Parliament Flashcards
HoC composition x1
650 MPs
HoL composition x3
667 Life Peers (nominated by PM)
92 Hereditary Peers
24 Archbishops/bishops
Legitimacy of HoC v HoL
HoC - democratic legitimacy
HoL - no democratic legitimacy but expert body
Legislating strength x4
Pros
- Lots pass in strong government (average of 50) - even in weaker governments similar amounts
- PMBs - successful from all parties
- Lords only delay up to 1 year and not delay money bills (1949 parliament act)
- Few defeats when in majority
Legislate cons x2
Cons
- Minority government defeats (multiple minorities in recent times)
- Ping pong delaying bills (arguably improvements)
PMQT+QTs pros x4
Pros
- Widely publicised
- PM being questioned directly - accountable
- Extended to 30 min with Wright reforms
- QTs do give backbenchers one on ones with ministers
PMQT + QT cons x3
Cons
- Political show
- fuels disinfranchisement
-not much backbencher involvement
Select Committees pros x6
- Elected chairs
Liaison committee questioning PM directly
Boris put under lots of pressure helping lead to his resignation - Exposed Amber Rudd - deportation targets (denied in committee they existed then leaked emaills showed she lied)
- Cameron held reponsible over UK intervention in Libya (foreign affairs)
- Backbench Business Committee
○ Can schedule motions from backbenchers (1 day per week)
○Debating topics which government wants to ignore E.g. Afghanistan, immigration, EU membership
Select committee negatives x8
- Weighted towards party in power
- leading to favourable questioning (David Davis questioned by Mogg)
- No sanction power for ministers
Even when they lie - David Davis claiming reports existed on economic impact of Brexit - Information can be withheld on the basis of national security
- No obligation for gov to act upon committee recommendations (60-70 percent of recommendations shot down)
- Can become media fodder
- High turnover rate ( not expert) 83% in defence in 2010-15
- Cannot compel attendance (Mark Z on fake news or energy companies on climate)
Descriptive Representation x3
Pros
Getting better - 10% ethnic minority in parliament - 18% in uk
40% of parliament are women
Cons
Still not representative
HoC powers x10
Vote of no confidence/ Confidence and supply
Financial Privilege/Votes on Budget
Vote on Legislation
Insist on Legislation
Final approval of amendments
Select Committees
Power to question PM/Ministers
Debate, amendments, Qs,
Private Members Bills
Convention of military action
HoC limits x1
argument of elected dictatorship with whips
HoL powers x4
- Scrutinising primary+secondary legislation
- Can delay legislation
- Debate, amendments, Qs,
- Private Members Bills
(has expertise and time)
HoL limits x4
Salisbury convention
No money powers
Limited to one year
Reasonable Time Convention
Opposition effective x4
Able to score political points in PMQTs - widely publicised
Opposition days - expose weak government
e.g. Gordon Brown 2009 defeat over Gurkha veteran settlement rights
Creating backlash - vote over free school meals 2021 - conservatives looked cruel
Introduces many amendments at committee stage
Opposition ineffective x2
Opposition day motions can be made ineffective by government - not voting and just passing it - not legally binding - under May no votes on opp days
Amendments do not pass often
Backbenchers role x6
Role of backbenchers
- Legislation, inc. private members’ bills, ten min rule bills
- Detailed scrutiny of gov bills in committees
- Scrutiny in MQT and PMQT
- Debate, inc backbench business committee debates
- Representing constituents
- Parliamentary privilege - cannot be sued for slander in commons
Backbenchers effective x9
Use of UQs
- Lammy to Rudd on Windrush
- Strengthened under bercow
- Emily Thornberry on Israel-Palestine
PMQs
- Can embarrass the government
Rebellion
- Paul Goggins - labour - forcing reversal of abolition of Child trust funds (5 million for junior ISAs)
- 139 MPs rebelled on Iraq
- Rebellion on 90-day detention of terrorist suspects
- Coalition rebellion in 35% of votes
- Leading to defeat on military action in Syria
Backbenchers ineffective x4
UQs evaded/opaque answers - reliant on a good speaker - ineffective under Michael Martin
PMQs raucous, ill-disciplined - does not force actual responses
PMBs high failure rate
Whip system reducing rebellions - also rebellions often ineffective -e.g. gay marriage 2013 and brexit votes
Lords scrutiny effective x7
1-2k amendments per year
Debating public concerns - assisted dying
No party majority in lords - gov cannot abuse power
5091 amendments in 2016-17
50-60% lords time spent on scrutiny
Creation of ad hoc committees for specific committees
Makes ministers consider anticipated reaction (not putting forward or amending measures before they go to the house - if significant opposition expected)
Lords scrutiny ineffective x3
Amendments can be rejected
Have to respect manifesto
No real power other than delay and advisory
