Parliament Flashcards
What makes up Parliament
House Of Commons - 650 MPS
House of Lords - Around 785 mostly life peers
Monarchy - Mostly ceremonial and symbolic
What are BackBench and Frontbench MPS?
BackBench: An MP who does not hold a ministerial or’ shadow ministerial post; they tend to sit on the back benches in the H of C
Frontbench: MPs who hold ministerial positions in the government .
Describe the composition of the House of Lords
LIFE PEERS- entitled to sit in the lords for their own lifetimes. Appointed by the Prime Minster with some recommendations from the opposition. Some appointed by the House of Lords Appointment commission. Make up the majority of the H of L
HEREDITARY PEERS - They inherit the right to sit in the H of L. Under the 1999 House of Lords Act all but 92 hereditary peers were removed.
LORDS SPIRITUAL - Bishops and archbishops of the Church of England. There are 26 in total, appointed by PM wth recommendation from the Church of England. When they retire their position, it is passed on to the next most senior bishop.
What powers do the House Of Commons have/no have?
They have supreme legislative power.
In theory they can make, unarmed and amend any law it wishes with the Lords only able to delay them.
Legal sovereignty of parliament is exercised by the H of C (Subject only to EU laws and treaties)
They can removed the government of the day according to the convention of collective ministerial responsibility
Explain what the Parliament Act (1911) and the Parliament Act (1949) are.
1911: Restricted the power of the Lords to delaying bills for up to 2 years and completely prevented the lords from blocking money bills’- any laws to do with taxation and public spending.
Money Bills were now predominately for the commons.
1949: Further reduced the power of the Lords by limiting the power to delay to 1 year.
What functions do the Monarch carry out?
Appointing a government - Queen chooses PM who In turn, appoints ministers.
Opening and dismissing Parliament - Opening of parliament in late October/November and dismiss P at the request of the PM for the general election
The Queen’s speech - Speech delivered at the beginning of each parliamentary session, which informs Parliament of the governments legislative programme, and is written by the Prime Minister.
Royal Assent - Final stage of the legislative process, whereby the Queen signs a bill to make it an Act. More formality as by convention.
Still acts as the head of the state.
Conventions means these are largely ceremonial - the monarch doesn’t exercise that much power.
Name the key functions of Parliament
Represent Legislate Recruitment of Minsters Scrutinise Legitimacy
Explain what Party Whips are.
Explain what the ‘Carrot’ and ‘Stick’ are.
Must enforce discipline within the party - make sure the party’s backbench MPs vote alongside the front benchers
Issue weekly instructors a ‘three line whip’ on important votes that must be attended and follow the party line
‘ Carrot ‘ Try to persuade the MPs that the government position is corrected tempt them with the prospect of a promotion into a ministerial position
‘Stick’ Threaten MPS with losing any chance of promotion, or even ‘withdraw the whip’ which means expelling them from the party.
Explain the Role of The Speaker?
How are they elected?
- Elected by MPs following a general election or if the previous speaker resigns or dies
- Must sever all ties to their political party and act completely impartially
- Calls members to speak in the Chamber - a vital role for ensuring the debates run smoothly
- Must maintain a balance between the different groups who wish to speak: The government will want enough opportunities to explain their actions, while the opposing and backbencher should will want enough chances to question and scrutinise governments actions.
- Presides over the House of Commons and ensures that the rules out in ‘Erskine May’ Parliamentary practice are followed.
- Need the support of 12 MPs (3 from a different political party)
- MPS vote for their preferred candidate, candidates with fewer than 5% are eliminated, this is repeated until one candidate gains a majority.
Explain what a Constitutional Monarch is?
Where the Monarch acts as the head of state but is restricted by the constitution - primarily a ceremonial and symbolic role.
What is Green Paper?
A government document that sets out various different ideas and options for a bill - designed to provoke debate and outside impact.
What is the White Paper?
A government document that sets out concrete intentions and plans for an upcoming bill - still invites comment and outside input
Explain the 5 stages of the Law making process in the UK
FIRST READING Mostly a formality - Title of the Bill is read out but there is no debate vote at this stage.
