Parliament Vs The Executive Flashcards

1
Q

List the reasons backbenchers can be seen as mere lobby fodder

A
  • most speeches lead to no action
  • whips
  • bbbc only debates things w cross bench support
  • standing committees controlled by commons majorities
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2
Q

List the reasons backbenchers can be seen as an effective executive check

A
  • bbbc 35 days for debate
  • government drops legislation that will be defeated
  • backbench rebellions increasing
  • rise in urgent questions that require a ministerial response
  • lords are experts
  • lords are often less amenable to pressure by whips
  • cross bench laws are independently minded
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3
Q

Give a recent example of the government dropping legislation that would lose in the commons

A

Lords reform bill 2015

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4
Q

How much did coalition mps rebel

A

35% of the time

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5
Q

How much did urgent questions increase between 2009-13

A

200%

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6
Q

Do backbenchers make a difference (complex answer)

A

They are more decisive when the government doesn’t have a strong majority

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7
Q

When did backbench rebellions become more common

A

90s

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8
Q

What did conservative mps rebel abt under major

A
  • Maastricht treaty
  • gun control
  • VAT on domestic fuel
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9
Q

What did major have to resort to to pass the Maastricht treaty

A

A confidence vote

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10
Q

How many labour mps rebelled abt invading Iraq in 2003

A

139 - largest rebellion in modern politics

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11
Q

What was new labour defeated on

A

90 day detention for suspected terrorists
Racial and religious hatred bill
The right of Gurkhas to live in the uk

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12
Q

Why was the coalition not defeated that much despite the amount of backbench disobedience

A

Lib Dem and conservative MPs would rebel on different things

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13
Q

What was the biggest defeat for the coalition

A

Intervention in Syria

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14
Q

What was the conservative minority government defeated on

A

Evel
Ur referndum conduct
Changes to Sunday trading laws

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15
Q

What are governing party questions intended to do at pmqs

A

Flatter

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16
Q

What are opposition questions intended toward do at pmqs

A

Joke or humiliate

17
Q

What does pmqs often turn in to

A

Parliamentary theatre rather than effective scrutiny

18
Q

Why are mqs often seen as better scrutiny

A

Less publicity
Questions are more specific and practical
MPs can propose questions in advance - more informed debate
MPs are more likely to ask questions from constituents

19
Q

What is the opposition better off doing instead of challenging the government in the commons

A

Attacking them in the media

20
Q

What is the opposition better off doing instead of attacking the government

A

Appearing statesmenlikr

21
Q

What is the opposition better off doing instead of providing a radical alternative

A

Appearing like a government in waiting

22
Q

What does the opposition have at its disposal to help w scrutiny

A

Loto receives a ministerial salary
Short money is granted to compensate for no civil servants
Loto gets most pmqs questions

23
Q

Reasons select committees are an effective executive check

A

Scrutinise using detailed investigations
Many recommendations accepted by government
Questions ministers civil servants and outside experts
Access to papers
Chairs elected by MPs

24
Q

Reasons select committees aren’t an effective executive check

A

Commons majority reflected
Ministers and civil servants can avoid giving info
Some members don’t regularly attend or are too confrontational when questioning ministers
No power to propose policy
Government can ignore recommendations

25
Q

What do is pac

A

The public accounts committee

26
Q

What does pac do

A

Scrutinises value for money and the provision of public services

27
Q

Reasons why the pac is strong

A

Chair is an opposition mp
Chair has greater prestige and higher salary
Members are mp elected - not under party control
Members are independent meaning government majority does not matter

28
Q

Give two big issues pac has recently ibfestigated

A

Quality of nhs cancer treatment
Tax affairs of Google

29
Q

What is at stake in pmqs

A

Credibility of the pm
A chance for the opposition to set the agenda

30
Q

Notable pmqs from starmer

A

Dominic Cummings gets pay rise - nurses don’t
Squandering vaccine roll out by not redlisting India
Slamming the working class by raising national insurance and ending universal credit uplift

31
Q

Changes in select committee composition

A

Growth in the number of experienced committee chairs
Virtual proceedings have meant an increase in virtual witnesses

32
Q

What did the health select committee make Dominic Cummings admit

A

The government response to Covid was inadequate and the health secretary should be sacked

33
Q

Examples of backbench pressure on government

A
  • made the government rethink trading w china in light of Uighur muslin persecution
    Rebelled against extending lockdown
    Rebelled against NI rise on the basis that it broke a manifesto pledge