Politics: UK Parliament Flashcards
What are the powers of the Houses of Commons?
Supreme legislative (parliamentary sovereignty)- more authority than Lords who can only delay/amend bills.
Can remove Government- ‘collective ministerial responsibility’ means that ministers must either publicly agree with a policy or resign (if they disagree). Shown during Brexit row under Theresa May’s Government- Boris Johnson, David Davis, Andrea Leadsom etc.
What are the powers of the House of Lords?
Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949- any bill that passes through the commons in two successive sessions can bypass the Lords.
Salisbury Convention- Lords won’t veto a policy from a party’s manifesto.
Lords don’t amend/delay bills relating to taxation/spending.
Lords can veto secondary legislation- only used 6 times since 1945 e.g., 2015 Osbourne attempted to cut tax credits.
What are the functions of Parliament?
Legislation
Scrutiny
Representation
Legitimacy
Does Parliament legislate effectively?
YES:
Effectively challenge the government. (e.g. Gina Miller cases).
Uncodified Constitution makes legislation flexible and more amenable to reform. If a majority Government passes a bill, the next Government can amend or unmake this law.
NO:
Most bills originate from a majority government therefore if party discipline is maintained, government bills are rarely defeated. (e.g. Tony Blair was only defeated four times in 10 years)
Private member bills are extremely rare (13 Friday’s a year). Only 15 were successful between 2017-2019, and these were all uncontroversial.
Does Parliament scrutinise effectively?
YES:
Select Committees can have a significant impact on government decision making. For example, a Select Committee scrutinised the Government’s transparency during Covid-19, concluding that “It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision to lift the first lockdown”.
NO:
It could be argued, however, that this scrutiny is not effective as they have no power to force changes, - “the dogs that won’t bite”
Does Parliament represent effectively?
YES:
MP Surgeries give constituents an opportunity to meet their MP and discuss issues that they may take up on their behalf.
All MPs elected by plurality of constituents.
NO:
51% of the UK are women, they are underrepresented with only 34% of members in the Commons being women.
7% of the UK are privately educated, this is disproportionate to the Commons with 26% of members being privately educated.
Is Parliament legitimate?
NO:
House of Lords entirely unelected.
Recent scandals can undermine Parliament’s legitimacy- legitimacy of Government spending throughout the pandemic has been questioned, with lawyers acting on behalf of the Government revealing that it had breached the law by persistently failing to publish details of Covid-19 contracts.