SECOND READING - First debate on the Bill, gov minister responsible for the Bill makes a statement followed by comments from the opposition. MPS foe on whether the Bill should progress to the next stage (Gov never usually defeated at this stage)
COMMITTEE STAGE - Temporary committed named after the Bill scrutinise the bill (16 to 0 members) Proportion of members reflects strength in the commons. Amendments to the bill ca be made at this stage. Finance bills are dealt with by the Floor of the H of C
REPORT STAGE - Where any amendments made by the Public Bill Committee can be accepted or reject by the H of C. MPs can also propose new amendments to the bill.
THIRD READING - Final Debate on the Bill - more focuses than earlier debates because o further amendments can be made. House votes on whether to approve this their reading (Unusual to be drafted at the third stage)
ROAL ASSENT/COSIDERATION - Bills then go through the same process in the other House depending on where it starts ad then is given the Royal Assent
Name the 3 ways that BackBench MPS can introduce a new Bill
Private Member Bills; A bill proposed by an MP who isn’t part of the government
BALLOT BILLS; At the beginning of the Parliamentary year, MPs who wish to introduce a PMB enter their names and 20 names are selected at random. Order of name equates to the priority of timetabling PMB debates.
TEN MINUTE RULE BILLS - MPs make a short speech of no more than 10 minutes outlining their proposal Bill after Question Time. If the house agrees, the Bill will have its first reading. Seen more as a process of raising awareness for an issue.
PRESENTATION BILLS - This final method has the least chance of success and is primarily use to spark an interest or debate on a articulate subject - Members introduce the title of their Bill but they are not allowed to speak about it. Stands little chance of progressing to the next stage unless the gov takes interest in it.
Name some laws Introduced by Backbench MPS
Murder Act (1965) - Abolished the death penalty Abortion Act (1967) Legalised abortion and regulated the availability for abortions through the NHS Sexual Offences Act (1967) - Decriminlasised homosexual acts in private where both men were 21 or older Autism Act (2009) - Advanced the care given to people with autism,
Explain why Parliament function of legislation has been questioned
Only a small number of PMBs are successful (usually when the government has support)
Party controls Of the H of C means that government bills are rarely defeated, and most amendments affects the details of the legislation, not it’s major principles.
The Lords play a subordinate role in the legislative process. It is essentially a ‘revising chamber’ most of time is spent cleaning up bills not adequately scrutinised in the commons.
Government can vote in favour of legislation - gives over 120 votes
Explain the 2012 House of Lords
A bill proposed by the 2010 Coalition gov of Con-Lib Dem
IT proposed to make the majority of the House Of Lords an elected chamber
Despite the proposals being mentioned in both of the parties being mentioned in their party manifesto the bill failed to pass.
Their was opposition within the Conservative party.
How can Parliament call the government to account?
Opposition/Supply Days - 20 days are reserved for the opposition to set the agenda (April 2009, Labour gov defeated in opposition day over rights for Gurkhas to settle in the UK)
PMQS/QT - Ever Wednesday for 30 minutes, PM is questioned by the leader of the opposition. Government ministers also answer questions by MPs, (Each dept. Features in a 4 week cycle)
Departmental Committee - Scrutinise gov policy. There are 32, which shadow the work of each major gov departments. Carry out inquires and and write reports, questioning gov ministers.
LIASON COMITTE - Contains the chair of each SC - Oversees the work of select committees and decides which reports will be debated in the H of C
DEBATES AND MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS - Gov policy can be examined through legislative debates
WRITTEN LETTERS/QUESTIONS - Letters can be written to Ministers by MPS
Why has the effectiveness of Parliament in scrutinising the executive been questioned?
MPs that belong to the governing party prime role is to support the government rather than scrutinise and embarrass it.
Question time is see as weak and ineffective;
- Used more to embarrass minsters than to subject them to scrutiny.
- Seen as theoretical and not an effective form of scrutiny.
What are the weaknesses of select committees?
The government has a majority on each of these committees
Individual committee appointments are influenced by the whips, who ensure that loyal backbenchers sit on key committees
They have no executive powers, they can criticise gov policy but they cannot change it - about 44% of recommendations made by SC are enacted by the government.
Give some examples that show their is a lack of descriptive representation in Parliament
H of C: - 6% ethnic minorities - 29% women - Average age 50 years old - 33% privately educated H of L - 25% women - 5 from ethnic minorities - 50% privately educated - Average age 70 years old
