Parliament Flashcards
Define parliament?
The British legislative (law making body) made up of the House of Commons , the House of Lords and the monarch.
Define confidence and supply?
A type of informal coalition agreement used sometimes in the event of a hung parliament
Define Salisbury Convention?
The convention where the House of Lords doesn’t delay of block legislation that was included in a government manifesto
Define parliamentary privilege
The right of MPs or lords to make certain statements within parliament without being subject to outside influence, including law
Define legislative bills
Proposed laws passing through parliament
Define public bill committees
Committees responsible for looking at bills in detail
Define backbenchers
The rank and file MPs who do not have a ministerial position. They occupy the benches in the debates chamber and their role is to represent comstituents
Define select committees
Consisting of backbench MPs which reflect the composition of the commons. The investigate and report on the activities of the government departments
Define opposition?
The official opposition is usually the party with the second largest majority in the commons. It’s role is to criticise the government and oppose legislative proposals showing themselves as an alternative government
How many members of the Commons are there?
650
How many Labour MPs in the commons area there?
257
How many Conservatives MPs in the commons area there?
316
How many Liberal Democrat’s MPs in the commons area there?
12
How many Scottish National Party MPs in the commons area there?
35
How many Green/UKIP/DUP MPs in the commons area there?
11
How many Independent/crossbencher MPS in the commons area there?
6
How many members of the Lords are there?
780
How many Labour Peers are there in the Lords?
187
How many Conservative Peers are there in the Lords?
244
How many Liberal Democrat Peers are there in the Lords?
98
How many SNP Peers are there in the Lords?
0
How many Green/UKIP/DUP Peers are there in the Lords?
8
How many Independent/Crossbencher Peers are there in the Lords?
209
How many hereditary peers are left?
94
Given two examples of crossbench MPs?
Alan Sugar
Baron Bird
What does the House of Commons have exclusive power over?
Give consent to taxation/monetary bills
What are main limitations of the lords by the parliament acts?
No right to delay monetary bills
Power of veto change to a year and a day delay
What is the Salisbury Convention?
The convention where the HOL cannot delay or block legislation that is outlined in a governments manifesto
Why is the Salisbury Convention important
Because the lords don’t have a democratic mandate
Give an example of when government used the parliament acts to force a bill through after the lords tried to delay it
- Changing the voting system for European Parliament elections in 1999
- Equalising the age of consent for homosexual and heterosexuals in 2000
- Banning hunting with dogs in 2004
Discuss the Lords opposition to tax cuts
The voted to delay planned cuts to tax credit in 2015
It was emotionally charged because tax credits support low earning people. It raised constitutional issues because they shouldn’t have have been involved because it was financial, but it was delegated legislation
What is Hansard
The official record of debates in parliament
What are Public bill committees
Committees responsible for looking a bills in detail
What is a committee of the whole house
Instead of a public bill committee for some of all of a bills committee stage. It takes place in the main chamber and and allows MPs to take part in the debate and vote.
