Parliament 2 Flashcards
What are the 5 key features of parliament?
Executive and legislative and fused
The legislative can dismiss the executive
Elections decide the government
Separate head of state
PM leads the executive branch
What does bicameral mean in context to the legislature?
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
What are the two powers of parliament?
Parliamentary sovereignty
Motion of no confidence
What is parliamentary sovereignty?
Parliament has absolute legal authority within the state.
What is parliament
An assembly that has the power to debate and make laws
What are ministers called and how many are there?
Frontbenchers
Around 100
What are the roles of the whips?
Ensuring MPs attend decisions and making MPs vote with the party and enforcing discipline- threats to rebels
What powers does the House of Lords have?
Delay acts for no more than a year (not money bills)
Proposing amendments to bills
What is the parliament act and when is it used?
To pass bills that the lords does not except and they don’t want to amend
The hunting act 2004
Why are there now only 92 hereditary peers?
The House of Lords act 1999- used to be 750 all unelected
What is the impact having a larger amount of life peers in the House of Lords?
They are more active as many hereditary peers never came
They have experience and knowledge
They are more diverse 23% women in 2013
What are the functions of parliament?
Legislation Scrutiny Representation Legitimacy Recruitment of ministers
How does the executive/ government limit the effectiveness of scrutinising laws?
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
What 4 ways can the government be scrutinised?
Question time
The opposition
Debates
Select committees
What does accountability mean?
The principle that the government but be held to account for their actions
What happens during question time?
MP can question government, includes prime ministers question time which allows all leaders to hold them to account - however not v effective
What is the Westminster model?
The traditional way that Britain should be governed with a representative and responsible government
what is the Salisbury- Addison convention?
That the lords cannot reject bills that for full a parties manifesto
What was the peerages act and when?
Allows lords to renounce their titles 1963 when lard Douglas-home wanted to be PM
What is a public bill?
Introduced by a government minister- concerning public policy
What is a private members bill?
A bill introduced by a backbench MP
How does the opposition scrutinise the government?
Opposing government legislation in divisions
To appear as a alternative government
When can the opposition scrutinise the government?
On the 20 opposition days when they can choose the topic of discussion each year
How are select committees made?
Through an alternative vote system with the MPs and they elect backbenchers- used to be chosen by whips
Are select committees good at scrutinising the government, agree:
Have detailed examinations of controversial issues
40% recommendations are accepted by government
The election method is much better than before
What are select committees not good at scrutinising the government?
Can have party bias is the government has a majority
Government can ignore what they say
Some members do not attend
How does the government ensure the representation of women?
They have all women short lists for some constituencies in labour and priority lists for conservatives
What is a recent reform of the House of Commons?
The fixed term parliament act 2011
Reasons why the House of Lords should be fully elected?
More legitimacy for decisions
If it was proportional it would challenge the dominance of the executive
More representative
Reasons why it’s best if the House of Lords is not fully elected?
Conflict with the commons would increase- both claim to be demo and legislative deadlock
The problems of party control may continue in the lords
