Parliament Flashcards
What is a division, from the call to the closing time, how long do MPs have?
8 mins, a vote in parliament
Between 2010 and 2015, how many times did Peter bone vote against the government
Nearly 150 times
Give an example of functional representation in parliament
Steve Rotherham - former bricklayer
Who is referred to as the mp for the 18th century
Jacob Rees mogg
What is a private members bill? Give an example.
A bill put forward by a backbencher, not by govt. Steve Rotherham and his bill on tyre safety
What is a 10 min rule bill
10 mins to introduce it. Usually unsuccessful but raises the profile of the issue
When did Cameron have a cabinet reshuffle? Why?
2014, included lots of women to overcome criticism of a lack of representation
Give an example of how the government is accountable to the legislative branch
The lords defeated the govts levelling up and regeneration bill on 14th sept 2023.
Rishi sunak is/was mp for which constituency?
Richmond (Yorkshire)
Give an example of a time a vote of no confidence was successful in removing an entire govt
James Callaghans govt was removed in 1979
Give an example of the monarchy’s involvement in politics
In 2014, the queen was asked to intervene on the Scottish independence referendum as the govt feared Scotland would vote to leave the union
What is a public bill
Proposed by govt ministers, applies to general population, usually financial
What is a private bill
Promoted by organisations, applies to specific people
What is a hybrid bill
Mixture of public/private
Describe the legislative process
1st reading - title read and date
2nd reading - debate principles of bill and division
Public bill committee - adhoc, named after bill, temporary, scrutinise, no time limit
Report stage
3rd reading - debate on bill as whole, vote
Ping pong
Royal assent
What’s the difference between green paper and white papers
Green - idea for future govt policy
White - definite intentions for govt policy
Give an example of effective use of PMQs
Keir starter challenged boris on party gate - amplified public pressure and scrutiny
However - theatrics - failed to extract meaningful answers
Give an example of a successful opposition day
Jan 2024, labour forced a vote on their proposal for emergency legislation to fast track removal of unsafe cladding - pressure on govts building safety agenda
- however, largely symbolic as govt not bound to act on them
What has been one of the most recent votes of no confidence
January 2023, in the conservative govt over Northern Ireland protocol highlighting serious concerns over the governments handling of brexit arrangements
- largely symbolic - difficult ti use effectively in recent years due to governments majority
Give an example of how the House of Lords are able to scrutinise government
Lords amendments to levelling up bill 2023 improved provisions for local authority oversight and planning reforms
Give an example of how the House of Lords are largely ineffective when it comes to scrutinising government
Attempted to modify illegal migration bill 2023, largely overturned when bill returned to the commons
Give an example of effective use of select committees to scrutinise government
Treasury select committee’s investigation and report in 2023 into the collapse of Silicon Valley bank’s Uk arm led to improved oversight measures for banking regulation
What did the privileges committee do in relation to party gate
Recommendation of sanctions for boris Johnson - highlighted limitations in enforcing consequences for misleading parliament
Why do most private members bills fail? How many were there in 22-23? What happened to most of them
Lack of parliamentary time and support , 118, only a small fraction became law
