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UK Politics (AK) > Structure and role of Parliament > Flashcards

Structure and role of Parliament Flashcards

1
Q

Bicameralism

A

Political system which there are two chambers

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2
Q

amount of members in commons

A

650

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3
Q

what did cons promise to do to no. of MPs by 2020

A

cut the number of MPs to 600

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4
Q

parliamentary privelage

A

legal immunity in parliament especially in terms of free speech

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5
Q

exclusive cognisance

A

right for the house to regulate its own internal affairs

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6
Q

example to show MPs are not above the law

A

expenses scandal

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7
Q

whips

A

party official responsible for ensuring MPs turn up to vote

also an instruction on how to vote

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8
Q

MPs salary

A

almost £75,000 in 2016

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9
Q

who is in charge of MPs salaries

A

independent parliamentary salaries authority

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10
Q

what do whips do

A

ensure they attend votes
instruct on how to vote
enforce discipline within the party

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11
Q

3 line whip

A

strict instructions on how to vote

don’t follow they face disciplinary action

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12
Q

the speaker

A

selects MPs to speak
maintains order
suspend MPs who break rules

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13
Q

does the speaker stand down

A

yes, post general election

usually re-elected

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14
Q

who does the speaker support

A

no one
they are non partisan
give up party affiliation
they don’t vote unless a tie

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15
Q

example of a controversial speaker

A

Michael martin
badly handled expenses scandal
resigned 2009

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16
Q

John Bercows support

A

had limited supported amongst cons

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17
Q

why has Bercow been described as a reforming speaker

A

he sough to enhance scrutiny of executive

granted more ‘urgent questions’

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18
Q

amount of urgent questions in 2015-16

A

77

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19
Q

hereditary peer

A

selected from whose inherited their title

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20
Q

life peer

A

member who has been appointed for their lifetime

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21
Q

peer

A

member of the lords

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22
Q

who is the lord speaker

A

Lord fowler

con cabinet minister elected in 2016

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23
Q

how many hereditary peers did the lords have before 1999 act

A

over 750

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24
Q

Peerages Act 1963

A

hereditary peers could renounce their title

allowed women hereditary peers to sit

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25
Q

who took advantage of the peerages act

A

alec douglas home

won by election+became con PM 1963

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26
Q

Life peerages act 1958

A

PM had the right to appoint members to upper house for life

life peerages largest group in upper house

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27
Q

conservative hereditary peers 1999 to 2017 comparison

A

299 to 49

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28
Q

labour hereditary peers 1999 to 2017 comparison

A

19 to 4

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29
Q

what was the impact of introducing life peers to the lords

A

more diversity

more professionalism-figures from business,education

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30
Q

the impact of removal of hereditary peers to the conservative party

A

cons had majority in upper house, most took con whip

now no party has majority

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31
Q

how did the removal of hereditary peers impact women

A

increased proportion of women in the lords

2017 they made up 26% (9% before 99’)

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32
Q

what is the problem with the size of the HoL

A

worlds 2nd largest legislative chamber in the world

risks damaging ability to function thus reputation

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33
Q

free vote 2003

A

MPs 7 options on lords reform
non got majority
peers voted for wholly appointed house

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34
Q

white paper 2007

A

proposed 50% appointed 50% elected

failed to get through lords

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35
Q

exclusive power that the commons has

A

right to insist on legislation
financial privelage
power to dismiss executive

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36
Q

right to insist on legislation

A

lords should ultimately give way to commons

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37
Q

financial privelage

A

lords cannot amend/delay money bills

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38
Q

power to dismiss executive

A

if vote of no confidence successful

must resign

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39
Q

what gives commons its primacy

A

conventions (Salisbury doctrine,reasonable time and secondary legislation)
parliament acts 1911/49

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40
Q

reasonable time

A

lords consider gov business in reasonable time

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41
Q

secondary legislation

A

lords usually don’t object to secondary legislation

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42
Q

what kind of chamber could the lords be described as

A

revising as opposed to a veto one

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43
Q

what can the lords do to commons legislation

A

propose amendments (don’t have to be accepted)

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44
Q

how long can the lords block a bill for

A

a year (used to be indefinitely)

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45
Q

what happens if the lords block a bill for a year

A

can still be passed in following session without consent of lords

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46
Q

examples of legislation which have been blocked for a year and then passed in the next session

