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Paper 2 > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

what makes up parliament?

A

House of Commons, House of Lords, Monarchy

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2
Q

What does fusion of the powers mean? Give an example linked to the UK

A

the executive and legislative branches in the UK are fused as the executive is derived from the legislature. To be a member of the government, you need to be either an MP or peer, Cameron was made a peer before beocming foreign sec in 2023

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3
Q

Who do we vote for in elections to parliament?

A

The person to become our MP, NOT the PM

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4
Q

Who gets to form government?

A

The largest party after GE - don’t always need a majority

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5
Q

What is confidence and supply?

A

Government is responsible to parliament as it is sovereign. If parliament holds a vote of no confidence and the government loses, this triggers a GE

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6
Q

What is a front bencher and what roles do they have?

A

(Sit on the front benches of the Commons)
Ministers and party officials appointed by the PM to senior positions in the governing party
In the opposition parties, those on the front benches are either:
Members of the Shadow Cabinet (in the official opposition) OR
Leading members of minority parties
Tend to dominate proceedings in Parliament

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7
Q

what does bicameral mean? Name the chambers in parliament

A

Two chambers - HoC, HoL

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8
Q

What’s the role of an MP?

A

Represent their constituents – redress of grievances
Scrutinise the government
Debate legislation and issues
Legitimise legislation through scrutiny and by voting for it (giving it popular consent)

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9
Q

What’s the role of a backbencher?

A

Scrutinise the work of the government, governing party will do this less so to not embarrass the government. Opposition backbenchers will conduct greater scrutiny through… Question ministers
Take part in debates
Vote on legislation
Participate in public bill and select committees.

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10
Q

What’s a backbencher?

A

MPs who don’t have responsibilities in government/shadow cabinet or as a major spokesperson for their party.
They are the majority in all parties

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11
Q

What is the official opposition and its’ role?

A

Official opposition is the second largest party in Parliament and receives the majority of those opposition days (17/20 in this Parliament). Provide scrutiny and be a government in waiting

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12
Q

What was the role of the opposition during the 2017-2019 parliament?

A

A minority conservative government under Theresa May meant the opposition now had a stronger role in Parliament.
The gov had to rely on other parties support for policy initiatives
This gave the opposition genuine impact on policy!
This led to chaos in Parliament – the government suffered major defeats and only succeeded in passing extensions to the Brexit deadlines and narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence

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13
Q

What are opposition days and how many are there?

A
  1. The opposition parties will control the agenda in parliament to table debates and votes on issues important to them or their supporters
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14
Q

who controls the agenda in parliament and why?

A

government - fusion of the powers allows them to dictate the legislative timetable

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15
Q

Why was the SNP opposition day in Feb 2024 controversial?

A

SNP tabled a motion of ceasefire in Gaza, the Speaker chose to schedule amendments favouring the Labour party, the SNP walked out which has damaged the reputation of Hoyle as an independent speaker as he was previously a Lab MP

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16
Q

What’s a party whip’s role and why are they important?

A

Enforcers’ of party line on MPs in their party. To ensure the government has support for legislation

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17
Q

one line whip

A

MPs are advised to vote in line with the party, they may be given guides to party policy on an issue. Fewer consequences if an MP misses a one-line whip.

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18
Q

two line whip

A

MPs are told attendance is necessary at these votes, they’re expected to attend and vote with their party.

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19
Q

three line whip

A

This applies to may votes and events like second reading of bills. MPs are told that their attendance is essential, and they must vote with their party. Defying this as an MP is serious and has led to the whip being removed.

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20
Q

what happens if MPs disobey the whip?

A

fewer chances of promotion, nomination for unpopular duties in Parliament like boring public bill committees, whip could be removed and they would sit as independent until whip is restored.

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21
Q

when do the whips have less chance of controlling the party?

A

minority/coalition gov as backbenchers have more power. Fewer need to rebel to defeat the gov.

