Politics Paper 1 - Parliament Flashcards
What are the 6 sources of commons primacy over the lords?
Parliament acts Financial privilege Confidence and supply The Salisbury convention Reasonable time convention Secondary legislation
How did the Parliament acts affect the power that the lords have?
The parliament acts of 1911 and 1949 transformed the lords from a vetoing chamber to a revising chamber.
What was the 1911 parliament act?
It restricted the House of Lords veto power to two parliamentary sessions. Prior to 1911, the House of Lords could block bills passed by the commons indefinitely.
Stated that any financial bills when not passed by the lords unamended within one month can receive royal assent w/o permission of the lords
What did the 1949 parliament act do?
The House of Lords veto power was further reduced to one parliamentary session.
What are two examples of Acts being passed through the lords after being blocked for 1 year?
Sexual offences act 2000
Hunting act 2004
What is financial privilege concerning acts going through the lords?
The House of Lords cannot delay or amend money bills solely concerned with national taxation, loans or public money
What are two examples of the House of Commons abusing their right to claim financial privilege?
Identity cards act 2010
Counter-terrorism act 2008
What is the Salisbury convention?
A convention which states that the House of Lords should not go against a bill that seeks to enact a manifesto commitment
What are the issues with the Salisbury convention (include examples)?
It is a convention and not a law
Peers votes against an identity cards bill despite it being on labours manifesto 2006
Can be questioned when there is a coalition
What are the arguments to support the Salisbury convention?
The idea that the commons has primacy as it has democratic and input legitimacy.
The people voted a particular party in based off their manifesto
What is the reasonable time convention?
The idea that the lords should consider all government arrangements within a reasonable time. It shouldn’t delay or overlook bills so that they can be passed by the end of a parliamentary session.
What proposals have people put forward to the reasonable time convention (and issues with these)?
Proposals include a 60 day limit
Critics claim it would limit parliamentary scrutiny
