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