Parliament Definition Flashcards
Definition - Parliament
Parliament is the UK’s supreme legislative body, responsible for making and passing laws. It consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch.
Example: Parliament debates and votes on new laws, such as the Education Act, which affects schools across the UK.
Definition - House of Commons
The elected chamber of Parliament where Members of Parliament (MPs) debate and vote on new laws. It is the primary legislative body.
Example: MPs in the House of Commons discuss and vote on the annual Budget proposed by the government.
Definition - House of Lords
The second chamber of Parliament, made up of appointed and hereditary members. It reviews and suggests amendments to bills passed by the House of Commons.
Example: The House of Lords may delay a controversial bill, such as the Welfare Reform Act, to suggest improvements before it becomes law.
Definition - Confidence & Supply
A confidence and supply agreement is when a smaller party agrees to support a government in key votes (like budgets and confidence motions) without formally joining the government.
Example: In 2017, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) entered a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative government to help it stay in power.
Definition - Salisbury Convention
The Salisbury Convention is an agreement that the House of Lords will not block legislation promised in the governing party’s election manifesto.
Example: If a government promises tax cuts in its election manifesto, the House of Lords will not block the bill when it is introduced in Parliament.
Definition - Parliamentary Privilege
Parliamentary privilege gives MPs and Lords legal protections to speak freely in Parliament without fear of being sued for defamation.
Example: An MP can accuse a company of corruption in a debate without being sued, even if they couldn’t make the same claim outside Parliament.
Definition - Legislative Bills
A legislative bill is a proposed law that must go through multiple stages of debate and approval in Parliament before becoming law.
Example: The NHS Act started as a bill in the House of Commons and went through readings and committee stages before becoming law.
Definition - Public Bill Committees
Public bill committees are groups of MPs that examine proposed legislation in detail and suggest amendments before it returns to the House of Commons.
Example: A committee reviewing an environmental bill might propose stricter rules on carbon emissions before the final vote.
Definition - Backbenchers
Backbenchers are MPs who are not part of the government or opposition leadership. They represent their constituents and can introduce their own bills.
Example: A backbencher might propose a new law on animal rights, even if they are not in the Cabinet.
Definitions - Select Committees
Select committees are groups of MPs or Lords that investigate specific areas of government policy and hold the government accountable.
Example: The Home Affairs Select Committee may question the Home Secretary about immigration policies.
Definition - Opposition
The opposition is the political party (or parties) that does not form the government and challenges its decisions, often led by the Leader of the Opposition.
Example: The Labour Party, as the opposition, may question the Conservative government’s economic policies during Prime Minister’s Questions.
