Parliament

Question 1

What fraction of parliament are backbench MPs

Answer 1

Three Quaters

Question 2

what are the three main category of peers in the House of lords?

Answer 2

hereditary
Life peer
Lord spiritual

Question 3

What are the main functions of parliament?

Answer 3

Passing Legislation
Scrutiny of the executive
Providing ministers
Representing electorate

Question 4

What type of bill can the HOL not interfere with passing?

Answer 4

‘money bills’

Question 5

How can a backbench MP defeat or amend legislation?

Answer 5

with solid opposition from the opposition parties and rebels on the government side
e.g. Cameron’s defeat in March 2016 on extending Sunday trading, when labour and the SNP joined with Conservative dissidents

Question 6

What part does the opposition play in the nature of the party system?

Answer 6

Constantly confronts and challenges government

work reinforced by party whips

Question 7

Whats the job of a party whip?

Answer 7

responsible for ensuring that MPs attend parliamentary votes(known as ‘divisons’) and for granting leave of absence of their vote is not essential.
Issue MPs with a written instruction to attend (also known as a whip)
most important votes are underlined 3 times- known as 3 line whips
can also impose sanctions on those who do not accept the party line
Persistent rebels can be suspended from party
smaller teams of whips operate in the HOL

Question 8

How is the function of scrutiny performed?

Answer 8

Questions to ministers
select committees
debates

Question 9

What are questions to ministers?

Answer 9

weekly question and answer session in the chamber of the commons
criticised for being unduly theatrical and point scoring exercise dominated by PM and leader of opposition

Question 10

Select committees

Answer 10

shadow individual government departments in the commons
A select committee is a cross-party group of MPs or Lords given a specific area to investigate and report back to the House that set it up. Select committees gather evidence from ministers and officials, the public and organisations outside Parliament.

Question 11

examples of debates scrutinising the government?

Answer 11

August 2013 HOC debate: Cameron defeated on proposal to undertake military action in Syria

Question 12

Who participates in debates?

Answer 12

Since 2010 backbench buisness committee- MPs can choose topic for debate one day a week