What is a departmental select committee
A committee to scrutinise the policy administration and spending of each government department
What is the last thing the foreign affairs committee discussed
Assessment of the Antarctic act
What is a private members bill
A bill that affects the whole population introduced by a backbench mp or a member of the lords but it is much less likely to become law as time has to be found for them
What are cross cutting question sessions
They are times to enable questions to be asked on a topic that covers the responsibility of a number of government departments, first one to take place was on youth policy
What is primary legislation
Consists of acts of Parliament of stature
What is secondary legislation
Consists of granting additional law making powers to another branch of government by an act of statute
What is the purpose of a ministerial statement
They are the way for ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the house usually at short notice
What is an early day motion
They are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However very few are actually debated. They allow MPs to draw attention to the event or cause. MPs register support by signing an individual motion
What is a ten minute rule
Allows backbench MPs to mak a case for a new bill in a speech lasting up to 10 minutes. An opposing speech may also be made before the house decides whether or not to be introduced
What is the backbench business committee
It was created under the Wright reforms in 2010 and chooses a topic for debate on 35 days in each parliamentary session. Some of these are chosen from e-petitions that require 100,000 signatures. Eg Harvey’s law or hillborough
What is the public accounts committee
It examines the government expenditure seeking to ensure that value for money is being obtained
What is the liaison committee
Consists of the chairs from all select committees. It can question the prime minister twice a year across the whole field of government policy
How are committees in the lords different to those in the commons
They do not shadow government departments
They scrutinise legislation and investigate particular issues eg constitutional committee which examines a bill for constitutional significance
Who is the chair of the health select committee
Sarah Wollaston
How many members are there from each party in the health select committee
Conservatives- 5
Labour - 5
Scottish National Party - 1
What are the key issues the select committee are examining
Prison healthcare
Childhood obesity
Improving air quality
When was the last time the health select committee summoned a minister
22 May - department for health and department food digital culture, media and sport on government plans to dealing with childhood obesity
Who was the last witness they took evidence from
8 May
Dr Thomas Burgoine who is from the centre for diet and activity research
Why did the lords argue the Salisbury Convention no longer applied
2005
The 2005 election, the lords opposed Labours implement of identity cards. They said they had the right to object because labour didn’t have a democratic mandate as they were voted in on 35.2% of the vote
When were select committees blocked from calling a minister
2013 May blocked the home affairs select committee from interviewing chair of MI5 Andrew Parker
What are the three reasons why the lords are said to have increased its power
The constitutional reform act removed hereditary peers and increased expertise
The House of Lords select committees
Lords argue the Salisbury doctrine no longer apply
What are the two reasons for the lords not having increased power
Removal or judicial powers
Parliament acts
What are the two reasons to say that the opposition are merely symbolic
Their opposition days are merely symbolic and the government can overturn the amendment they make
They make little impact in select committees
What are the three reasons the opposition is not symbolic
They have the opportunity to hold the government to account in the form of prime ministers questions and responding to the budget
They have the role of demonstrating themselves as an alternative government
Provide consensus on some government policies
What was the last thing discussed in prime ministers questions
The Grenfell tower inquiry
What are three reasons for parliament in not effective at performing major functions
Social Representation in the House of Lords because they are appointed
Scrutiny of legislation in both houses in the 2nd reading and legislative committees
Holding government to account in select committees
Give the name of a hybrid bill and it’s sponsor
HS2 - Chris Grayling
What are three reasons why the parliament is not effective at performing functions
The significant commons house is not representative, socially or electorally
Crucial stages of scrutiny of legislation are undermined by government dominance
Power of patronage
What are the three reasons why parliament is effective at holding the government t to account
Select committees
Backbenchers - backbench business committee
Opposition in prime ministers question
Give an example of a select committee calling a minister to account
Transport secretary- Patrick McLoughlin to account for west coast mainline.
What are the three reasons why parliament is not affective at holding the government to account
Select committees and their conflicting interests
Opposition have 20 symbolic opposition days
Select committees do not have ultimate power
What is a government bill
These normally become law because a mandate, they are proposed by an elected government
Give an example of a government bill
European Union Approvals Act sponsored by Greg Clark
What is a private members bill
MPs have an opportunity to propose laws but they rarely become law
Give an example of a private members bill
Hospital car parking charges sponsor Robert Halfron
What is a hybrid bill
These are a combination of public and private bill for example HS2 sponsored by Chris Grayling
What are the stages of passing a bill
Green paper 1 reading 2 reading Committee stage 3 reading Moves into Lords/Commons or of been through both gets royal assent
What is involved with the green paper
Initially a green paper is passed where the viability is assessed an the civil service draft a white paper which outlines the bill so it can be taken into the houses
What happens at the 1st reading
Read out by sponsor of the bill then
What happens in the 2nd reading
The bill is read out for a second time and there is a division
What happens in the committee stage
Either the whole house (plenary) however it usually contains a stratified proportion of MPs and write a report on the bill
What is the 3rd reading
Given a second debate and vote
What are the functions of Parliament
Passing legislation Scrutiny of legislation Scrutiny of the executive Representation Opposition Recruitment of ministers Holding the executive to account
