Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

Parliaments main functions x3

A

Scrutiny, legislative, represent

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2
Q

Points for Parliament fulfilling legislative function

A
  1. Parliament is sovereign
  2. V few minorities since 1945 This means it fulfils its legislative function is fulfilled, with 90% of laws being passed, e.g. Firearm Amendment Act 1997 and the Energy Prices act, in response to situations of immediate importance.
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3
Q

Points against leg.

A

There are very few PMBs and they just rubber stamp bills through. Less parliamentary time is given to such bills and as a result only a minority of PMBs actually become law. Furthermore, the House of Commons has too much power over the legislative process, with the House of Lords not having any key role.

STATS-
1979 to 1990 only 11% of PMBs were given royal ascent and government bills are 8 times more likely.

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4
Q

Fufill scrutiny PRO x4

A

1.All ministers get questioned and are questioned by

2.Parliament. Part of the structure of Parliament is to hold government ministers to account.

3.House of Lords scrutinise bills. There is no single party control and so issues may be looked at in a non-partisan manner especially by the many Independent (crossbench) Peers.
4.Select committees

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5
Q

Scrutiny CON

A

Every government department has a parliamentary select committee and proportion based system. This is not good as if there is a large majority, e.g. under Blair 1997 179 seat maj, it is very hard to scrutinise
select committees bills and the government, meaning there is tyranny of the majority.

The House of Lords over the last century has been made less powerful than the Commons.

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6
Q

Representation PRO

A

Significant laws, like the abolition of the death
penalty (Murder Act 1965) and the legalisation of
abortion (Abortion Act 1967), were the result of
successful Private-Member Bills.

Some MPs represent their constituency and go against
government when they think it is suitable.
(Hazel Blears securing investment for her constituency - including lobbying for the BBC to locate in Salford - and promoting Clare’s Law, which gives people a right to ask police if their partners have a record of domestic violence and was named after one of her constituents who was murdered by her partner.)

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7
Q

Representation CON

A

The House of Lords is unrepresentative, due to a lack of diversity and the method by which peers are selected House of Commons does not fit demographics of the public and safe seats lead to tyranny of the majority with due to FPTP, leading to constituents views being unrepresented.

1/3MPs private school compared to 7% of pop. 26% Oxbridge. 20 MPs Eton. In 2016, 10 women out of 30 person cabinet Liverpool Walton 84.7% and Boston Skegness 76.7. Those in areas are unrepresented if they don’t follow those views.

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8
Q
A
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