A 
war crimes act 1991
sexual offences (amendment) act 2000
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47
Q

what are money bills

A

concerned soley with national taxation,loans or public money

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48
Q

what does the 1911 parliament act say about money bills

A

declared as money bills by the speaker, if they don’t pass through lords unamended within 1 month it can get royal assent without lords permission

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49
Q

when can the commons claim financial privelage

A

lords pass an amendment to legislation that has financial implication (creating new spending)

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50
Q

when did the con-lib dem gov claim financial privelage

A

final stages welfare reform bill 2012

lords backed down

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51
Q

confidence and supply

A

requirement, gov must be able to command majority on vote of confidence and supply

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52
Q

what does supply refer to

A

authorization of gov spending by the commons

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53
Q

how can a government be defeated by the commons

A

motion of no confidence

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54
Q

how many votes of no confidence have there been

A

23 since 1945

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55
Q

who lost a vote of no confidence by one vote

A

james Callaghan labour 1979

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56
Q

what is the reasoning for the salisbury doctrine

A

GE victory gives governments authority to implement programme presented to electorate

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57
Q

how many times were the blair and brown governments defeated in the lords compared to commons

A

400+ in lords

7 in commons

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58
Q

how many defeats did the coalition face in the lords

A

99

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59
Q

how many defeats were accepted in blair and browns governments

A

4/10

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60
Q

example of defeats coalition government accepted

A

key provisions for public body bills 2010-12

incl plans for a priv forestry commission

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61
Q

what are the results of an increase in checks and reform from the lords on parliament

A

party balance (no majority in lords)
increase legitimacy in lords
support from MPs
gov mandate

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62
Q

government mandate (as a result of lords reform)

A

peers question coalition mandates/party has less than third of electorates support

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63
Q

support from MPs (result of lords reform)

A

force govs to amend proposals when MPs support the amendments

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64
Q

input legitimacy

A

composition of institution and its responsiveness to citizens concerns

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65
Q

output legitimacy

A

quality and effectiveness of institutions performs

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66
Q

why does the commons have input legitimacy

A

bc its directly elected+accountable

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67
Q

why does the lords have output legitimacy

A

bc of what it delivers e/g scrutiny of commons and its revision to improve legislation

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68
Q

what is the argument for an appointed lords rather than an elected one

A

has different role to commons
revising chamber/members has expertise
don’t have to worry about elections

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69
Q

what would be the problem with an elected upper house

A

competing legitimacy claims
legislative gridlock
problems with party control

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70
Q

functions of parliament

A 
legislate 
debate
scrutiny and accountability 
recruitment of minister 
representation
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71
Q

bill

A

proposal of new law

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72
Q

green paper

A

gov document setting out options for legislation inviting comment

73
Q

white paper

A

gov document setting out detailed proposal for legislation

74
Q

public bill

A

concerning general issue of public policy (most significant)

75
Q

how many bills does the public introduce per session

A

25-35

76
Q

role of committees

A

can lead to redrafting

can be ignored

77
Q

3 processes legislation goes through

A

debate
scrutiny
amendment

78
Q

first reading

A

presentation of title of bill by minister of department

79
Q

second reading

A

main debate on bill

if contested vote taken

80
Q

committee stage

A

scrutiny

clarify/improve bill

81
Q

2015-16 session how many public bill committees were there

A

22

82
Q

where do PBC get their evidence

A

outside experts

83
Q

report stage

A

amendments made in committee are considered
accept/rejct/alter
MPs can table amendments

84
Q

example of lost report stage vote

A

Major on maastricht treaty 1993

made issue matter of confidence won by 40

85
Q

third reading

A

debate on ammended bill

86
Q

house of lords stage

A

can amend

bill goes back n forth lords+commons

87
Q

private members bill three routes

A

ballot
ten minute rule bill
presentation

88
Q

ballot (private members bill)

A

names in a hat of members with bills, 20 drawn

allocated times on 13 fridays

89
Q

ten minute rule bill

A

10 mins to make a speech to introduce a bill

more to draw attention to issues

90
Q

presentation

A

MPs present bill on house floor introduce the name

no debate yet

91
Q

landmark laws which originated as private members bills

A

abolition of the death penalty 1965
abortion act 1967
House of Lords reform 2014

92
Q

secondary legislation

A

law made by ministers, granted authority by an act of parliament rather than made by parliament