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22
Q

2019 cons losing the whip - describe the example

A

for backing a motion to take control of parliamentary business away from the government to prevent a no-deal Brexit. These included former Chancellor Philip Hammond, and former minister David Gauke.

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23
Q

2024 Lee anderson losing the whip - describe

A

comments about Islamists controlling London/Sadiq Khan, later defected to Reform after being kicked out of the party

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24
Q

2024 Kate Osamor losing the whip - describe

A

suspended after making comments that Gaza should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust memorial day

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25
Q

why was Bercow a controversial speaker?

A

he stopped Theresa May holding a third “meaningful vote” on her Brexit deal – a decision that forced her to affectively abandon the agreement she had spent months negotiating, and rapidly hastened her demise, Bercow made a similar ruling against Johnson forcing the prime minister to change tack and first try to introduce legislation turning his Brexit deal into law, and then seek a general election. He allowed MPs to seize control of the Commons numerous times during the Brexit negotiations, including the Benn Act blocking a no-deal Brexit

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26
Q

How did Bercow improve democracy within parliament as speaker?

A

by increasing the number of urgent questions granted giving MPs more ability to scrutinise the gov

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27
Q

what are life peers

A

nominated by PM, peerage for life, majority of peers

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28
Q

what are hereditary peers and what law impacted them?

A

Hold inherited titles carrying the right to sit in the Lords
House of Lords Reform Act (1998) reduced the number drastically from around 750 to 92 who could sit in the Lords at one time
92 are elected by the other hereditary peers in the Lords

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29
Q

why are hereditary peers controversial?

A

No expertise/contributions to public life like many life peers. Criticised as they can put themselves up for election to one of the 92 places in the Lords based on titles they’ve inherited (often from long-dead ancestors, usually the father)

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30
Q

what are lords spiritual?

A

26 Anglican Bishops
Appointed by the PM based on recommendations from the Church of England

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31
Q

the role of the monarch is…

A

ceremonial, symbolic, head of state

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32
Q

what jobs does the monarch still undertake?

A

Appointing a PM & government – Little impact in this process as leader of largest party only person who can command confidence in the Commons
Opening and dismissing Parliament – State opening of Parliament occurs at the beginning of each Parliamentary year (May) and dissolves Parliament at the request of the PM to allow a general election to be held
King’s speech – Delivered during the state opening setting out the government’s legislative programme for the upcoming year. Written by the PM’s office
Royal Assent – Final stage of the legislative process where the monarch will sign a bill before it becomes law. This is a formality as by convention monarch’s do not refuse Royal Assent.

33
Q

what’s a private members bill?

A

Any backbencher wishing to create a private members bill will enter their proposal at the start of the year – 20 are drawn form a ballot, with limited time around first 7 are introduced to the Commons

34
Q

what type of bill is most common in parliament?

A

public bills

35
Q

why are private members bills weak? Use an example

A

Often ignored (especially if they’re against the governments interests) but occasionally, with support from high profile MPs, ministers/shadow ministers and the media, they can pass the initial stage
Require a certain number of MPs to turn up to debate the bill (This is hard to organise especially if the bill is specific)
If they pass the first reading stage, they can be easily blocked by a single MP shouting ‘oppose’ during the reading
Christopher Chope 2018 – shouted oppose to 2 private members bills, one on upskirting (that we covered earlier) and one on increased protections for police animals.
Private Members Bills are incredibly difficult to pass and make into law

36
Q

what happens at committee stage of a bill?

A

Public Bill Committees of around 18 MPs (can be a committee of the whole House which are larger) scrutinise and debate the bill ‘line by line’
The finer details of the bill are created during this stage
The committees are made up relative to party strength in the Commons, members are chosen by the whips and are given strict instructions which means the process is tightly controlled by the government
Finance and major constitutional bills are considered by the whole House at this stage as they’re seen as too important
Majority of amendments are made here

37
Q

wht is ping pong?

