Structure and role of Parliament Flashcards
1
Q
Bicameralism
A
Political system which there are two chambers
2
Q
amount of members in commons
A
650
3
Q
what did cons promise to do to no. of MPs by 2020
A
cut the number of MPs to 600
4
Q
parliamentary privelage
A
legal immunity in parliament especially in terms of free speech
5
Q
exclusive cognisance
A
right for the house to regulate its own internal affairs
6
Q
example to show MPs are not above the law
A
expenses scandal
7
Q
whips
A
party official responsible for ensuring MPs turn up to vote
also an instruction on how to vote
8
Q
MPs salary
A
almost £75,000 in 2016
9
Q
who is in charge of MPs salaries
A
independent parliamentary salaries authority
10
Q
what do whips do
A
ensure they attend votes
instruct on how to vote
enforce discipline within the party
11
Q
3 line whip
A
strict instructions on how to vote
don’t follow they face disciplinary action
12
Q
the speaker
A
selects MPs to speak
maintains order
suspend MPs who break rules
13
Q
does the speaker stand down
A
yes, post general election
usually re-elected
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
15
Q
example of a controversial speaker
A
Michael martin
badly handled expenses scandal
resigned 2009
16
Q
John Bercows support
A
had limited supported amongst cons
17
Q
why has Bercow been described as a reforming speaker
A
he sough to enhance scrutiny of executive
granted more ‘urgent questions’
18
Q
amount of urgent questions in 2015-16
A
77
19
Q
hereditary peer
A
selected from whose inherited their title
20
Q
life peer
A
member who has been appointed for their lifetime
21
Q
peer
A
member of the lords
22
Q
who is the lord speaker
A
Lord fowler
con cabinet minister elected in 2016
23
Q
how many hereditary peers did the lords have before 1999 act
A
over 750
24
Q
Peerages Act 1963
A
hereditary peers could renounce their title
allowed women hereditary peers to sit
25
who took advantage of the peerages act
alec douglas home
| won by election+became con PM 1963
26
Life peerages act 1958
PM had the right to appoint members to upper house for life
| life peerages largest group in upper house
27
conservative hereditary peers 1999 to 2017 comparison
299 to 49
28
labour hereditary peers 1999 to 2017 comparison
19 to 4
29
what was the impact of introducing life peers to the lords
more diversity
| more professionalism-figures from business,education
30
the impact of removal of hereditary peers to the conservative party
cons had majority in upper house, most took con whip
| now no party has majority
31
how did the removal of hereditary peers impact women
increased proportion of women in the lords
| 2017 they made up 26% (9% before 99')
32
what is the problem with the size of the HoL
worlds 2nd largest legislative chamber in the world
| risks damaging ability to function thus reputation
33
free vote 2003
MPs 7 options on lords reform
non got majority
peers voted for wholly appointed house
34
white paper 2007
proposed 50% appointed 50% elected
| failed to get through lords
35
exclusive power that the commons has
right to insist on legislation
financial privelage
power to dismiss executive
36
right to insist on legislation
lords should ultimately give way to commons
37
financial privelage
lords cannot amend/delay money bills
38
power to dismiss executive
if vote of no confidence successful
| must resign
39
what gives commons its primacy
conventions (Salisbury doctrine,reasonable time and secondary legislation)
parliament acts 1911/49
40
reasonable time
lords consider gov business in reasonable time
41
secondary legislation
lords usually don't object to secondary legislation
42
what kind of chamber could the lords be described as
revising as opposed to a veto one
43
what can the lords do to commons legislation
propose amendments (don't have to be accepted)
44
how long can the lords block a bill for
a year (used to be indefinitely)
45
what happens if the lords block a bill for a year
can still be passed in following session without consent of lords
46
examples of legislation which have been blocked for a year and then passed in the next session
```
war crimes act 1991
sexual offences (amendment) act 2000
```
47
what are money bills
concerned soley with national taxation,loans or public money
48
what does the 1911 parliament act say about money bills
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
49
when can the commons claim financial privelage
lords pass an amendment to legislation that has financial implication (creating new spending)
50
when did the con-lib dem gov claim financial privelage
final stages welfare reform bill 2012
| lords backed down
51
confidence and supply
requirement, gov must be able to command majority on vote of confidence and supply
52
what does supply refer to
authorization of gov spending by the commons
53
how can a government be defeated by the commons
motion of no confidence
54
how many votes of no confidence have there been
23 since 1945
55
who lost a vote of no confidence by one vote
james Callaghan labour 1979
56
what is the reasoning for the salisbury doctrine
GE victory gives governments authority to implement programme presented to electorate
57
how many times were the blair and brown governments defeated in the lords compared to commons
400+ in lords
| 7 in commons
58
how many defeats did the coalition face in the lords
99
59
how many defeats were accepted in blair and browns governments
4/10
60
example of defeats coalition government accepted
key provisions for public body bills 2010-12
| incl plans for a priv forestry commission
61
what are the results of an increase in checks and reform from the lords on parliament
party balance (no majority in lords)
increase legitimacy in lords
support from MPs
gov mandate
62
government mandate (as a result of lords reform)
peers question coalition mandates/party has less than third of electorates support
63
support from MPs (result of lords reform)
force govs to amend proposals when MPs support the amendments
64
input legitimacy
composition of institution and its responsiveness to citizens concerns
