Parliament (P2) Flashcards
How can the HoL be shown to be socially unrepresentative?
28% women, average age 70, 6% ethnic minorities
How many cross benchers are in the HoL? why is this significant?
184 - third largest group, not restrained by party whip therefore able to scrutinise effectively
What is the HoL Reform Act 1999?
-Reduced hereditary peers from around 750 to 92
What are the the types of bills?
-Private Bill
-Private Members Bill
-Public Bill
How could it be argued that Parliament is effective at its legislative function?
-Backbencher rebellion
-Coalition or minority gov
-Lords defeats gov often
What are examples of backbencher rebellions being effective?
60 Tory backbenchers threatened to rebel Sunak’s housing targets, consequently dropped in 2022
May largest Commons defeat of 230 vote majority, 118 Con MPs rebelled
What are examples of backbencher rebellions not being effective?
Blair didnt lose vote in Commons from 1997-2005, 179 seat majority
52 MPs didnt vote on scrapping winter fuel payments but had no effect due to Starmers 174 seat majority
What are examples of Coalition/Minority gov being effective at their legislative functions?
May defeated 28 times in 2 years, heaviest Commons defeat of 230 vote majority, Johnson lost first 12 votes when becoming PM in 2019 (-45 majority)
What are examples of Coalition/Minority gov not being effective at their legislative functions?
2010 coalition government only defeated 7 times over 5 years, could be argued May’s minority gov only defeated often due to Brexit
What are examples of Lords defeating gov being effective?
2015- Tax credit payments rejected by Lords and consequently scrapped proposal
2020- Lords forced gov to accept some recommendations over Internal Market Bill
2023- Rwanda bill back and forth 5 times
What are examples of Lords being weak compared to Commons?
Restricted by Parliament Acts 1911/1949
10 amendments created on Rwanda bill, all of which were overturned by Commons
What does ‘redress grievances’ mean?
MPs raising issues for their constituents in Parliament
What is Parliamentary privilege?
Protects MP and Lords from prosecution so that they can address issues in Parliament effectively
What is an example of Parliamentary privilege being used?
Peter Hain in 2018 named Sir Phillip Green at the centre of the #MeToo scandal, as he had invoked a legal injunction so his name would not enter public domain (media couldn’t name)
What are the two types of representation an MP can use?
Trustee model - Burkean representation where MPs decide for themselves what is best
Delegate model - act as a messenger for constituents wishes (some MPs voted to trigger Article 50 despite being remain)
