Parliament examples: Flashcards
Examples of parliament fulfilling its legislative functions?
- Backbench MP’s defeated Blairs plans to extend the detention of suspected terrorists to 90 days. First commons defeat.
- lords have become more defiant since 1999 reforms, 69 in 2017-2019 session.
- May’s legislation defeated in house of lords 15 times for BREXIT vote.
Examples of parliament not fulfilling its legislative function?
- Majority control- commons are rarely defeated. Blair did not lose a single vote 1997-2005. LIb dem cons- 7 times.
- Lords effectiveness restricted by parliament acts- only delay bills, Sentencing act amendments made but government ignored.
Examples of parliament fulfilling its representative function?
- 2019 most diverse parliament- 220 women, 65 ethnic minorities and 45 LGBTQ+.
- Democratically representative- MP’s represent an area of the UK.
Examples of parliament not fulfilling its representative function?
- 6% of lords came from minority and mostly middle class white men 430/650 are men.
- Lords are unelected and therefore not representative.
Examples of parliament fulfilling its recruiting and maintaining the government function
- Future leaders understand how government works by being a backbencher- Major, Brown and May were all backbenchers.
- Governments must listen to backbenchers to maintain support.
Examples of the government not fulfilling its recruiting and maintaining the government?
- They learn speech making and sound bites but not management skills.
- Governments can dictate backbenchers rather than abide by their wishes.
Examples of success of backbench scrutiny in government and specific departments?
1- Select committees- investigating topics in detail- wright reforms in 2010
2-Secret votes preventing whip interference. More democratic.
3- Ministers choose this job instead of ministerial job. Jeremy Hun-t hold to apply for chair of the health and social care committee
4- Televised so hold people to account- Yevette and ‘we have no targets.
Examples of backbench scrutiny in government and specific departments being unsuccessful?
1- Only 40% of refoms made by the select comittee taken.
2- 2013 when Theresa May stopped the Head of MI5, Andrew Parker, from being interviewed.
3-Governments not acting- Russian interference in BREXIT- not allowed out.
Examples of the successes of backbench business committee?
- 2015- Harvey’s law,- highway agency- must notify owners of ran over pets
- Childhood obesity strategy of 2016.
Examples of how backbenchers are tied to party loyalty?
- PMQ’s and fixed questions
2. Ultimately bound by their leader.
Examples of increased relevance of backbenchers?
- Bercow and the ‘backbench champion’ and allowed 159 urgent questions to be asked.
- Granted lots of emergency debates from backbenchers- emergency debate on no brexit deal.
Examples of the threats to the relevance of backbenchers?
- Linsay Hoyle does not take the same approach- governments power of patronage ultimately overrule
- Brexit- expelled conservatives over no deal brexit- even Winston Churchills grandson kicked out.
Examples of the house of lords meaningfulness in the legislative function?
- More independent- December 2020- Lords forced government to u-turn over tax credit cuts.
- EU withdrawal bill 2018- government lost 14/16 divisions on amendments in house of lords.
Examples of the house of lords LACK of meaning in the legislative function?
- All defeats on EU withdrawal bill and article 50 bill repealed in house of commons.
- The health and social care bill proceeded with contract intact as lords amendments overturned.
Examples of the house of lords meaningfulness in scrutiny? (independent) (select comittees)
1.Comittes are for particular issues- permeant on economy-lords specialise.
2-The constitutional committee- constitutional impacts of public bills.
Examples of the house of lords lack of meaning in scrutiny?
1- No direct scrutiny like urgent questions and PMQ’s
2- Commons select committees such as liaison comittee questions and checks PM unlike lords.
Examples of house of lords meaningfulness in representation?
- Unelected like the commons.
2, Works against women’s membership- only 14%- hereditary peers used to be first born son.
Examples of bad PBC’s committees? (examine bills)
1-2011 Sarah Woolston tory backbench MP with 24 years was prevented from participating on the PBC scrutinizing changes to NHS
2-Temp committees so no expertise- time to write xmas cards.
Examples of good select committees/ BBC’s?
- Home affairs led a select committee on the Windrush scandal. Amber Rudd denied targets for deportation, but she was aware -resigned.
- BBBC debates of choice. 300 on 2010-2015 government
Example of why select committees can be bad?
in 2014, home secretary Theresa may blocked the home affairs select committee from interviewing the head MI5 Andrew Parker.
Examples of how a large majority can affect scrutiny?
EU withdrawal act 2020 sailed through commons because of Boris’ 20 seat majority, any amendments made by the HOL ignored.
E.g. Fusion of powers means government sits in parliament and can control it. Blair era- promotion tied to loyalty. Whips dominated; government simply seen as a rubber stamp.
Examples of how a large majority does not always affect scruinty?
- Blair government couldn’t prevent choice for chair of transport select committee in 2001.
- Tory Rebellions- Marcus Rashford on free school meals and covid rules of 6/ 42 renewal of coronavirus act 2020.
BUT…. MINORITY GOVS FLOUNDER.
Examples of how effective PMQ’s and urgent questions are?
- Urgent questions- a response must be given, John Bercow allowed 3000 of them- including one on deprivation of citizenship.
- PMQ’s opposition can ask pointed questions towards the governments policies.
Examples of how bad PMQ’s and urgent questions are?
- Planted questions - repetition and long term economic plan- I completely agree!
- Theatrical- David Cameron described it as a punch and Judy show- Keir starmer making jokes ‘24 hours in A&E used to be a TV show- now its his (BJ’s policy)- speaker having to make them be quiet.