A

after passing the Commons, the bill is introduced through First reading in the HoL then proceeds through the process in the exact same way
If the Lords suggest amendments to a bill, it must then go back to the Commons for approval or rejection
If this process happens several times, it’s referred to as ‘parliamentary ping-pong’

38
Q

what type of bills are the lords more likely to be obstructive against?

A

bills that aren’t promised within manifestos.

39
Q

which chamber has supreme legislaive power and why?

A

HoC, Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 weakened the power of the Lords to delay bills for a year, and it cannot reject or amend money bills, Commons is the only elected chamber with a mandate

40
Q

Why does the Lords have more independence?

A

Parties are weaker, crosbenchers have no party affiliation, tenure means the Lords don’t fear the whip

41
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is Backbencher rebellion/threat of backbencher rebellion, what AO1 would you use? IS EFFECTIVE

A

50 Tory backbenchers threatened rebellion in Jan 2023 over amendments they wanted to the Online Safety Bill (social media managers to face 2-year prison terms for failing to protect children from harmful material), Lab supported their move, and the government is now considering similar proposals
60 Tory backbenchers threatened rebellion over the governments housing quota proposals for local councils in Dec 2022
Lab backbenchers refused to support Blairs extension of the detention time of terrorist suspects from 14 to 90 days in 2005

42
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is Backbencher rebellion/threat of backbencher rebellion, what AO1 would you use? ISN’T EFFECTIVE

A

Blair didn’t lose a vote from 1997-2005, 38 government public bills brought to Commons from 2019-2021 and all 38 received royal assent, PAPER 1 LINK! Large majorities (Resulting from the FPTP system) and unified governing parties, Strong whips make it less likely for backbenchers to rebel are less likely to oppose their government.

43
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is coalition/minority govs, what AO1 would you use? ISN’T EFFECTIVE

A

2010 coalition government only defeated 7 times over 5 years (despite not being single party government), It could be argued that May’s minority government was only defeated so often due to the contentious issue of Brexit, rather than the minority government.

44
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is coalition/minority govs, what AO1 would you use? IS EFFECTIVE

A

May’s minority government of 2017-2019 and Johnson’s takeover of this same, defeated 28 times in 2 years, MPs rejected Mays Brexit deal by a majority of 230 (the heaviest defeat for any PM) in Jan 2019, Johnson lost his first 12 votes in the Commons when he became PM in July 2019

45
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is Lords defeats of the gov, what AO1 would you use? IS EFFECTIVE

A

2015 The government proposed cut to tax credits payments which was rejected by the Lords and the government abandoned the proposal, 2020 The Lords forced the government to accept recommendations over devolved powers related to Brexit during debates of the Internal Market Bill, 2019-2021 Lords tabled 1768 amendments and made 197 of those, Rwanda bill amended 10 times, then 7 times

46
Q

Q is Is Parliament effective at its legislative function? Theme is Lords defeats of the gov, what AO1 would you use? ISN’T EFFECTIVE

A

Restricted by the Parliaments Acts (1911, 1949) to make amendments/delay (cannot block entirely) and can only delay for a year, unable to delay or block money bills
Lords tabled almost 2000 amendments from 2019-2021, only 197 made it into the bill.
Rwanda bill amendments rejected by the Commons

47
Q

How could parliament be said to be democratically representative?

A

Every MP represents a single constituency and won the vote in their area by a plurality, redress of grievances

48
Q

How could parliament be said NOT to be democratically representative?

A

FPTP - MPs elected without majority of votes, Clarkson won 43% of vote, Grundy won 46% of vote in 2019. Lords is unelected

49
Q

How could parliament be said to be socially representative?

A

Yes - 2019 most diverse ever. HoC 65 ethnic minority MPs, 46 openly LGTQ+, 34% of all MPs are women, 7.3% of the Lords in 2022 were ethnic minorities.

