Parliament Flashcards
How many MPs are elected?
650
Who sits on the front benches?
Members of the government and the senior members of the opposition
What is the membership of the House of Lords?
92 hereditary peers
26 archbishops and bishops from Church of England
Several hundred life peers
What committee does the Commons have that the Lords doesn’t?
Departmental select committees
Joint functions of both houses [4]
Granting formal approval for legislation
Calling government to account
Scrutinising legislation and proposing amendments
Debating key political issues
Functions only of the Commons [4]
Represent constituencies
MPs may seek redress of grievances
Veto legislation that’s against the national interest
Remove a government if it has lost legitimacy
Functions only of the Lords [3]
Delay legislation for up to a year
Represent interests and causes in society
Propose amendments to improve legislation and protect minorities
What is parliamentary government [5]
No separation of powers
Government draws its authority from Parliament
Government is accountable to Parliament
Government isn’t separately elected from Parliament
Government members must sit in Parliament
What is Presidential government [5]
Separation of powers between executive and legislature
President elected separately from legislature
President not accountable to the legislature
President doesn’t sit in the legislature
Constitution notes limitations on presidential power
Why does Parliament lack the legitimacy to oppose the government
It has a mandate from the people
Why are MPs loyal? [3]
Elected due to the party manifesto
Controlled by the whips
Patronage
What limits the House of Lords influence? [2]
1949 Parliamentary act - can only delay legislation for up to a year
Salisbury convention
Why can parliament veto legislation
Parliament is sovereign
How could the Commons remove a government
Through a vote of no confidence
Why can the Lords defy the will of the government
They are independent of a government majority and patronage is weaker
What happened to the 2005 detention of terrorist suspects legislation
Blairs attempts to extend period a terrorist could be held without trial to 90 days was blocked by the House of Commons
What happened to the 2008 detention of terrorist suspects legislation
Browns attempts to increase the period to 42 days was blocked by the House of Lords
Features of Departmental Select Committees [5]
11-13 backbench MPs
Oversee work of government departments
Can question ministers, civil servants etc
Produce reports that are unanimous and cross party lines
Often critical of governments work and are influential
Features of Public Accounts Committee [3]
Always chaired by an opposition backbencher
Investigates financial aspects of government
Often highly critical
Legislative Committees in the HoC [5]
15-40 backbench MPs Always have government majority Look at proposed legislation and offer amendments Rarely defy the will of the government Seen as largely ineffective
Legislative Committees in the HoL [6]
15+ members
Peers involved are experts in the field
Independent of party control
Propose amendments to improve legislation and protect minorities
Amendments must be approved by the Commons
Often defy the governments wishes
Why is the commons not representative? [2Y/1N]
Not socially representative. Middle class men, with few women or ethnic minorities. Large parties over represented
Very active in representing constituents
How often does the Liaison Committee question the Prime Minister?
Twice a year
Why is the Commons not effective in calling government to account
PMQs is a media sideshow
MPs are reluctant to criticise ministers due to being seen as disloyal
Why is legislating in the Commons seen as weak?
Procedures are ancient and inefficient
Pros and cons of deliberation in the Commons
Strength - Very strong at debating key issues eg. seen in Syrian Air strikes debate 2015
Have little time to debate due to the crowded programme
Is the Lords representative?
Yes - represent sections of society that peers have direct links with
No - represent no one as they’re accountable to no one. Few women or ethnic minorities
Is the Lords effective in calling government to account?
