Parliament Flashcards
Who composes Parliament?
House of Commons
House of Lords
Monarch
How many members are in the House of Commons?
650 MPs
Types of Membership in the House of Lords
Hereditary Peers
Life Peers
Lords Spiritual
Law Lords
What is a Hereditary Peer?
A title that passes down through the family, usually to the first born son (e.g., Duke, Baron)
How many Hereditary Peers are you allowed to have in the House of Lords?
92
What are Life Peers
“Barons” appointed by the Monarch on advice of the PM.
They are appointed for life, the title extinguishes upon death and is not descendable.
How many Life Peers are appointed?
By convention, appointments are proportional to the share of the vote each party got in the previous election.
Who are the Lords Spiritual?
The most senior 26 bishops of the Church of England
What are Law Lords?
Some members who remain in the House of Lords from before the Supreme Court was created.
How long can Parliament last?
5 years, split into sessions
How long does a Session last?
Usually 12 months
When are General Elections held?
Generally 25 working days after dissolution of Parliament
When must Parliament be dissolved
Parliament must be dissolved 5 years after the date it first meets, but the monarch can end it earlier through the royal prerogative.
Steps in the legislative process
- First Reading
- Second Reading
- Committee Stage
- Report Stage
- Third Reading
- Consideration of Amendments
- Royal Assent
What happens in the First Reading
Formal introduction of the bill into the chamber. Government publishes the text of the bill with explanatory notes.
What happens in the Second Reading
First opportunity for the bill to be debated. Takes place in HoC and all MPs can choose to participate.
What happens in the Committee Stage
The bill is scrutinized line by line, amendments are suggested and (if approved) are added to the bill.
Two main forms of Committee:
- Public Bill Committee
- Committee of the Whole House
What is a Public Bill Committee
When between 16 and 30 MPs consider the bill, in proportion to their seats in the main chamber.
What is a Committee of the Whole House
When ALL MPs consider either uncontroversial, urgent, or constitutionally important bills.
This is done in the Commons chamber.
What happens in the Report Stage
The bill is received from the committee and reconsidered in the chamber. MPs can raise concerns and further amendments can be made.
What happens on the Third Reading
Final review of the bill before it is sent to the other house, who will start their first reading of the bill.
In the House of Lords, this is the last chance to make amendments
How is the power of the House of Lords restricted?
- The Salisbury Convention
- Suspensory Veto (Parliament Acts 1911-1949)
What is the Salisbury Convention?
If an elected government made a commitment in their manifesto, the House of Lords MUST grant a second reading to the bill and will not otherwise block the legislation.
NOTE: They can still make amendments to the bill
What is a Suspensory Veto?
A Bill MUST be sent for Royal Assent if:
1) A Bill was granted at least a second reading by the HoC
2) That bill gets rejected by the HoL
3) That bill is reintroduced to the HoC in the next session
4) At least one year has passed from the initial second reading before the bill gets to it’s third reading on reintroduction
5) It is then blocked again by the HoL
When does an Act of Parliament take legal effect?
After Royal Assent is given, the Act will come into effect either on (i) the date given by the Commencement Provision, or (ii) if no commencement provision, immediately.
What is a Commencement Provision?
A provision in an Act of Parliament that gives the government power to bring the legislation into force at a later date.
They are a type of secondary legislation.
How is Secondary Legislation enacted?
- Negative Resolution Procedure
- Affirmative Resolution Procedure
What is Negative Resolution Procedure
When a draft of secondary legislation is published before the HoC and HoL, and will take effect on the stated date unless either house votes to reject it within 40 days.
No amendments to the draft can be made.
What is Affirmative Resolution Procedure
When a draft of secondary legislation is published before the HoC and HoL, and BOTH houses vote in favor of the legislation.
It can be debated by the HoC whether to vote in favor of it, but no amendments can be made.
HoL CAN block this secondary legislation (i.e., the suspensory veto does not apply to secondary legislation)
What are Henry VIII Powers
The government may make minor amendments to primary legislation.
If they tried to make major changes, it would be very controversial as violating the separation of powers.
What is the Sub Judicie Rule
Requires that MPs do not refer to cases which are currently before the courts during debates.
This is an exception to Parliamentary Privilege.