50
Q

How could parliament be said NOT to be socially representative?

A

Parliament still dominated by older, white MC men. Only 7.3% of Lords are ethnic minorities, it would be easier to change this chamber due to it being appointed.

51
Q

What is social/descriptive representation?

A

when parliament should look like the population

52
Q

why is descriptive/social representation important?

A

the policies made by a more socially representative parliament are more likely to represent the views and needs of more groups within the population. Legislation is less liekly to not consider or have a negative impact on minorities.

53
Q

What is the trustee model?

A

MPs have the political knowledge/experience and decide what they think is best for their constituency/the country.

54
Q

what is the nickname of the trustee model?

A

Burkean representation

55
Q

What is the delegate model?

A

MPS act as the messenger for their constituents so will carry out what the majority want
Their opinions may advise but they do not act on their own wishes, they do what their constituents want them to do

56
Q

what are the main arguments in favour of electing the HoL?

A

Removing the unelected and unaccountable nature of the HoL. Improving the lack of social representation in the Lords. Easier to reduce the number of peers (over 800 currently), removes issues of cronyism. Hereditary and spiritual peers are problematic as haven’t shown expertise many assume is a precurser for being in the Lords.

57
Q

what are the main arguments against electing the HoL?

A

Second elected chamber would potentially lead to gridlock. Gives parties too much control over who sits in legislature, they select the candidates rather than the people - maybe appointments process should just be reformed to improve social representation/remove ability of PM to appoint donors. Issue of appointing the government as both chambers have a mandate, unclear where the gov would come from and which bills should take precedent.

58
Q

When has the Lords significantly defeated the gov?

A

2015 - gov proposed to cut tax credits but Lords rejected the proposal. 2020 - Lords forced amendments to Internal Market Bill. 2023 - Lords defeated gov 20 times over both Online Safety Bill and Illegal Migration Bill.

59
Q

what si the legitimisation function of parliament?

A

Government can only act if parliament has confidence in them. All members of government must come from either HoC or HoL.

60
Q

what is primary legislation?

A

Legislation that has gone through parliament’s legislative process.

61
Q

What is secondary/delegated legislation?

A

Secondary - needs parliaments approval but doesn’t have to go through formal legislative process. Delegated - laws made by ministers/public bodies without the approval of parliament, parliament has previously granted approval to make these changes in statute laws (CX altering minimum wage).

62
Q

Why is question time a good form of scrutiny?

A

Accountability, media focus especially on PMQs. Can damage the reputation of a government (Sunak’s comments against trans community whilst Brianna Ghey’s mother sat and watched PMQs).

63
Q

why is question time not a good form of scrutiny?

A

PM’s can choose to not attend, by July 2023 Sunak has missed 19%. Soundbites not true scrutiny. Ministerial QT given little/no media attention and not attended well by backbenchers.

64
Q

Why are public bill committees a good form of scrutiny?

A

Scrutinise gov bills line by line and recommend amendments. Cross party attendance.

65
Q

why are public bill committees not a good form of scrutiny?

A

Weak - dominated by governing party and whips and reflect make up of the Commons, so gov party with majority dominates PBCs too. 99& of gov amendments pass, success rate for non-gov amendments is 1&. Partisan - MPs vote along party lines in committee votes.

66
Q

why is rebellion a good form of scrutiny?

A

Gov party bckbenchers rebelling keeps gov in line. Threat of rebellion can be significant - Sunak pulled a vote on Housing targets due to the threat of rebellion. Significant or continuous rebellion can force gov from power - May failed to get Brexit deal through, defeated 33 times.

67
Q

why is rebellion not a good form of scrutiny?

A

Rare outside of time of Brexit which is unusual political time. Need to have enough MPs to rebel for them to have impact and Con/Lab include too many factions for this to be effective. Sunak still passed Rwanda despite lots of threats, 8 Cons absteined form the vote rather than vote with La opposition.

