Parliament : powers of the commons

Question 1

which bills can the commons deal with exclusively ?

Answer 1

Money bills

Question 2

Why does the commons have greater legitimacy than the lords ?

Answer 2

its elected

Question 3

How does the commons have power over the government ?

Answer 3

they control confidence and supply - whilst they support a government, it stands

Question 4

how can the commons remove a government ?

Answer 4

through a vote of no confidence

Question 5

When was the last vote of no confidence in a government ?

Answer 5

James Callaghan in 1979

Question 6

the commons held a debate in 1993 to removed which government with a vote of no confidence ?

Answer 6

John Major’s

Question 7

how does the commons currently supply confidence to the government ?

Answer 7

the DUP have agreed to vote with the Conservatives on four key policy areas - this wouldn’t work in the lords, only the commons

Question 8

Which bill did the Lords try to block in 2012, only for the coalition lead commons to claim it couldn’t block a money bill ?

Answer 8

Welfare reform bill

Question 9

Can you give an example of when the commons has used the Parliament act to force legislation through when the Lords has refused it ?

Answer 9

hunting with dogs 2004

equalising the age of consent for gay people 2000

Question 10

What is the convention that states the Lords should debate and report out commons legislation quickly ?

Answer 10

‘reasonable time’ ( on the grounds that the Lords do not have constituencies or ministerial constraints on their time, thus they should be quicker at dealing with the commons work )

Question 11

In 2015, what secondary legislation did the Lords attempt to block the commons on ?

Answer 11

tax credits

Question 12

what convention did the commons create in 2015 to stop the Lords blocking commons secondary legislation ?

Answer 12

Strathclyde convention