Parliament

Question 1

what is the source of the executive?

Answer 1

executive emerges from the legislative (fusion of powers)

Question 2

what is the survival of the executive?

Answer 2

executive can be dismissed by the legislative through a vote of no confidence.

Question 3

what is the nature of the executive?

Answer 3

executive is collegial. PM is first among equals- ‘Primus Inter Pares’

Question 4

who is the head of state?

Answer 4

the monarch- the queen

Question 5

who is the head of government?

Answer 5

the Primeminister

Question 6

what is parliamentary government?

Answer 6

a form of constitutional democracy in which executive authority emerges from, and is responsible to, legislate authority- Armend Lijphout.

Question 7

what does Bicameral mean? does the UK’s parliament have it?

Answer 7

two houses/chambers. yes the UK has it.

Question 8

what are the 5 functions of parliament?

Answer 8

legislation, representation, scrutiny and oversight, recruitment & training of ministers and legitimacy.

Question 9

what is parliaments function on legislation?

Answer 9

parliament can make any law.

Question 10

what is parliaments function on representation?

Answer 10

parl’ allows single MP’s to represent the views and beliefs on behalf of their constituency.

Question 11

what is parliaments function on scrutiny and oversight?

Answer 11

check or constrains the Gov through PM’s questions and select committees.

Question 12

what is parliaments function on recruitment & training of ministers.

Answer 12

Parl’ provides the training ground for ministers.

Question 13

what is parliaments function on legitimacy?

Answer 13

Parl’ confers the legitimacy of the Gov’s actions

Question 14

What is a private members bill? Do they provide representation in parliament?

Answer 14

Bills introduced to parliament by an MP who is not acting on behalf of the executive.
Gov business gets priority, therefore only a few slots available for private members bills.- the only chance to win is through a raffle.
Another way is first come first serve- first in line to the ‘public bill office’
-mp’s are very unlikely to get their bills passed.

Question 15

What powers do the House of Commons have on legislation?

Answer 15

They can pass any legislation without the consent of the lords.
This is through the parliament act 1949 and the Salisbury convention.

Question 16

What powers do the House fo lords on legislation?

Answer 16

They can only delay bills passed by the Commons for up to 1 year. They can also propose amendments to bills in the committee stage. They do this as a whole whereas the Commons do it as a small committee (around 20 MP’s)

Question 17

What powers do the Commons have on financial matters?

Answer 17

They can claim financial privilege, which is when the lords pass an amendment to legislation that has financial implications.
They have exclusive authority to pass a budget.

Question 18

What powers do the lords have on financial matters?

Answer 18

Lords cannot delay or amend money bills.

Question 19

What powers do the Commons have on sustaining the government?

Answer 19

They have the power to dismiss the executive as they are allowed to vote in a vote of no confidence.

Question 20

What powers do the lords have on sustaining the government?

Answer 20

They are unable to dismiss the executive as they aren’t allowed to vote in a vote if no confidence.- because they are unelected.
However they can still scrutinise the government.

Question 21

How ave the lords become more assertive?

Answer 21

1) Gov’ lacks a majority in the lords as Blair removed most of the hereditary peers, which were mainly conservative, so they lost their built in majority.
2) lower levels of party discipline as there are less carrots and sticks for the whips to use.
3) crossbenchers
4) the lords may feel more legitimate since the lords act of 1999 so are more willing to question the mandate of a gov’, particularly those elected on a low vote share.

Question 22

What are crossbenchers?

Answer 22

Peers that sit in the middle of the house and don’t belong to a party. They are ‘independent’

Question 23

How many public accounts committees are there? When was it set up? What is it’s role?

Answer 23

There is only one
Set up in 1861
It examines the public finances.

Question 24

What types of investigations do the PAC conduct?

Answer 24

Investigate into various aspects of the governments finance, particularly how it allocated and spends money on public services.

Question 25

What is the main role of the backbench business committee?

Answer 25

To determine what issues should be debated on the one day a week allocated to backbench committee.

Question 26

What are departmental select committees?

Answer 26

A way in which parliament can hold government to account. Each of the 19 committees investigate the work of a government department.

Question 27

What is membership like in departmental select committees?

Answer 27

Varies between 11 and 14, in 19 committees. They are backbench MP’s

Question 28

What are some of the reasons for the departmental select committees effectiveness?

Answer 28

Largely independent of party allegiance 
Now elected by MP’s 
Chairs elected by the whole H.o.C
Members are elected by parties 
Can call expert witnesses
Can publicise issues and embarrass government.

Question 29

What are some of the reasons for the departmental select committees ineffectiveness?

Answer 29

Potentially undermines ability to scrutinise as the governing party has a majority on each committee
Can only make recommendations
Undermined by attempts of chairs to heighten media profile- Keith Vaz and Margaret cannot make the gov’ do anything and can’t amend legislation.