Parliament Flashcards
How many seats did the conservatives win in 2010?
306
How many seats were there in the 2010 election?
650
How many seats did labour win in 2010?
258
How many seats did lib Dems win in 2010?
57
How many seats did the Green Party get in 2010?
1
What was the average age of MPs in 2010?
50
What percentage of MPs in 1987 were women?
6%
What percentage of MPs in 2010 were women?
22%
In 2010 what percentage of the commons were ethnic minorities?
4%
What is the resemblance theory of representation?
The theory that the legislature should be typical of the communities that they serve
What two arguments are there that resemblance is important in parliament?
- A more representative commons will better understand issues facing communities
- Ethnic minorities would have more faith in the legislature
What are the two arguments that resemblance is not important in the commons?
- Some constituents will always be represented by people who are unlike them
- A good MP will represent all constituents to the best of their ability, irrespective of race, gender or age
How many conservative MPs were in the House of Lords before the 1999 reform act?
471 peers to labours 179
What did the large conservative majority in the House of Lords mean for politics?
Many argued that hereditary peers only attended when they were needed to block radical legislation
What happened to the Tory stronghold over the House of Lords after 1999?
More labour peers were appointed, significantly weakening the Tories presence in the house and changing the chamber significantly
