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Governing The UK Yr1 > Parliament 2 > Flashcards

Parliament 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Functions of parliament

A 
Legitimation
Scrutiny
Opposition / deliberation
Accountability
Representation
Reserve power
Financial control
Questions to ministers
Select committees
Private members' legislation
House of Lords
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2
Q

Example of a successful private members’ legislation

A

David Steel’s Abortion Act of 1967 - legalised abortion

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3
Q

Ways that MPs can hold the government to account

A

Forcing the government to justify their policies
Criticism of policies
Presentation of alternatives to the government’s proposals
Exposure of serious government mistakes

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4
Q

What are Reserve powers

A

Two powers that parliament rarely uses but nevertheless give it great authority.
The ability to veto government legislation
The ability to dismiss a government.

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5
Q

What are the specific Lord’s powers

A

Amending legislation - Proposed Lords amendments must be approved by the House of Commons, where the government dominates
Delaying legislation - (Parliament Act of 1949 states that if a bill is rejected in the Lords, it will automatically become law if the commons passes the same piece of legislation again the next year)

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6
Q

Reasons why the House of Lords is becoming more significant

A

Large government majorities (e.g 1997)
Reform gave HoL more authority
Relevant during the coalition
They protect Human Rights

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7
Q

Limitations of functions of parliament: Private members’ legislation

A

Government can easily reject bills and they often don’t gather enough support

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8
Q

Limitations of functions of parliament: Opposition / deliberation

A

Both houses lack enough time

Many MPs are whipped

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9
Q

Limitations of functions of parliament: Calling government to account

A

Collective responsibility makes it hard to scrutinise govt. decisions

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10
Q

Limitations of functions of parliament: Financial control

A

House of Lords has no jurisdiction at all

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11
Q

Limitations of functions of parliament: Representation

A

The electoral system makes the commons unrepresentative
House of Lords is unelected
Both houses are unrepresentative

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12
Q

Limitations of the House of Lords (Specific Lords’ power)

A

They can only delay an Act for one year

Proposed Lords’ amendments must be approved by the HoC, where the govt. dominates

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13
Q

Limitations of representation

A

Parliament is unrepresentative

Average MP has to represent 70,000

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14
Q

Limitations of scrutiny

A

Legislative committees are whipped and rarely defy the govt.

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15
Q

Limitations of legitimation

A

HoL os unelected so lacks authority

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16
Q

Limitations of reserve powers

A

MPs of governing party are unlikely to vote against govt. since they might lose their seats in an election

17
Q

Arguments that the govt. dominates parl.

A 
Govt. majorities
Party unity
PM patronage
Whips
Weakness of Lords
18
Q

Arguments that the govt. doesn’t dominate parl.

A

Small majorities
No majority or coalition
Strength of Lords
Rebel Backbenchers

19
Q

Arguments that the HoC is in greater need of reform

A

Unrepresentative
Lack of effective scrutiny
Executive dominates HoC

20
Q

Arguments that the HoL is in greater need of reform

A

Unelected appointments controlled by PM

Lords not accountable

21
Q

Reforms that have been made to the Commons

A

Elections (by mps) for members of departmental select committees
More powers to backbench MPs
Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011
Recall of Mps Act

22
Q

Reforms that have been made to the Lords

A

Removal of hereditary peers

Talented peers appointed

23
Q

Ways the House of Lords has become more significant

A

Large govt. majorities - HoL’s duty to bolster parliamentary opposition
Since reform, members take their role more seriously
Not hereditary- more authority
Coalition - (unelected) HoL - second opposition
Human rights

24
Q

Successes of Parliamentary reforms

A

Backbencher MPs have more controls (Backbench Business Committee)
Greater scrutiny of govt. depts (dept. select committees)
HoL modernised in 1999
Fixed term parliaments

25
Q

Failures of parliamentary reforms

A

HoL still unrepresentative

GE voting system

26
Q

What is a crossbencher

A

Members who have no party affiliation

27
Q

Restrictions on the House of Lords

A

Can delay passages of bulls for only one year under Parliament Act of 1949
Has no power over financial arrangements under Parliament act of 1911
Salisbury convention

28
Q

What are the next stages of HoL reform

A

Removal of the 92 hereditary peers

Elected second chamber

29
Q

Arguments for a fully elected second chamber

A

More democratic
Will eliminate corrupt practices in relation to appointments
Democratic balance against power of govt,
If elected proportionally, smaller parties will be better represented

30
Q

Arguments against a fully elected second chamber

A

It would mirror the commons and cause deadlock
Voter apathy
Powerful second chamber would lead to less decisive govt.

31
Q

Arguments for a fully appointed second chamber

A

Opportunity to bring people into the political process who would not wish to stand for election
Membership can be controlled to all major parties could be represented
Bring more independents into the political process

32
Q

Arguments against a fully appointed second chamber

A

Could put too much power into the hands of those responsible for appointing members
Undemocratic - not modern
Lacks legitimacy and public support since people have no say

33
Q

Explain the backbench business committee

A

Independently of govt., can table debates on over 20 days in the parl. year. - debates are often triggered by e-petitions

34
Q

Commons strengths

A

Ultimate power to remove a government from office
Can veto legislation
MPs can call ministers to account
Representation of constituencies and minority groups

35
Q

Commons weaknesses

A

Governments normally have a majority
MPs have insufficient time and support to be able to call government effectively to account
MPs have a limited role in developing legislation
Commons is not socially representative

Governing The UK Yr1 (13 decks)

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