Parliament

Question 1

Fulfilling the Function of Legislation (x3)

Answer 1

The 2017 government suffered gridlock and Boris Johnson unlawfully prorogued parliament to end the gridlock in 2019. Minoirity government struggle to pass legislation

Whips help legislation to be passed

Overriding necessity means that legislation can be passed more quickly such as the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act, but this can go wrong such as in the example of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act which targeted the wrong dog breeds

Question 2

Fulfilling the Function of Scrutiny (x4)

Answer 2

Weekly Wednesday PMQs though this has become Punch and Judy Politics and thus unproductive

Shadow ministers and Select Committees shadow the work of departments and ministers

House of Lords

Debates (but these have become adversarial)

Question 3

Fulfilling the Function of Representation (x4)

Answer 3

First Past the Post allows for an MP Constituency Link

The House of Lords may be unelected but they represent experts and heads of industries

Free and fair elections every 5 years

Lack of Descriptive Representation (around a 1/3 of MPs are privately educated, but only 7% of the UK is)`

Question 4

House of Lords VS House of Commons (x4)

Answer 4

1911 Parliament Act means the Lords cannot touch money bills

Salisbury Convention means that the Lords cannot oppose Manifesto Pledges

The Lords can propose amendments and delay non-financial bills for one year

The Commons can use the Parliament Act to force bills through as the Blair government forced through legislation which equalised the age of consent for gays in 2000

Question 5

Powers of Parliament (x4)

Answer 5

1911 Parliament Act means that the House of Commons has exclusive power over ‘money bills’

Form a confidence and supply deal

House of Lords can call on election if the House of Commons sought to prolong the life of Parliament beyond 5 years

Parliamentary privilege means that, in Parliament, MPs cannot be sued for libel/slander

Question 6

4 Bill Types

Answer 6

Public bills are proposed by government minister e.g. the 2012 Health and Social Care was proposed by the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley

Private bills are sponsored by private companies, such as the 2013 London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act was sponsored by TfL

A hybrid is a mix between a public and private bill such as HS2 which affects both private funding and the public

Private Member Bill is introduced by MPs through a ballot, e.g. 2009 Autism Act Cheryl Gillan

Question 7

Legislation Process

Answer 7

First Reading

Second Reading (Debated and Voted On)

Committee Stage (Public Bills Committee)

Report Stage

Third Reading

Repeat this Process in the House of Lords
Royal Assent

Question 8

Royal Assent

Answer 8

Last refused to give royal assent in 1707

Walter Bagehot wrote that a refusal to give royal assent would equate to the Queen signing a death warrant

Question 9

Role of Opposition (x4)

Answer 9

Dr Timothy Heppell wrote that the leader of the Opposition has to ‘effectively challenge incumbents and present themselves as alternative to PM’

Opposition get 20 days a year for their topics, with the largest party getting 17 days

William Hague was poor opposition due to his divided party and poor PMQs, whereas Blair was an effective opposition

Media and Minority governments increase the power of opposition

Question 10

Select Committees (x5)

Answer 10

Departmental (Education Committee) vs Non-Departmental (Standards Committee)

Reflect the makeup of the Commons, chairs elected through a secret ballott

Margaret Hodge argued that she has more power as chair of the Public Accounts Committee than in her previous role of government minister.

Theresa May stopped the Home Affairs Committee from interviewing the head of Mi5 Andrew Parker

The government only took 40% of Select Committee reccomendations in 2010-2015

Question 11

Backbench MPs (x3)

Answer 11

Can issue urgent questions, such as how in 2017 the Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green had to answer Stephen Timms MP on Personal Independence Payment

Can rebel, such as in 2017 on Brexit bills, but the Whip may constrain them

The 2010 Wright Reforms created the Backbench Business Committee who can choose debate topics for 35 days often from E-petitions

Question 12

UK Parliament (x3)

Answer 12

Bicameral legislature with 650 MPs

2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act means that elections every 5 years or by a 2/3 vote of no confidence

Unelected House of Lords (Hereditary, life peers and the Lords Spiritual)

Question 13

Functions of Parliament (x3)

Answer 13

Legislation

Scrutiny

Representation