Representation and Participation

Question 1

No Act of Parliament can lawfully be set aside by any act of the executive or judiciary, nor is any Parliament bound by the actions of any previous Parliament. True or False

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Unique to the British system, the political power exerted by the House of Commons is unlimited, though the Commons never pushes the envelope. True or False

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Today, the balance of institutional power in Britain has shifted from Parliament to the governing party (or at present parties backing the coalition) and the executive. True or False

Answer 3

True

Question 4

To become law, bills must be introduced in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, although approval by the latter is not required. True or False

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Most significantly, the Lords serves mainly as a chamber of revision, providing expertise in redrafting legislation, with the power to suggest amendments to legislation under consideration in the Commons. True or False

Answer 5

True

Question 6

The Lords can debate, refine, and delay—but not block—legislation. True or False

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Since the 1970s, backbenchers are markedly more deferential because they hope to one day assume a leadership role. True or False

Answer 7

False

Question 8

Although select committees are supposed to scrutinize the activities of the government ministries and its employees, rarely if ever will the former’s reviews and recommendations be at odds with government policy for fear of losing their clout. True or False

Answer 8

False

Question 9

Since the mid-1970s in Britain, there has been a decline in class-based voting. True or False

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Conservatives made far less trouble for Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair on Iraq than did members of the Labour Party. True or False

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to reduce poverty both in Britain and globally, take on climate change as a priority, and ensure security from terrorism. True or False

Answer 11

True

Question 12

The core constitutional principle defining the role of the legislature and, in a sense, the whole system of British government: a) collective responsibility, b) legislative adjudication, c) parliamentary sovereignty, d) executive privilege.

Answer 12

c) parliamentary sovereignty

Question 13

Why does the House of Commons no longer legislate in a meaningful way? a) Because the prime minister can veto any legislation that is being considered, b) Because interest groups have taken over the governing functions that exist, c) Because the Crown has neutralized the ability of popular will from exercising true power, d) Because a single governing party has a majority of the seats and can control the legislative agenda and pass legislation at will.

Answer 13

d) Because a single governing party has a majority of the seats and can control the legislative agenda and pass legislation at will

Question 14

As of 2010, the House of Commons has how many seats? a) 650, b) 700, c) 750, d) 800.

Answer 14

a) 650

Question 15

What very important function does the House of Commons play? a) It determines the legislative agenda, b) It prioritizes what legislation will be heard, c) It provides a highly visible arena for policy debate among contending parties, d) It organizes the various pieces of legislation into a coherent whole for ratification.

Answer 15

c) It provides a highly visible arena for policy debate among contending parties

Question 16

Why would members (MPs) of the governing party be reluctant to rebel against their leader in the House of Commons? a) Because they feel an obligation to constituent interest groups, b) Because they do not want the unnecessary political attention, c) Because the EU would then get involved in the internal politics of Britain, d) Because the consequences of calling an election to remove the prime minister may also cost them their job

Answer 16

d) Because the consequences of calling an election to remove the prime minister may also cost them their job

Question 17

Although a variety of groups are involved in proposing and introducing legislation, proposed legislation on behalf of the government is normally drafted by: a) civil servants, b) the cabinet, c) the Commons, d) career politicians.

Answer 17

a) civil servants

Question 18

After a second reading, usually a bill then goes for detailed review to: a) the cabinet, b) career bureaucrats, c) a standing committee, d) the House of Lords.

Answer 18

c) a standing committee

Question 19

According to custom, the House of Lords must pass bills concerning taxation or budgetary matters: a) with necessary changes that may require greater precision, b) with the right to only look at the language but cannot alter the spirit of what is being revised, c) with the necessary recommendations included to assure that the budget is balanced with the expenditure side being included, d) without alteration.

Answer 19

d) without alteration.

Question 20

How many members comprise the House of Lords as of 2011? a) 400, b) 740, c) 1,200, d) 1500.

Answer 20

b) 740

Question 21

The following are MPs of the governing party who have no government office and rank-and-file opposition members in the Commons: a) backbenchers, b) junior subordinates, c) standing committee members, d) shadow opponents.

Answer 21

a) backbenchers

Question 22

The following help Parliament exert control over the executive by examining specific policies or aspects of administration: a) oversight committees, b) select committees, c) executive committees, d) authorization committees.

Answer 22

b) select committees

Question 23

From 1945 through 2005, the Conservative and Labour parties had won how many general elections? a) 4, b) 6, c) 8, d) 10

Answer 23

c) 8

Question 24

Throughout the postwar period the two major political parties in Britain have routinely divided what percentage of the seats in the House of Commons? a) 60%, b) 67%, c) 75%, d) 85%

Answer 24

d) 85%

Question 25

Fifty years ago, how many manual workers voted for the Labour Party in Briatin? a) 2 out of 3, b) 3 out of 4, c) 5 out 6, d) 9 out of 10.

Answer 25

a) 2 out of 3

Question 26

Under the leadership of Ed Milibrand, the British Labour Party has: a) continued Blair’s policies and embraced New Labour, b) moved in a progressive direction, c) returned to the ideals of Old Labour and the embraced a more left-leaning socialist agenda, d) renounced entirely its trade unionist past and become much more conservative, arguing for strengthening the role of the monarchy and the Anglican Church.

Answer 26

b) moved in a progressive direction

Question 27

What are the 3 main functions of Parliament?

a) to pass \_\_\_\_.
b) to provide \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for the state by authorizing \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, c) to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ public administration and government policy.

Answer 27

a) laws
b) finance, taxation
c) review scrutinize

Question 28

The House of Lords is an unelected body that is comprised of:

a) ___________ peers (nobility of the rank of duke, marquis, earl, viscount, or baron),
b) _____ peers (appointed on the recommendation of the prime minister or the recently institutionalized House of Lords Appointment Commission) and
c) The Lords also includes the ____________ of ___________ and _____ and some two dozen senior bishops in the Church of England.

Answer 28

a) hereditary
b) life
c) archbishops, Canterbury, York

Question 29

What helped catapult the Liberal Democratic Party (Lib Dems) into serious contention in the 2010 election?

a) Nick \_\_\_\_\_\_, a 40-year old ex-journalist and former member of the European 	Parliament took over leadership.
b) The country’s \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ with New Labour.
c) The concerns about the erosion of \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ that played to the party’s 	strength.

Answer 29

a) Clegg
b) fatigue
c) civil liberties