Yes - peers are independent minded
No - no DSC
Is scrutiny effective in the Lords
Peers are independent and are highly knowledgable. More time than MPs
Can’t force amendments through as they must be approved by the Commons
Why is the Lords not effective in legislating
Unelected so can’t provide legitimation to legislation
Pros and cons of deliberation in the Lords
Has more time and has a vast well of knowledge and expertise
Due to lack of legislating powers, debates can be seen as largely symbolic
How are MPs effective [4]
Strongly represent interest of constituents
DSC have a good reputation of calling government to account
MPs can be effective in questioning ministers
Some independent minded MPs work effectively on behalf of pressure groups
How are MPs not effective [5]
When constituents and party policy conflicts, party policy normally wins
MPs on legislative committees are controlled by whips
Whips enforce strict party discipline
MPs have little research resources
Little time reserved for backbench business
How are Peers effective [4]
Independent of party control
Expert in a specific field
Act effectively on behalf of pressure groups
Don’t fight elections or have constituency duties
How aren’t peers effective [4]
Have minimum research resources
Powers of the House of Lords are limited
Peers lack democratic legitimacy due to being unelected
Not professional politicians so may struggle to access the political system
2010 reforms to House of Commons [2]
Backbench business committee set up
Chair of departmental select committees elected by backbench MPs only
How many days per year does the Backbench business committee control?
27
Proposed reforms of the House of Commons in 2010? [3]
House of Commons business committee set up to control business of the house
Constituency boundaries redrawn to be equal
Constituents have ability to recall MP
Why were these reforms proposed in 2010 to the House of Commons [4]
Widespread disillusionment with politics (Expenses 2009)
Make the HoC more accountable
Increase ability for backbench MPs to call government to account
Make voting powers more equal
Pros of abolishing the second chamber [4]
- save money
- make legislation process faster
- remove obstructions from efficient government
- make the HoC more responsible
Disadvantages of abolishing second chamber [3]
Important check on government power lost
Deny worthy individuals chance to engage in politics
Expertise of peers lost
Advantages of fully appointed second chamber [3]
Many useful, knowledgable people could be brought into politics
Chance to ensure the chamber is socially and politically balanced
More independent than an elected chamber
Disadvantages of a fully appointed chamber [2]
Too much patronage power to the hands of party leaders
Still undemocratic
Advantages of a fully elected second chamber [4]
Most democratic solution
Members fully accountable
Provide a more effective check on government power
If elected by PR, it would accurately show party support in the UK
Disadvantages of a fully elected second chamber [3]
Could excessively obstruct government
Unnecessary to have two elected chambers
Voters could become apathetic due to too many elections
Who is the speaker of the Lords?
Peter Fowler
What government was removed in 1979?
Callaghans Labour government due to the Winter of Discontent
What did the 1911 Parliament Act state?
The lords can’t interfere in financial legislation
Eg. Tax Credit Cuts 2015
How was the 1986 Shops Bill rejected?
Thatcher underestimated the strength of the Tory opposition
Would’ve allowed more shops to open on a Sunday
Give an example of a report from a Commons select committee [2]
Culture, Media and Sport launched an inquiry into fake news (Jan 17)
Health released a document surrounding education in Young people’s mental health (May 2017)
Who currently chairs the Public Accounts Committee?
Meg Hillier (Labour)
Is the Commons good at checking Government power? [1/1]
Retains power to veto legislation
Party loyalty and discipline means the governments rarely lose an important vote
Why is Scrutiny weak in the commons?
MPs have little time to thoroughly scrutinise
Don’t act independently due to whips
Impact of EU membership on parliament [5]
EU law superior to UK law
Some legislation areas passed to EU jurisdiction
EU legislation consideration takes place in Lords (more time)
EU specific committees set up, thought these have little influence
UK could leave the EU!
Who chairs the Backbench Business Committee
Ian Mearns
What key reports have the Backbench Business Committee compiled?
Recent debate on Yemen crisis
War in Afghanistan 2010
Hillsborough
What plans were introduced for redrawing constituency boundaries?
Reduce from 650 to 600
Would’ve increased the 2015 majority of Tories from 12 to 38
What politicians support these view of the Lords
1) Abolish
2) Appointed
3) Elected
4) Appointed/Elected
1) Socialists
2) Tories, would bring more worthy people into politics
3) Lib Dem, some Labour. Most democratic solution
4) Some Tories and Labour. Range from 50E-50A to 80E-20A
What report did the Treasury committee release in 2012?
Publicised methods used by large corporations to avoid paying tax eg. Starbucks
What are PMBs, give an example
Private Members Bills
Chosen by ballot each year and debated, though most are blocked by the government
- Forced Marriage Acts 2007 passed - couples can marry anywhere