93
Q

three fold classification of legislatures

A

policy making legislature
policy influencing legislature
legislature with little or no policy influence

94
Q

policy making legislature

A

amend/reject proposals made by gov

put forward alternatives

95
Q

policy influencing legislature

A

modify/reject proposals made by gov

can’t make own propsals

96
Q

legislatures with little or no policy influence

A

can’t modify/veto proposals

97
Q

what legislature is uk parliament

A

policy influencing

98
Q

4 ways executive is dominant

A

government bills (most bills originate from gov)
parliamentary timetable
payroll vote
party discipline

99
Q

pay roll vote

A

ministers+parliamentary private secretaries required to support gov or resign

100
Q

party discipline

A

whip system ensures proposals aren’t usually defeated

101
Q

how can government be scrutinised

A

PMQs
opposition party
select committees

102
Q

question time

A

back benchers and opposition question PMs actions

topical issues

103
Q

written compared to oral questions in commons 2015-16

A

written 35,000

oral 3,600

104
Q

2 tasks of the opposition

A

oppose many of govs legislation

appear as ‘government-in-waiting’ (develop own policies)

105
Q

2015-16 labours short money

A

£6.8 million

106
Q

what are opposition parties permitted to do

A

choose a topic for debate- get 20 days in the year for it

gives opportunity to expose gov failures

107
Q

how can the effectiveness of the opposition be limited

A

can’t claim mandate if just lost an election

internal party divides

108
Q

example of internal divisions which damaged the effectiveness of the opposition

A

jeremy corbyn allowed free votes on air strikes in syria

109
Q

select committee

A

committee responsible for scrutinising the work of government

110
Q

main function of a select committee

A

hold government to account

111
Q

example of roles the liason committee set out for other departmental committees

A

examine policy
scrutinize draft bills
produce reports for debates
help commons make work accessible to public

112
Q

when were departmental select committees created

A

1979

113
Q

how many members are there in a select committee

A

most 11

114
Q

Largest select committee

A

committee on exiting the European union 21 members

115
Q

what does the membership of a committees reflect

A

party balance in commons

116
Q

how are committee members select

A

secret ballot within party groups

117
Q

powers select committees have

A

summon witnesses

examine restricted documents

118
Q

example of a confrontation in a select committee meeting

A

Rupert Murdoch

Philip Green

119
Q

highly influential investigations involving select committees

A

culture, media and sport committee inquiry into phone hacking 2015-16

120
Q

health select committee inquiry 2011

A

identified problems with coalition gov’s proposal for NHS reform

121
Q

Business, energy and industrial strategy committee inquiry 2016

A

inquiry into ‘disturbing’ working practices in sports direct

mike Ashley held responsible

122
Q

does the government have to respond to select committee reports

A

yes but don’t have to accept their reccomendations

123
Q

what % of recommendations do govs accept from select committees

A

40%

124
Q

can select committees introduce their own legislation

A

no

pre-legislative scrutiny

125
Q

select committees are effective in scrutinising the government (YES)

A

scrutinize policy+actions
question ministers,civil servant
election of members enhanced its independence

126
Q

select committees aren effective in scrutinising the government (NO)

A

gov with majority in commons have majority in committees
all evidence may not be provided
access to documents denied
some members don’t attend all the time

127
Q

liason committee

A

chairs of all select committees

significant meetings twice yearly sessions where gov is questioned

128
Q

public accounts committee

A

examines gov expenditure check value of money is being achieved
chaired by senior opposition

129
Q

public administration and constitutional affairs committee

A

examines constitutional issues

130
Q

half an hour adjournment debates

A

half an hour end of every day

131
Q

how many emergency debates were held in 2015-16

A

4
Europe refugee crisis
UK steel industry

132
Q

what has happened as a result of the creation of the grand committee room

A

no. and range of issues debated has increased

deal with non controversial issues

133
Q

example of a debate that has received high quality contributions

A

2015 bombing of Syria

reflected the difference of opinions across the nation

134
Q

backbench business committee

A

created 2010

decides debate topic for 1 day a week

135
Q

example of a motion the government has ignored in debates

A

lowering voting to 16

136
Q

how are members of the BBBC selected

A

elected in party groups rather than by whole house

harder for independent candidates to be involved

137
Q

how many signatures does an e-petition need to be debated

A

100,000
32 debated 2011-15
e.g on fuel duty,EU referendum

138
Q

has the back bench business committee been a success (YES)

