Parliament (legislation) Flashcards
3 features of the Parliamentary government
- PM is head of government not state
- There is a fusion of powers of the executive and legislative branches
- Government is responsible for parliament and can only continue if it has the confidence of parliament
What is the role of Backbenchers
They represent the views of their constituents by questioning ministers, participating in debates and voting on legislation
No. of official opposition days
20
Role of the Speaker
remain impartial whilst
- calling on MPs
- Ensuring parties get a fair amount of debating time
- announcing the results in the house
What are the different types of lords
- Life peers
- People’s peers
- Hereditary peer
- Lords Spiritual
What is a life peer
Someone nominated by the PM to sit in the HoL for their own lifetimes, account for a large number of peers
what is a People’s peer
Appointed on the basis of individual recommendations made to the Lord’s appointment commission, but they lack resemblance to ordinary citizens
What is a hereditary peer
they hold inherited titles to sit in the Lords, there is a maximum 92 permitted
Who are the Lords spiritual
These are 26 Bishops and Archbishops of the Church of England, they are still appointed by the PM
What is a crossbencher
members of the Lords who have no affiliation to a party and no party loyalty
How does the monarchy interact with government
- Appoints the government
- Opening and dismissing parliament
- the King’s speech
- the Royal assent
What are 3 key powers of the Commons
- Supreme legislative power, can make or unmake any law it wishes
- The power to scrutinise the government
- the power to represent the people and be held accountable
What are 3 key powers of the Lords
- Cannot block bills in the Manifesto (Salisbury convention)
- Can block certain legislation for up to a year
- the Lords can question a representative from each government department
What are public bills
Bills that have a general effect and make changes that effect the whole population
What are private bills
bills introduced by backbench MPs
What is a hybrid bill
Have a general effect, but some provisions single out particular individuals / groups
What happens at the second reading of a bill
the minister responsible for the bill makes a statement supporting said bill, MPs then debate on the principle of the Bill and vote on whether the Bill should progress
What happens at the PBC stage
a PBC made of roughly 16-50 members will scrutinise the Bill in great detail, they can ask to receive written evidence and conduct oral hearings
Strengths of PBCs
- they allow MPs to go through a bill line-by-line and give detailed scrutiny
- MPs can test the bills with opinions from external stakeholders
- PBCs get limited media coverage meaning they can focus on the issue at hand
Weaknesses of PBCs
- They are typically partisan and vote in line with their whips
- MPs are chosen by the party whips
- very few amendments come as a result of the PBCs
Strengths of PMBs
- Anyone can put forward the idea and put it to the house
- encourages cross party support and has resulted in historical social legislation
- Scrutiny is arguably higher because they often concern social issues
How have backbench MPs changed
far more rebellious, in the 2010-15 parliament, Tory and Lib Dem MPs rebel in 35% of the votes
Example of people who helped PBCs
- Jess Phillips sat on the committee for the domestic abuse act, she is a minister for the protection of women
- Sara Thornton, who is the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council gave evidence at a PBC
