Parliament Flashcards
How many MPs
650
What are methods that parliament can scrutinise the executive
PMQs
Parliamentary debates
Select committees
Vote of no confidence
Advantages of PMQs
Publicity for opposition parties
Unwelcome questions
Own party may scrutinise their own party
Good PMQs moment for an opposition member
Tony Blair - 1997
“Weak, weak, weak” to John Major
PMQs exposing a PMs weakness
Brown
“We not only saved the world”
Example of a MP Criticising their own PM at PMQs
David Davis - 2022 - during partygate
“In the name of god, go”
Advantages of parliamentary debates
Free expression of views
Televised so the public can watch
Opportunity to change how MPs and Peers vote
Disadvantages of parliamentary debates
MPs usually toe the party line
Speeches used to impress leadership
Few votes are changed
Advantages of select committees
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
Example of a select committees being chaired by an opposition MP
Yvette Cooper chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee
Example of a witness being called by a select committee? What happened?
Amber Rudd by the Home Affairs Select Committee over the Windrush scandal in 2018
Forced to resign due to inadvertently misleading the committee
How many days does the government have to respond to a select committee report
60
Example of a select committee report being influential
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
Disadvantages of select committees
Governing party has a majority
Witnesses can be evasive
Governments can/do ignore reports
Example of government ignoring a select committee report
2021 rejected most of the recommendations about universal credit - making starter payments instead of waiting 5 weeks
Work and Pensions Select Committee
Advantages of votes of no confidence
Can bring down a government
Example of a vote of no confidence directly bringing down a government
Callaghan 1979
Example of a vote of no confidence indirectly bringing down a government
Theresa May - 2019
Boris Johnson - 2022
Disadvantages of no confidence votes
Unlikely to work
How many opposition days a year
20
What are public bills
Applicable to all people and organisations
Vast majority
What are private bills
Usually promoted by organisations to give themselves powers beyond existing laws
Only change the law for specific individuals or organisations
Example of a private bill
The New Southgate Cemetery Act 2017
What are government bills
Created and promoted by the government, often to fulfil manifesto promises
What are private members bills
Independently introduced by backbench MPs or peers
How are private members bills usually introduced
Ten-minutes rule bill
Selected as one of the 20 ‘winners’ in the annual ballot
How many private members bills were successful 2019-2021
7
Example of a private members bill
Abortion act 1967
What are the stages of the legislative process
First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
Consideration of amendments
Royal assent
What happens at first reading
Bill introduced
No debate or vote
What happens at second reading
Debate, questions and voting
Amendment can be made and voted on
Example of government defeat in second reading
2017
Voted to give Parliament the final say on the final Brexit deal
309 to 305
What happens at the committee stage
Go over bill and amendments from second reading
Major changes rare (gov majority)
What happens at the report stage
Committee changes are discussed and voted on
Last chance for amendments
What happens at third reading
Short debate
No changes
Final vote
What do Public Bill Committees do
Go through bills clause by clause, debate and suggest amendments
Temporary
What do Commons Select Committees do
Oversight on the workings of government
Less partisan
Many chaired by opposition backbenchers
Witnesses
What do Lords Select Committees do
Investigate specialist subjects (Lords expertise and greater time used)
What does the Public Accounts Committee do
Traditionally chaired by an experience opposition backbencher
Scrutinises the value for money in public spending and how well/efficiently the government delivers public services
What does the Backbench Business Committee do
Selects topic for debate on days not given over to government business
Oversee e-petitions
What does the Commons Liaison Committee do
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
Example of someone refusing to appear before a select committee
Mark Zuckerburg in 2018
Committee was investigating false news
Who chairs the Public Accounts Committee
Meg Hillier - Labour MP
Example of a PM not going to the Commons Liaison Committee
Boris Johnson 2019
Postponed his appearance twice cancelling his third
What percentage of committee recommendations are accepted by government
40%
How many recommendations for major policy changes succeed
1/3
What is the role of the opposition
Provide scrutiny of government policy
Suggest amendments
Argue for alternatives
Provide a ‘government in waiting’
Nominate topics for debate on 20 days
How many opposition days go to the official opposition
17
How many opposition days go to the third largest party
3
What is a three-line whip
When MPs must turn up and vote the way their leaders wish
What is a free vote
MPs are free to vote how they wish
How are select committee chairs and memberships chosen
Secret ballot of MPs
