Scrutiny of the government by parliament Flashcards
what are the ten main ways in which parliament can scrutinise the government?
backbenchers, frontbenchers, commons committees, commons liason committee, party whips, House of lords, PMQs, official opposition, early day motions and topical debates, votes of no confidence. (also urgent questions and BBBC)
in what way are commons committees weak?
A lot smaller than in US, with less resources and no power to subpoena (force witnesses).
what are standing/ legislative committees?
ad hoc, formed to consider specific pieces of legislation. Normally 15-25 members, with people representative to parliament politically. Appointed by committee of selection. Bills pass through following second reading, where committee looks at each clause, although only for a limited amount of time. Whipping means amendments unlikely without gov support.
what are select committees?
not in legislation process but still hold gov to account. One for each dept, have role of scrutinising depts. Since established 1970s. 2000 Norton report and 2001 Newton report wanted bigger and stronger select committees for gov depts. Also non-departmental committees, including Public Accounts committee which ensures value for money in gov, reputation for holding depts accountable for spending.
what is the commons liaison committee?
Comprises of various commons dept select committee heads, meets at portcullis house and allows MPs to question PM outside PMQ. Blair came before the CLC twice a year
what are Prime Minister’s questions?
Every Wed, 30 mins, MPs quiz PM. Introduced in 1961, New Labours first term replaced Tues Thurs sessions, allowing for lengthier questioning. Allow backbenchers to address constituent problems and hold PM and gov to account, but still theatrical. Puts PM on spot and changes views of him– 2011 Cameron ‘calm down dear’. Also dept heads questioned in Ministers’ questions.
what is the backbench business committee?
established in 2010, gives backbenchers a say in what will be debated in 35 days of every parliamentary session. For example in 2011 BBBC scheduled a debate over a possible EU referendum, as the govt had been reluctant to have one.
what are frontbenchers?
MPs on front bench– senior ministers, shadow ministers or spokespeople for other parties. Relied upon heavily in PMQs and debates over legislation relevant to their area of responsibility.
what are early day motions and topical debates?
Call for commons debate– MPs propose (sponsor) and add names to motions to raise concerns with gov. Little time for actual debate but airs constituents issues. Commons holds topical debates on matters of public interest, opposition parties can initiate some debates. E-petitions also used to secure up to 100,000 signatures. In 2011, Commons debated a motion calling for referendum on EU. In 2015 motion to record govs thanks to the Lesbians and Gays Supports the Miners’ Group for its solidarity with mining communities
what are votes of no confidence?
Formal vote taken in commons in response to tabling of the motion that the commons has no confidence in the gov. By convention, PM and gov should after losing request dissolution of parliament and election. Majority govs unlikely to lose, but minority and small-majority govs could if all MPs unite. In 1979 Labour’s James Callaghan lost a VONC, prompting election and 18 years of conservative gov. In 1993 John Majorthreatened his own gov with a VONC so he could pass the Social Chapter of theMaastricht Treaty.
what role does the HOL have in scrutinising legislation?
Although the second chamber can be effectively overruled by the HOC, they still serve as check on gov. The coalition gov was defeated 48 times by peers, and often legislation is made lords-friendly before the HOL process to precipitate Lords intervention. Peers tend to be more interested in the detail rather than the principle of legislation and, by a convention known as the Salisbury Convention, do not vote on the principle of measures included in the government’s election manifesto.
what is the official opposition?
2nd biggest party, including shadow cabinet. Receives public (short after Edward Short) money to help cover costs of holding gov to account. In 2011/12 Labour received £6 mill short money.
Can check on gov during opposition days. Where they determine topic of debate. 20 days of these available to opposition in each session, 17 for leader of opposition and 3 for third parties. In 2014 Labour chose minimum wage as Conservatives avoided the issue.
what role do backbenchers have in srutinising legislation?
MPs should be representative of constituents, loyal to their parties (as voters mainly vote parties not people), watchdogs over gov (Tony Benn did this a lot), and legislators in form of killing some bills. They can introduce Private Members Bills, though they rarely get debated, to talk about touchy issues (e.g 1967 Abortion Act). MPs becoming increasingly better as bigger salaries and longer terms, leading to greater party loyalty in chamber. Backbench rebellions (especially when coherent voting blocs are formed0 increasingly used as means of scrutinising government– 44% of all divisions during first 2 years of coalition involved a rebellion. The 239 rebellions made 2010 the highest for backbench rebellions than in all but 3 post-war governments.
what are party whips?
Employ carrot and stick approach, loyal voters get further ahead (e.g John Major). Whips can ultimately sanction to remove MPs from party, leaving them as independents, only used rarely as can damage party too. In 1994 Major kicked out 8 MPs (the ‘whipless wonders’) for disloyalty over Maastricht treaty. Whips also weekly document detailing how MPs are supposed to vote and turn up.
what is bicameralism?
of a legislative body) having two chambers. In parliament there is the HOL and HOC, which benefits the system as it allows for each to check the other so no system ever gets too powerful.
