Parliament

Question 1

How many MPs

Answer 1

650

Question 2

What are methods that parliament can scrutinise the executive

Answer 2

PMQs
Parliamentary debates
Select committees
Vote of no confidence

Question 3

Advantages of PMQs

Answer 3

Publicity for opposition parties

Unwelcome questions

Own party may scrutinise their own party

Question 4

Good PMQs moment for an opposition member

Answer 4

Tony Blair - 1997

“Weak, weak, weak” to John Major

Question 5

PMQs exposing a PMs weakness

Answer 5

Brown

“We not only saved the world”

Question 6

Example of a MP Criticising their own PM at PMQs

Answer 6

David Davis - 2022 - during partygate

“In the name of god, go”

Question 7

Advantages of parliamentary debates

Answer 7

Free expression of views

Televised so the public can watch

Opportunity to change how MPs and Peers vote

Question 8

Disadvantages of parliamentary debates

Answer 8

MPs usually toe the party line

Speeches used to impress leadership

Few votes are changed

Question 9

Advantages of select committees

Answer 9

Less partisan and confrontational than debates in the chamber

Often chaired by the opposition

Can call witnesses from government

Government must respond within 60 days

Reports are often influential

Question 10

Example of a select committees being chaired by an opposition MP

Answer 10

Yvette Cooper chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee

Question 11

Example of a witness being called by a select committee? What happened?

Answer 11

Amber Rudd by the Home Affairs Select Committee over the Windrush scandal in 2018

Forced to resign due to inadvertently misleading the committee

Question 12

How many days does the government have to respond to a select committee report

Answer 12

60

Question 13

Example of a select committee report being influential

Answer 13

2018 Health Select Committee recommend measures to reduce childhood obesity

New measures within a month - stopped the sale of sweets and fatty snacks at supermarket checkouts

Question 14

Disadvantages of select committees

Answer 14

Governing party has a majority

Witnesses can be evasive

Governments can/do ignore reports

Question 15

Example of government ignoring a select committee report

Answer 15

2021 rejected most of the recommendations about universal credit - making starter payments instead of waiting 5 weeks

Work and Pensions Select Committee

Question 16

Advantages of votes of no confidence

Answer 16

Can bring down a government

Question 17

Example of a vote of no confidence directly bringing down a government

Answer 17

Callaghan 1979

Question 18

Example of a vote of no confidence indirectly bringing down a government

Answer 18

Theresa May - 2019
Boris Johnson - 2022

Question 19

Disadvantages of no confidence votes

Answer 19

Unlikely to work

Question 20

How many opposition days a year

Answer 20

20

Question 21

What are public bills

Answer 21

Applicable to all people and organisations

Vast majority

Question 22

What are private bills

Answer 22

Usually promoted by organisations to give themselves powers beyond existing laws

Only change the law for specific individuals or organisations

Question 23

Example of a private bill

Answer 23

The New Southgate Cemetery Act 2017

Question 24

What are government bills

Answer 24

Created and promoted by the government, often to fulfil manifesto promises

Question 25

What are private members bills

Answer 25

Independently introduced by backbench MPs or peers

Question 26

How are private members bills usually introduced

Answer 26

Ten-minutes rule bill Selected as one of the 20 ‘winners’ in the annual ballot

Question 27

How many private members bills were successful 2019-2021

Answer 27

7

Question 28

Example of a private members bill

Answer 28

Abortion act 1967

Question 29

What are the stages of the legislative process

Answer 29

First reading Second reading Committee stage Report stage Third reading Consideration of amendments Royal assent

Question 30

What happens at first reading

Answer 30

Bill introduced No debate or vote

Question 31

What happens at second reading

Answer 31

Debate, questions and voting Amendment can be made and voted on

Question 32

Example of government defeat in second reading

Answer 32

2017 Voted to give Parliament the final say on the final Brexit deal 309 to 305

Question 33

What happens at the committee stage

Answer 33

Go over bill and amendments from second reading Major changes rare (gov majority)

Question 34

What happens at the report stage

Answer 34

Committee changes are discussed and voted on Last chance for amendments

Question 35

What happens at third reading

Answer 35

Short debate No changes Final vote

Question 36

What do Public Bill Committees do

Answer 36

Go through bills clause by clause, debate and suggest amendments Temporary

Question 37

What do Commons Select Committees do

Answer 37

Oversight on the workings of government Less partisan Many chaired by opposition backbenchers Witnesses

Question 38

What do Lords Select Committees do

Answer 38

Investigate specialist subjects (Lords expertise and greater time used)

Question 39

What does the Public Accounts Committee do

Answer 39

Traditionally chaired by an experience opposition backbencher Scrutinises the value for money in public spending and how well/efficiently the government delivers public services

Question 40

What does the Backbench Business Committee do

Answer 40

Selects topic for debate on days not given over to government business Oversee e-petitions

Question 41

What does the Commons Liaison Committee do

Answer 41

Comprises all the chairs of the Commons select committees Usually chaired by an independently minded backbencher of the governing party Chooses select committee reports for debate Questions the PM - usually 3 times a year on public policy

Question 42

Example of someone refusing to appear before a select committee

Answer 42

Mark Zuckerburg in 2018 Committee was investigating false news

Question 43

Who chairs the Public Accounts Committee

Answer 43

Meg Hillier - Labour MP

Question 44

Example of a PM not going to the Commons Liaison Committee

Answer 44

Boris Johnson 2019 Postponed his appearance twice cancelling his third

Question 45

What percentage of committee recommendations are accepted by government

Answer 45

40%

Question 46

How many recommendations for major policy changes succeed

Answer 46

1/3

Question 47

What is the role of the opposition

Answer 47

Provide scrutiny of government policy Suggest amendments Argue for alternatives Provide a ‘government in waiting’ Nominate topics for debate on 20 days

Question 48

How many opposition days go to the official opposition

Answer 48

17

Question 49

How many opposition days go to the third largest party

Answer 49

3

Question 50

What is a three-line whip

Answer 50

When MPs must turn up and vote the way their leaders wish

Question 51

What is a free vote

Answer 51

MPs are free to vote how they wish

Question 52

How are select committee chairs and memberships chosen

Answer 52

Secret ballot of MPs