Relations between branches Flashcards
Using the source, evaluate the view that Parliament is largely ineffective at challenging the work of the Government.
Evaluate the extent to which the UK government’s control over Parliament has reduced in recent years.
Evaluate the view that since 2010 the executive has dominated Parliament.
1: Structurally the nature of the UK constitution remains; the executive is drawn from parliament and the second chamber is unelected.
- The lack of a fusion of powers gives the Executive control over the Commons and the unelected second chamber weakens parliament’s ability to hold the executive to account
- We can form a judgement that the structure of the UK political system tends towards executive dominance over parliament.
2: Parliament has become more assertive after the election in 2010
- Parliament has become more assertive over recent years, especially during the coalition (2010-15) and small majority/minority governments from 2015-2019 with backbenchers more likely to rebel. Governments have faced defeats in the Commons on key issues such as ‘Brexit’ and the reformed House of Lords has been more willing to challenge the government
3: The government was elected with a large majority in 2019
- Johnson was elected with a majority of around 80 seats and this means the government is very unlikely to lose a vote in the Commons. The revised ‘Brexit’ Bill dropped the commitment to consult Parliament.
- We can conclude that the Conservative government’s large majority means that the executive will dominate parliament.
4: The coalition and Conservative governments from 2010-2019 faced effective scrutiny and challenge from parliament.
- We have experienced almost a decade of a resurgent Parliament. Despite Johnson’s large majority, the executive can expect to face scrutiny and challenge from parliament and to be held to account for its actions.
- We can form a judgement that parliament will continue to challenge and scrutinise the executive, that it will not dominate parliament.
