Parliament

Question 1

What is the UK’s system called?

Answer 1

The UK had a “bi-cameral” system with two legislative chamber HOC (Lower house) HOL (Upper house)

Question 2

How does Legislation become law?

Answer 2

Legislation (bills) must be passed through HOC and HOL, then revive Royal Assent to become law.

Question 3

1) How many MP’s sit in the HOC
2) How will a party form the government
3) who’s in the cabinet?

Answer 3

1) 650 elected MP’s
2) the largest party usually forms the government, if a party gets more than half the seats (326) then they control and ideas through parliament.
3) About 100 form the government, by being appointed ministers/junior ministers (the executive)

Question 4

What is the “opposition”?

Answer 4

The second largest party forms the opposition, appoints a shadow cabinet. They hold government in power to account

Question 5

What are backbench MP’s?

Answer 5

Not part of opposition or cabinet, rest of the MP’s in Commons

Question 6

How much are MP’s paid?

Answer 6

MP’s are paid £79,468 plus allowances to employ staff and run constituency office

Question 7

What’s an backbench MP’s job?

Answer 7

Hold exec to account by asking written or oral questions to PM or ministers

Take part in debates in Commons and vote on bills

They can raise issues through

1) Early Day Motions
2) Urgent Debates
3) Adjournment debates

They can introduce own legislation - private members bill (MPs chosen by ballot to do this)

Elected to select committees - group of backbenchers that scrutinise world of particular departments. (Eg. The Home Affairs Select Committee)

They can be elected to Bill Committees - group of backbenchers that scrutinise a particular Bill as it passes through commons

Question 8

What are Whips?

Answer 8

MP’s appointed to maintain party discipline among their fellow MP’s

Question 9

1) Why was the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority brought in in 2009?
2) what does it do?

Answer 9

1) After 2009 expenses scandal

2) set up to regulate MP’s salaries and expenses

Question 10

What is the official record of Parliamentary business

Answer 10

Hansard

Question 11

What does the House of Lords consist of?

Answer 11

Consist of 800 non elected members, includes 26 Church or England clergy, 92 Hereditary peers and the rest are life peers

Largest legislature in the world, upper house of US (the senate) has 100 members serving a population 5x the size of UK

Question 12

What are “crossbenchers”

Answer 12

Peers not affiliated with a political party

Question 13

What happened in 2011 that the Tories and Lib Dem didn’t agree on

Answer 13

Plans for a reform, creating politically elected chamber

Question 14

What is the process for passing a bill?

Answer 14

Green paper - rough draft of idea sent for consultation

White Paper - firmer outline of proposed law

First Reading - Title of Bill read out in Commons

Second Reading - Bill debates in Commons

Committee stage - Bill scrutinised by committee of backbenchers

Report Stage - Committee reports back with recommendations for amendments

Third Reading - Bill debated in in final form

Question 15

What is the Lords job in passing a Bill?

Answer 15

If bill passes through Commons goes to Lords

Lords can suggest amendments that have to be accepted by Commons

Question 16

1) How long can Lords delay a bill for?

2) What bills can they not delay?

Answer 16

1) 13 months

2) Money Bill (like Finance Bill after budget)

Question 17

How does a bill finally become law?

Answer 17

When approved by Commons and Lords revives Royal Assent and then becomes law of hand