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UK Government + Politics > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

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1
Q

what happens during state opening of Parliament?

A

-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

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2
Q

HofC chamber

A

-more argumentative- Churchill wanted more confrontation
-front benches reserved for ministers + shadowministers
-prayers said first
-speaker keeps order in the house

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3
Q

stages of a bill?

A

-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

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4
Q

MPs

A

-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

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5
Q

speaker

A

-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

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6
Q

whips

A

-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

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7
Q

select committees

A

-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

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8
Q

Public Bill Committees (PBC)

A

-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

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9
Q

clerks

A

main constitutional advisers to the HofC
advise on its processes + business
-requested to appear before select committees

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10
Q

Private Members Bills (PMS)

A

-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

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11
Q

Private Bills

A

-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

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12
Q

Hybrid Bills

A

-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

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13
Q

advantages of legislative process?

A

-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

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14
Q

disadvantages of legislation process?

A

-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

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15
Q

the HRA 1998

A

-due to atrocities occuring in WWII
-civil rights- basic rights to be free from discrimination
-civil liberties- rights guaranteed in war

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16
Q

historical basis for HRA?

A

-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

17
Q

what is parliament?

A

-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

18
Q

what is the government?

A

-run the country
-authority to govern is established by GE results
-has responsibility for devoloping + implementing policy + for drafting laws
-the executive

19
Q

factors why govt dominated parliament?

A

-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

20
Q

Functions of Parliament?

A

-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

21
Q

does Parliament fulfill its representation function?

A

-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

22
Q

representation- occupation/class

A

-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

23
Q

what are select committees?

A

-committee made up of a small no. of MPs appointed to scrutinise the workings of govt
-exist in Parliament

24
Q

what are the functions of sc’s?

A

-carry out scrutiny
-look at how details of laws impact people
-can devote time to looking at issues

25
Q

how many members and how are they chosen?

A

-11 members- reflect balance of parties in Parliament
-each party elects member for committee

26
Q

how do they inform public of their plans?

A

-draft a list of publicly printed Qs
-press releases display their info

27
Q

why are they important?

A

-provide info to public + Parliament
-work cross party to ensure laws work efficiently
-can do more than an MP
-no power of enforcement

28
Q

who can appear before one?

A

-ministers
-representatives
-MPs

29
Q

what type of work does science + tech committee do?

A

-look at govt capability to deal w/emergencies + had measures in place to mitigate a disaster

30
Q

what are their critiques?

A

-no power of enforcement
-takes a long time

31
Q

how are government?

A

-elected ministers w/ civil servants/advisers /committees/other bodies involved with implementation of decisions/services

32
Q

what is a majority govt?

A

-most MPs from the same party
-unusual in liberal democracies

33
Q

what is a minority govt?

A

-unusual, unstable, + short lived in the UK
-e.g. 2017-19

34
Q

what is a coalition govt?

A

-rare, none between 1945-2010
-2+ parties involved
-ministerial posts shared
-policy must be agreed on/accepted by both parties

UK Government + Politics (27 decks)

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