A

backbench MPs have a greater say
enabled debates on things that otherwise might no have been (EU referendum)
influenced gov policy (beer duty)

139
Q

how has the BBBC helped to engage the public with parliament

A

e petitions

140
Q

has the back bench business committee been a success (NO)

A

gov doesn’t have to respond/accept motions
gov controls BBBC times
smaller parties aren’t represented

141
Q

no. of members from each party which made up the BBBC

A

7 cons
7 labour
rest SNP

142
Q

why has the effectiveness about the recruitment of minister come into questions

A

communication skills
experience
conformity

143
Q

communication skills

A

larger emphasis for ministers to communicate well on TV rather than parliament

144
Q

experience

A

1/5 MPs worked in politics (researchers/adivisors)
increase in career politicians
increasing gap between political class and ordinary voters

145
Q

conformity

A

loyal MPs better chance of being ministers

146
Q

delegation model (representation)

A

individual acts on behalf of people based on instructions
shouldn’t follow own judgement
MPs are not delegate

147
Q

Trustee model

A

MPs represent interests of constituents
free to decide how to vote on judgement and merit
assumes MPs have greater understanding

148
Q

who proposed the trustee model

A

Edmund burke

149
Q

what are MPs supposed to do in their constituency

A

protect and advance the collective interests of constituency

150
Q

how much time does constituency work take up for an mp

A

half

151
Q

what did the Hansard Society’s Audit of political Engagement show about local MPs

A

35% of people were satisfied with how their local MP was doing their job
(compared to 29% overall)`

152
Q

descriptive representation

A

legislature mirrors the society it represents

parliament should be a ‘microcosm’ of society

153
Q

women makeup of parliament compared to population

A

32%-51%

154
Q

why does labour usually have a higher number of female MPs

A

all women shortlists

155
Q

all women shortlists

A

used in every lab election since 1997 (not 2001)

sex discrimination act 2002 permits this

156
Q

critics of all women shortlists

A

not based on merit

157
Q

priority lists

A

constituency associations draw up shortlists atleast half had to be women
didn’t guarantee they’d be elected
approach was dropped

158
Q

what type of intiatives are priority lists and all women short lists

A

demand side

159
Q

why do ‘supply side’ initiatives remain an obstacle for increasing the number of women in parliament

A

career choices
family
lack of money
lack of political connections

160
Q

rise in number of ethnic minority MPs at 2017 general election

A

41 to 52

only 8% compared to 14% of population

161
Q

education descriptive representation

A

29% of MPs 2017 fee paying school
7% of voters
number is in decline

162
Q

what 2 factors are legislative-relationships affected by

A

govs parliamentary majority

extent of party unity

163
Q

why could blair survive large rebellions

A

2001 167 majority

164
Q

examples of rebellions in blairs government

A

Iraq

tuition fees

165
Q

what was labs majority cut to in 2005

A

65

they then faced first commons defeat

166
Q

minority government

A

party with largest number of seats

can form confidence and supply

167
Q

example of minority government

A

conservative+DUP

lost majority in 2017

168
Q

conservative-lib dem coalition majority

A

79

169
Q

what has given backbencher more power

A

BBBC

increase in urgent questions

170
Q

what suggests that backbenchers don’t have that much influence

A

large number of private member bills are defeated

171
Q

parliamentary rebellion

A

voting against the whip

172
Q

rebellions in major’s 1992-97 gov

A

Maastricht treaty

gun control

173
Q

largest rebellion in modern politics

A

139 labour MPs 2003 vote on invasion on Iraq

174
Q

most rebellious parliaments since 1945

A

con-lib dem
rebelled on 35% of votes 2010-15
didn’t experience many defeats bc MPs from each party rebelled different issues

175
Q

how many conservatives rebelled on 2012 house of lords bill

A

91

176
Q

what two things have increased scrutiny of the executive

A

house of lords

back benchers

177
Q

is parliament an effective check on the power of the executive (YES)

A 
power over timetable weakend by BBBC+UQ
back benchers provide more checks on policy 
increase rebellions
HoL effective as revision chamber 
select committees more influential
178
Q

is parliament an effect check on the power of the executive (NO)

A

still lots of control over timetable
defeats are rare
select committees have little power (ignore them)

179
Q

what % of people are satisfied with how parliament works

A

30%

according Hansard society’s 2017 report

UK Politics (AK) (5 decks)

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