68
Q

what is a VONC?

A

A vote of no confidence in HoC in the government. If the gov loses, a GE is triggered. DIFFERENT to a VONC in a party leader, which is purely an internal vote and does not lead to a GE automatically, instead a change in leadership.

69
Q

why are VONCs a good form of scrutiny?

A

Ultimate form of scrutiny as the House has power to remove the gov from power. 2019 May narrowly (1 vote) survived a VONC and stood down the next day.

70
Q

why are VONCs not a good form of scrutiny?

A

VERY rare - Last achieved in 1979 when Lab was ousted as Callaghan lost. MPs in governing party very unlikely to ever vote in favour of VONC, as that party usually has majority due to FPTP, they rarely ever happen.

71
Q

what is a select committee and what job does it do?

A

Committee of various party MPs that scrutinise the work of a single gov department. Cross party whips determine which party the chairs will belong to (in line with party representation in the Commons) after the Wright Reforms removing the influence of the executive from making appointments. Often produce unanimous reports, presented to Commons & receive publicity in the media. Can call witnesses to evidence gathering sessions

72
Q

List reasons that select committees are effective and ineffective

A

Effective: Detailed scrutiny, more independent as chairs are elected by whole house (legitimacy) after Wright reforms, reports are usually unanimous and gov depts tend to implement changes recommended. Ineffective: Still reflect party balance in HoC, tend to be ignored by media.

73
Q

what is the Liaison committee and what job does it do?

A

Consists of the chairs of departmental committees and chairs of other prominent committees
Oversees the work of select committees
Hold the Prime Minster to account
PM appears in front of this committee twice a year

74
Q

List reasons that Liaison committee is effective and ineffective

A

Effective: High profile previous appearances have given committee increased media attention e.g. Johnson being questioned as his Cabinet resigned. Jenkin (chair) has been independent and critical of Johnson despite him appointing him. Ineffective: Lack of power – PM can cancel appearances easily as seen by Johnson who first appeared in front of the committee in May 2020. Current chair Bernard Jenkin was an appointee insisted on by the government. Controversial as he isn’t the head of any other committee, and the purpose of the committee is to hold the PM to account suggesting that Johnson and the government wanted someone sympathetic to the PM in a role based on scrutiny and Jenkin has been criticised for his neutrality in the role.

75
Q

What is the Backbench business committee and what does it do?

A

• Established after the Wright Reforms in 2010 to redress the power imbalances of the government and Parliament, giving more time and authority to backbench MPs
• One day a week allocated to backbench business – decided on by the committee
• Involves discussion of petitions form Parliament’s website that have reached over 100,000 signatures
•Initiatives of one select committee
•Acting on a request by an MP or group of MPs, local/national campaigns

76
Q

List reasons that Backbench business committee is effective and ineffective

A

Effective: •Important debates have included… the impact of Covid on BAME communities, Brexit, improving cancer care, future of the BBC
•Biggest success? 2011 the committee discussed a petition about the Hillsborough disaster and the publication of secret documents. The debate resulted in the government releasing previously secret papers around the disaster and a new inquest and inquiries into Hillsborough. Ineffective: Little attention on debates.

77
Q

What is the Public Accounts committee and what does it do?

A

• Arguably the most influential of all committees
• Scrutinises ‘value for money, the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending and generally holds the government and its civil servants to account for the delivery of public services’
• Examines the collection of taxation
• Conducts investigation into how the government allocates funding to public services
• Can call witnesses (including ministers) to investigations who are obliged to attend

78
Q

List reasons that Public Accounts committee is effective.

A

Effective: • Chair is always a member of the opposition – currently Meg Hillier (Labour)
• Chair and members are elected by all MPs so not influenced by party leaders
• Members tend to act independently despite the government having a majority on the committee
• Reports often unanimous
• High media profile and is taken very seriously.

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