through ?

A

2004 banning hunting with dogs

58
Q

what did the departure of most of the hereditary peers remove?

A

traditional conservative dominance in house

59
Q

what did Lib Dem peers do in 2005?

A
  • 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
60
Q

what does govt use majority to do?

A

overturn critical lords amendments

61
Q

give an example of govt using majority to beat lords

A
  • 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

UK Politics (17 decks)

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