Parliament Flashcards
government
what happens during state opening of Parliament?
-monarch sits on throne in HofL
-Black Rod knocks on door to HoC + MPs go to HofL
-monarch reads out policy/manifesto + leaves
-what is read is debates
HofC chamber
-more argumentative- Churchill wanted more confrontation
-front benches reserved for ministers + shadowministers
-prayers said first
-speaker keeps order in the house
stages of a bill?
-consultation stage- govt makes draft of a bill
-first reading- govt announces bill in HofC
-second reading debate- main debating stage where MPs can discuss bill, could be voted out
-committee stage- smaller group of MPs look at bill, make amendments
-report stage- amendments are reported in the HofC, MPs vote on them
-third reading- overall consideration of bill + votes to decide if it continues
-HofL- amendments suggested until agreement is reached, if none reached, Parliament can push it through anyway
-The Royal Assent- monarch signs off on bill
MPs
-650 members elected from constituencies in E/W/S/NI by FPTP
-those not in key govt/opposition are backbenchers
-raise issues affcting constituents, attend debates, vote on new laws
-most MPs members of committees- look at issues
speaker
-elected by MPs
-chairperson for commons- keep order, organise debates
-politically neutral
-principal deputy is Chairman of Ways + Means
-Chairman of Ways + Means + 2 Deputy Chairmen withdraw from an active political role
whips
-ensure party discipline
-chief whip ensures MPs know when/what to vote for, loyalty to the party line
-Chief Whip= Parliamentary Sec. to the Treasury
-‘three-line whip’- most important, defying one is serious- whip cna be wirthrawn from an MP/peer (member expelled from party + must sit as an independent)
-whips job harder when govt has small majority
select committees
-check/report on govt departments
-changes in 2010- membership of committees elected by MPs
-governing party has majority of members in committees
-PM disbands/adds committees
Public Bill Committees (PBC)
-set up in HofC to examine details of Bills in Parliament
-after 2nd reading, bills referred to PBC for further debate/scrutiny
-16/50 members
clerks
main constitutional advisers to the HofC
advise on its processes + business
-requested to appear before select committees
Private Members Bills (PMS)
-public bills- affect public
-backbench MPs put names into a ballot- if successful can introduce a bill
-ballot drawn for each session of Parliament
-aim to gain publicity, bills often fall through
-supported by govt- allows controversial legislation through- e.g. Abortion Act
Private Bills
-promoted by organisations like local authorities/private companies to give themselves more powers
-only change law as applies to specific individuals/orgs
-groups/orgs affected can petition Parliament against the proposed Bill + present objections
Hybrid Bills
-mix of public + private bills
-changes to the law proposed by a hybrid bill affect general public
-hybrid bills often propose works of national impotance
advantages of legislative process?
-scrutiny on legislation
-committee stage- experts pick over elements of bills to ensure it works + debated by elected reps
-electorate represented by MPs, MPs can shape legislation
disadvantages of legislation process?
-takes a long time to move forwards
-difficult to get govt. opposed bills forward
-clearing decks (putting forward specific policies) can promote govt agenda instead of important policies for public
-party whips- force a certin way of voting, support party not decisions/best for decisions
the HRA 1998
-due to atrocities occuring in WWII
-civil rights- basic rights to be free from discrimination
-civil liberties- rights guaranteed in war
historical basis for HRA?
-power of police: growing concern civil liberties being eroded by giving more powers to police- e.g. Police + Criminal Evidence Act 1984
-Freedom of the press: curtailed by Official Secrets Act- stopped the press from reporting truth due to threat of libel + slander laws
-right to privacy: realisation loads of info abt individual citizens were gathered thru phone tapping
-freedom of information
what is parliament?
-highest legislative authority in UK
-sovereignty of Parliament is fundamental principle of UK constitution
-MPs elected by public
-responsibility of checking govt work + examining/debating/approving new laws
-the legislative
what is the government?
-run the country
-authority to govern is established by GE results
-has responsibility for devoloping + implementing policy + for drafting laws
-the executive
factors why govt dominated parliament?
-FPTP means 1 party has a majority in HofC- majority brings power
-party loyalty in the UK is strong, govts can rely on MP support
-PM patronage- 100 ministers representing Cabinet + depts who are bound by collective ministerial responsibility
-PM patronage- one career path for politicians, MPs toe party line to remain loyal
-MPs can loose seats if do not follow party line
-PM threatening to dissolve parliament- e.g. John Major in 1990s
-HofL can obstruct + delay legislation proposed by govt
Functions of Parliament?
-making law: legislation must pass a long process in Houses before it reached statute book
-legitimacy: parliament proves itself
-scrutiny + accountability: finacial- budget passed for taxation + spending, executive: conscientious backbenchers
-representation: parties reflect views of public, not diverse
-recruitment of minsters-
-debating major issues-
-redress of grievances- citizens go to MPs with problems
does Parliament fulfill its representation function?
-Mps solely involved in politics has risen since 1951- lack of insight
-1951- 70 barristers/solicitors in Cons, 50- b/s’s in 2010
-increase in teachers/lecturers for Lab
-decrease in Lab MPs from manual laborers
representation- occupation/class
-87% of MPs elected at the 2019 GE were graduates, 34% of working-age adults are
-29% of MPs attended fee-paying schools- 4x national figure
-7% of MPs can be considered ‘working class’ comp. w/ 34% of working-age adults
what are select committees?
-committee made up of a small no. of MPs appointed to scrutinise the workings of govt
-exist in Parliament
what are the functions of sc’s?
-carry out scrutiny
-look at how details of laws impact people
-can devote time to looking at issues
how many members and how are they chosen?
-11 members- reflect balance of parties in Parliament
-each party elects member for committee
how do they inform public of their plans?
-draft a list of publicly printed Qs
-press releases display their info
why are they important?
-provide info to public + Parliament
-work cross party to ensure laws work efficiently
-can do more than an MP
-no power of enforcement
who can appear before one?
-ministers
-representatives
-MPs
what type of work does science + tech committee do?
-look at govt capability to deal w/emergencies + had measures in place to mitigate a disaster
what are their critiques?
-no power of enforcement
-takes a long time
how are government?
-elected ministers w/ civil servants/advisers /committees/other bodies involved with implementation of decisions/services
what is a majority govt?
-most MPs from the same party
-unusual in liberal democracies
what is a minority govt?
-unusual, unstable, + short lived in the UK
-e.g. 2017-19
what is a coalition govt?
-rare, none between 1945-2010
-2+ parties involved
-ministerial posts shared
-policy must be agreed on/accepted by both parties
