Parliament

Question 1

What is a parliament?

Answer 1

An assembly that has the power to debate and make laws

Question 2

What is the legislature?

Answer 2

The branch of government responsible for passing laws.

Question 3

What is the Head of State?

Answer 3

The chief public representative of a country such as a monarch or president.

Question 4

Features of a parliamentary government

Answer 4

Legislative and executive branches are fused.
Parliament can dismiss government through vote of no confidence.
Power is exercised collectively within the executive branch.
Head of the executive is no the head of state.

Question 5

Features of a presidential government

Answer 5

Clear separation of powers between executive and legislative branches.
Legislature cannot dismiss the president except in special circumstances.
Power in the executive is concentrated in the office of president.
President is directly elected by the people.
Head of state.

Question 6

What does the ‘Westminster model’ entail?

Answer 6

Traditional framework of British politics.
Features include: parliamentary sovereignty.
Uncodified constitution.
Cabinet government.
FPTP.
2 party system.
unitary state.

Question 7

What does a representative government mean?

Answer 7

Government actions take place through parliament where decisions are taken by elected representatives of the people.

Question 8

What does a responsible government mean?

Answer 8

Government is accountable to parliament for its actions and accountable to the people through elections

Question 9

The UK has a bicameral legislature. What does the term bicameralism mean?

Answer 9

A political system in which there are two chambers in the legislature. Lower house is usually elected (House of Commons) tends to be dominant.

Question 10

What does parliamentary sovereignty mean?

Answer 10

The doctrine that parliament has absolute legal authority within the state. There is not higher authority and it may no bind its successors. Undermined by EU and devolution.

Question 11

Composition of the House of Commons

Answer 11

Frontbencher - MP who holds ministerial or shadow ministerial position.
Backbencher - An MP who does not hold ministerial or shadow ministerial position.
Division - a vote in parliament
Whip - Responsible for MPs turning up to votes and issue instructions from political parties.

Question 12

Features of the House of Lords

Answer 12

Unelected chamber
Can delay bills for up to one year but more often propose amendments.
Unelected

Question 13

What was the House of Lords act 1999?

Answer 13

All but 92 hereditary peers were removed from the house of lords. Previously there had been 750 hereditary peers.

Question 14

The monarchy’s role in parliament

Answer 14

Give royal assent in final stage of legislative process.
Appointing the prime minister.
Bringing a parliament to an end.
Queen’s speech opens a new parliamentary session.

Question 15

Functions of parliament

Answer 15

Legislation, scrutiny and accountability, representation, recruitment of ministers, legitimacy

Question 16

Legislation

Answer 16

Bill - legislative proposal that has yet to complete the process.
Act - a legislative proposal that has completed process.
Public bill - a bill concerning a general issue of public policy, introduced by a government minister
Green paper - document setting out various options for legislation and inviting comment
White paper - a government setting out a detailed proposal for legislation.

Question 17

What is a private members bill?

Answer 17

A bill sponsored by a backbench MP

Question 18

Secondary legislation

Answer 18

Law made by ministers who have been granted access by a parliamentary act rather than parliament.

Question 19

Processes of scrutiny

Answer 19

Question time
The opposition
Debates
Select committees

Question 20

Name examples of select committees

Answer 20

Public accounts committee
Standards and privileges committee 
Modernisation committee
Liaison committee
Political and constitutional affairs committee