Parliament

Question 1

Three parts of Parliament

Answer 1

The House of Commons
The House of Lords
The monarchy

Question 2

What are the powers of the House of Commons

Answer 2

Legislative power

Can remove the government of the day

Question 3

Composition of the House of Lords

Answer 3

Life peers
Hereditary peers
Lords spiritual

Question 4

Powers of the House of Lords

Answer 4

Delay bills passed by the House of Commons for up to one year

Question 5

Powers of the monarchy

Answer 5

Appointing govt
Opening and dismissing Parliament
Queens speech
The royal assent

Question 6

Functions of Parliament

Answer 6

Legislation
Representation
Scrutiny
Recruitment and training 
Legitimacy

Question 7

Problems with parliaments legislative function

Answer 7

Only a small need of bills are initiated by backbenchers

Government bills are rarely defeated

The lords play a subordinate role in the legislative function

Question 8

Problems with representation

Answer 8

House of Lords is unelected

Fptp

MPs and peers are socially unrepresentative

Question 9

Problems with scrutiny

Answer 9

As the majority of MPs in the House of Commons belong to the governing party, their primary role is to support the govt of the day

Question time is often weak and ineffective

Question 10

How Parliament calls ministers to account

Answer 10

Question time

Select committees

Debates and ministerial statements

The opposition

written questions and letters

Question 11

Problems with select committees

Answer 11

The govt has a majority on each of these committees

Select committees have I executive power

Question 12

What effects Parliaments relationship to government

Answer 12

Extent of party unity
Size of majority
Advent of coalition govt
Impact of lords

Question 13

How is party unity maintained

Answer 13

The whipping system
Promotion prospects
Ideological unity

Question 14

Commons reforms under Blair

Answer 14

Prime ministers questions once a week

Liaison committee scrutiny

Freedom of information act 2000

Question 15

What is bicameralism

Answer 15

The theory or practice of breaking up legislative power through the creation of two chambers

Question 16

Arguments for an elected second chamber

Answer 16

Democratic legitimacy
Wider representation
Better legislation
Checking the commons
Ending executive tyranny

Question 17

Arguments against an elected second chamber

Answer 17

Specialist knowledge
Gridlocked govt
Complementary chambers
Dangers of partisanship
Descriptive representation