Parliament 2

Question 1

What are the 5 key features of parliament?

Answer 1

Executive and legislative and fused

The legislative can dismiss the executive

Elections decide the government

Separate head of state

PM leads the executive branch

Question 2

What does bicameral mean in context to the legislature?

Answer 2

That’s there are two main chambers the commons and the lords
This provides greater scrutiny of the core executive however there is sometimes conflict between the two

Question 3

What are the two powers of parliament?

Answer 3

Parliamentary sovereignty

Motion of no confidence

Question 4

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 4

Parliament has absolute legal authority within the state.

Question 5

What is parliament

Answer 5

An assembly that has the power to debate and make laws

Question 6

What are ministers called and how many are there?

Answer 6

Frontbenchers

Around 100

Question 7

What are the roles of the whips?

Answer 7

Ensuring MPs attend decisions and making MPs vote with the party and enforcing discipline- threats to rebels

Question 8

What powers does the House of Lords have?

Answer 8

Delay acts for no more than a year (not money bills)

Proposing amendments to bills

Question 9

What is the parliament act and when is it used?

Answer 9

To pass bills that the lords does not except and they don’t want to amend

The hunting act 2004

Question 10

Why are there now only 92 hereditary peers?

Answer 10

The House of Lords act 1999- used to be 750 all unelected

Question 11

What is the impact having a larger amount of life peers in the House of Lords?

Answer 11

They are more active as many hereditary peers never came

They have experience and knowledge

They are more diverse 23% women in 2013

Question 12

What are the functions of parliament?

Answer 12

Legislation
Scrutiny 
Representation
Legitimacy 
Recruitment of ministers

Question 13

How does the executive/ government limit the effectiveness of scrutinising laws?

Answer 13

Government bills- private bills have very little chance of success without gov backing

Parliamentary time table- can curtail debates

The whip system

House of Lords hardly ever alters bills

Question 14

What 4 ways can the government be scrutinised?

Answer 14

Question time
The opposition
Debates
Select committees

Question 15

What does accountability mean?

Answer 15

The principle that the government but be held to account for their actions

Question 16

What happens during question time?

Answer 16

MP can question government, includes prime ministers question time which allows all leaders to hold them to account - however not v effective

Question 17

What is the Westminster model?

Answer 17

The traditional way that Britain should be governed with a representative and responsible government

Question 18

what is the Salisbury- Addison convention?

Answer 18

That the lords cannot reject bills that for full a parties manifesto

Question 19

What was the peerages act and when?

Answer 19

Allows lords to renounce their titles 1963 when lard Douglas-home wanted to be PM

Question 20

What is a public bill?

Answer 20

Introduced by a government minister- concerning public policy

Question 21

What is a private members bill?

Answer 21

A bill introduced by a backbench MP

Question 22

How does the opposition scrutinise the government?

Answer 22

Opposing government legislation in divisions

To appear as a alternative government

Question 23

When can the opposition scrutinise the government?

Answer 23

On the 20 opposition days when they can choose the topic of discussion each year

Question 24

How are select committees made?

Answer 24

Through an alternative vote system with the MPs and they elect backbenchers- used to be chosen by whips

Question 25

Are select committees good at scrutinising the government, agree:

Answer 25

Have detailed examinations of controversial issues

40% recommendations are accepted by government

The election method is much better than before

Question 26

What are select committees not good at scrutinising the government?

Answer 26

Can have party bias is the government has a majority

Government can ignore what they say

Some members do not attend

Question 27

How does the government ensure the representation of women?

Answer 27

They have all women short lists for some constituencies in labour and priority lists for conservatives

Question 28

What is a recent reform of the House of Commons?

Answer 28

The fixed term parliament act 2011

Question 29

Reasons why the House of Lords should be fully elected?

Answer 29

More legitimacy for decisions

If it was proportional it would challenge the dominance of the executive

More representative

Question 30

Reasons why it’s best if the House of Lords is not fully elected?

Answer 30

Conflict with the commons would increase- both claim to be demo and legislative deadlock

The problems of party control may continue in the lords