Parliament and Select Committees

Question 1

What is legitimisation?

Answer 1

• It involves the process of passing legislation and approving public finances
• Parliament must also approve taxation and expenditure by the government every time a change is proposed

Question 2

What is Parliament’s role in legislation?

Answer 2

• This is the function of passing laws
• While legitimisation involves consent, the process of actually passing laws is a formal set of procedures designed to ensure that legislation is acceptable to both houses and gives them an opportunity to suggest amendments.

Question 3

How does Parliament scrutinise the government and legislation?

Answer 3

• All backbench MP’s are required to serve on legislative committees. These committees examine proposed legislation, often examining every line, to see whether it can be improved.
• Parliament can also vote to either delay or block legislation from being passed

Question 4

What is Parliament’s role in representation?

Answer 4

• Every MP in Parliament represents the interests of his or her’s constituency. MP’s are expected to take care of the interests of all constituents, no matter for whom they voted.
• Sometimes the interests of a constituency may run counter to government policy. What are they do if a government policy may cause strong dissent in the constituency?
• Example: Many MP’s rebelling against the Brexit Bill due to their constituencies voting to remain

Question 5

How does Parliament recruit new MP’s?

Answer 5

• Parliament is a recruiting ground for government as ministers must be members of Parliament. For Parliament to be effective in the recruitment process, they must evaluate and look at some key factors.
• MP’s must have good communication skills, they should have good experience and should have good managerial, leadership and organisation skills. Also, the MP must have a good level of conformity, loyal MP’s have better prospects of ministerial office than rebels.

Question 6

What is a select committee?

Answer 6

• A committee responsible for scrutinising the work of a government department

Question 7

Why are select committees good for Parliament?

Answer 7

• They highlight important issues, bring expert contributions to debates, hold the government accountable for policy problems and issue evidence based recommendations.

Question 8

Give 2 examples of effective select committee inquiries

Answer 8

• Culture, media and sport select committee inquiry (2009-2010) into press standards, privacy and libel was critical of the conduct of the press. It heard evidence of illegal phone hacking by journalists at the now defunct News of the World newspaper, leading to police investigations and the Leveson inquiry into press conduct.
• Business, energy and industrial strategy committee inquiry (2016) into working practises at Sports Direct concluded that Mike Ashley must be held accountable for ‘extremely disturbing’ working practises at the company.

Question 9

What is the Salisbury convention?

Answer 9

• Where the Lords won’t vote against manifesto pledges

Question 10

Select Committees and their growing influence

Answer 10

• The Commons select committees have grown in influence and authority. Since 2010, they have become much more effective in scrutinising government departments.
• e.g the Health Committee brought about changes to the coalition’s Health and Social Care Bill.