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AS Politics > Parliament > Flashcards

Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

Define parliament?

A

The British legislative (law making body) made up of the House of Commons , the House of Lords and the monarch.

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2
Q

Define confidence and supply?

A

A type of informal coalition agreement used sometimes in the event of a hung parliament

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3
Q

Define Salisbury Convention?

A

The convention where the House of Lords doesn’t delay of block legislation that was included in a government manifesto

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4
Q

Define parliamentary privilege

A

The right of MPs or lords to make certain statements within parliament without being subject to outside influence, including law

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5
Q

Define legislative bills

A

Proposed laws passing through parliament

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6
Q

Define public bill committees

A

Committees responsible for looking at bills in detail

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7
Q

Define backbenchers

A

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

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8
Q

Define select committees

A

Consisting of backbench MPs which reflect the composition of the commons. The investigate and report on the activities of the government departments

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9
Q

Define opposition?

A

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

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10
Q

How many members of the Commons are there?

A

650

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11
Q

How many Labour MPs in the commons area there?

A

257

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12
Q

How many Conservatives MPs in the commons area there?

A

316

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13
Q

How many Liberal Democrat’s MPs in the commons area there?

A

12

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14
Q

How many Scottish National Party MPs in the commons area there?

A

35

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15
Q

How many Green/UKIP/DUP MPs in the commons area there?

A

11

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16
Q

How many Independent/crossbencher MPS in the commons area there?

A

6

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17
Q

How many members of the Lords are there?

A

780

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18
Q

How many Labour Peers are there in the Lords?

A

187

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19
Q

How many Conservative Peers are there in the Lords?

A

244

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20
Q

How many Liberal Democrat Peers are there in the Lords?

A

98

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21
Q

How many SNP Peers are there in the Lords?

A

0

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22
Q

How many Green/UKIP/DUP Peers are there in the Lords?

A

8

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23
Q

How many Independent/Crossbencher Peers are there in the Lords?

A

209

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24
Q

How many hereditary peers are left?

A

94

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25
Q

Given two examples of crossbench MPs?

A

Alan Sugar

Baron Bird

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26
Q

What does the House of Commons have exclusive power over?

A

Give consent to taxation/monetary bills

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27
Q

What are main limitations of the lords by the parliament acts?

A

No right to delay monetary bills

Power of veto change to a year and a day delay

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28
Q

What is the Salisbury Convention?

A

The convention where the HOL cannot delay or block legislation that is outlined in a governments manifesto

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29
Q

Why is the Salisbury Convention important

A

Because the lords don’t have a democratic mandate

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30
Q

Give an example of when government used the parliament acts to force a bill through after the lords tried to delay it

A
  • 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
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31
Q

Discuss the Lords opposition to tax cuts

A

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

32
Q

What is Hansard

A

The official record of debates in parliament

33
Q

What are Public bill committees

A

Committees responsible for looking a bills in detail

34
Q

What is a committee of the whole house

A

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.

35
Q

What is a departmental select committee

A

A committee to scrutinise the policy administration and spending of each government department

36
Q

What is the last thing the foreign affairs committee discussed

A

Assessment of the Antarctic act

37
Q

What is a private members bill

A

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

38
Q

What are cross cutting question sessions

A

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

39
Q

What is primary legislation

A

Consists of acts of Parliament of stature

40
Q

What is secondary legislation

A

Consists of granting additional law making powers to another branch of government by an act of statute

41
Q

What is the purpose of a ministerial statement

A

They are the way for ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the house usually at short notice

42
Q

What is an early day motion

A

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

43
Q

What is a ten minute rule

A

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

44
Q

What is the backbench business committee

A

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

45
Q

What is the public accounts committee

A

It examines the government expenditure seeking to ensure that value for money is being obtained

46
Q

What is the liaison committee

A

Consists of the chairs from all select committees. It can question the prime minister twice a year across the whole field of government policy

47
Q

How are committees in the lords different to those in the commons

A

They do not shadow government departments
They scrutinise legislation and investigate particular issues eg constitutional committee which examines a bill for constitutional significance

48
Q

Who is the chair of the health select committee

A

Sarah Wollaston

49
Q

How many members are there from each party in the health select committee

A

Conservatives- 5
Labour - 5
Scottish National Party - 1

50
Q

What are the key issues the select committee are examining

A

Prison healthcare
Childhood obesity
Improving air quality

51
Q

When was the last time the health select committee summoned a minister

A

22 May - department for health and department food digital culture, media and sport on government plans to dealing with childhood obesity

52
Q

Who was the last witness they took evidence from

A

8 May

Dr Thomas Burgoine who is from the centre for diet and activity research

53
Q

Why did the lords argue the Salisbury Convention no longer applied

A

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

54
Q

When were select committees blocked from calling a minister

A

2013 May blocked the home affairs select committee from interviewing chair of MI5 Andrew Parker

55
Q

What are the three reasons why the lords are said to have increased its power

A

The constitutional reform act removed hereditary peers and increased expertise

The House of Lords select committees

Lords argue the Salisbury doctrine no longer apply

56
Q

What are the two reasons for the lords not having increased power

A

Removal or judicial powers

Parliament acts

57
Q

What are the two reasons to say that the opposition are merely symbolic

A

Their opposition days are merely symbolic and the government can overturn the amendment they make

They make little impact in select committees

58
Q

What are the three reasons the opposition is not symbolic

A

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

59
Q

What was the last thing discussed in prime ministers questions

A

The Grenfell tower inquiry

60
Q

What are three reasons for parliament in not effective at performing major functions

A

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

61
Q

Give the name of a hybrid bill and it’s sponsor

A

HS2 - Chris Grayling

62
Q

What are three reasons why the parliament is not effective at performing functions

A

The significant commons house is not representative, socially or electorally

Crucial stages of scrutiny of legislation are undermined by government dominance

Power of patronage

63
Q

What are the three reasons why parliament is effective at holding the government t to account

A

Select committees

Backbenchers - backbench business committee

Opposition in prime ministers question

64
Q

Give an example of a select committee calling a minister to account

A

Transport secretary- Patrick McLoughlin to account for west coast mainline.

65
Q

What are the three reasons why parliament is not affective at holding the government to account

A

Select committees and their conflicting interests

Opposition have 20 symbolic opposition days

Select committees do not have ultimate power

66
Q

What is a government bill

A

These normally become law because a mandate, they are proposed by an elected government

67
Q

Give an example of a government bill

A

European Union Approvals Act sponsored by Greg Clark

68
Q

What is a private members bill

A

MPs have an opportunity to propose laws but they rarely become law

69
Q

Give an example of a private members bill

A

Hospital car parking charges sponsor Robert Halfron

70
Q

What is a hybrid bill

A

These are a combination of public and private bill for example HS2 sponsored by Chris Grayling

71
Q

What are the stages of passing a bill

A 
Green paper
1 reading
2 reading 
Committee stage
3 reading 
Moves into Lords/Commons or of been through both gets royal assent
72
Q

What is involved with the green paper

A

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

73
Q

What happens at the 1st reading

A

Read out by sponsor of the bill then

74
Q

What happens in the 2nd reading

A

The bill is read out for a second time and there is a division

75
Q

What happens in the committee stage

A

Either the whole house (plenary) however it usually contains a stratified proportion of MPs and write a report on the bill

76
Q

What is the 3rd reading

A

Given a second debate and vote

77
Q

What are the functions of Parliament

A 
Passing legislation 
Scrutiny of legislation 
Scrutiny of the executive
Representation 
Opposition
Recruitment of ministers
Holding the executive to account

AS Politics (10 decks)

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