65
output legitimacy
quality and effectiveness of institutions performs
66
why does the commons have input legitimacy
bc its directly elected+accountable
67
why does the lords have output legitimacy
bc of what it delivers e/g scrutiny of commons and its revision to improve legislation
68
what is the argument for an appointed lords rather than an elected one
has different role to commons
revising chamber/members has expertise
don't have to worry about elections
69
what would be the problem with an elected upper house
competing legitimacy claims
legislative gridlock
problems with party control
70
functions of parliament
```
legislate
debate
scrutiny and accountability
recruitment of minister
representation
```
71
bill
proposal of new law
72
green paper
gov document setting out options for legislation inviting comment
73
white paper
gov document setting out detailed proposal for legislation
74
public bill
concerning general issue of public policy (most significant)
75
how many bills does the public introduce per session
25-35
76
role of committees
can lead to redrafting
| can be ignored
77
3 processes legislation goes through
debate
scrutiny
amendment
78
first reading
presentation of title of bill by minister of department
79
second reading
main debate on bill
| if contested vote taken
80
committee stage
scrutiny
| clarify/improve bill
81
2015-16 session how many public bill committees were there
22
82
where do PBC get their evidence
outside experts
83
report stage
amendments made in committee are considered
accept/rejct/alter
MPs can table amendments
84
example of lost report stage vote
Major on maastricht treaty 1993
| made issue matter of confidence won by 40
85
third reading
debate on ammended bill
86
house of lords stage
can amend
| bill goes back n forth lords+commons
87
private members bill three routes
ballot
ten minute rule bill
presentation
88
ballot (private members bill)
names in a hat of members with bills, 20 drawn
| allocated times on 13 fridays
89
ten minute rule bill
10 mins to make a speech to introduce a bill
| more to draw attention to issues
90
presentation
MPs present bill on house floor introduce the name
| no debate yet
91
landmark laws which originated as private members bills
abolition of the death penalty 1965
abortion act 1967
House of Lords reform 2014
92
secondary legislation
law made by ministers, granted authority by an act of parliament rather than made by parliament
93
three fold classification of legislatures
policy making legislature
policy influencing legislature
legislature with little or no policy influence
94
policy making legislature
amend/reject proposals made by gov
| put forward alternatives
95
policy influencing legislature
modify/reject proposals made by gov
| can't make own propsals
96
legislatures with little or no policy influence
can't modify/veto proposals
97
what legislature is uk parliament
policy influencing
98
4 ways executive is dominant
government bills (most bills originate from gov)
parliamentary timetable
payroll vote
party discipline
99
pay roll vote
ministers+parliamentary private secretaries required to support gov or resign
100
party discipline
whip system ensures proposals aren't usually defeated
101
how can government be scrutinised
PMQs
opposition party
select committees
102
question time
back benchers and opposition question PMs actions
| topical issues
103
written compared to oral questions in commons 2015-16
written 35,000
| oral 3,600
104
2 tasks of the opposition
oppose many of govs legislation
| appear as 'government-in-waiting' (develop own policies)
105
2015-16 labours short money
£6.8 million
106
what are opposition parties permitted to do
choose a topic for debate- get 20 days in the year for it
| gives opportunity to expose gov failures
107
how can the effectiveness of the opposition be limited
can't claim mandate if just lost an election
| internal party divides
108
example of internal divisions which damaged the effectiveness of the opposition
jeremy corbyn allowed free votes on air strikes in syria
109
select committee
committee responsible for scrutinising the work of government
110
main function of a select committee
hold government to account
111
example of roles the liason committee set out for other departmental committees
examine policy
scrutinize draft bills
produce reports for debates
help commons make work accessible to public
112
when were departmental select committees created
1979
113
how many members are there in a select committee
most 11
114
Largest select committee
committee on exiting the European union 21 members
115
what does the membership of a committees reflect
party balance in commons
116
how are committee members select
secret ballot within party groups
117
powers select committees have
summon witnesses
| examine restricted documents
118
example of a confrontation in a select committee meeting
Rupert Murdoch
| Philip Green
119
highly influential investigations involving select committees
culture, media and sport committee inquiry into phone hacking 2015-16
120
health select committee inquiry 2011
identified problems with coalition gov's proposal for NHS reform
121
Business, energy and industrial strategy committee inquiry 2016
inquiry into 'disturbing' working practices in sports direct
| mike Ashley held responsible
122
does the government have to respond to select committee reports
yes but don't have to accept their reccomendations
123
what % of recommendations do govs accept from select committees
40%
124
can select committees introduce their own legislation
no
| pre-legislative scrutiny
125
select committees are effective in scrutinising the government (YES)
scrutinize policy+actions
question ministers,civil servant
election of members enhanced its independence
126
select committees aren effective in scrutinising the government (NO)
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
liason committee
chairs of all select committees
| significant meetings twice yearly sessions where gov is questioned
128
public accounts committee
examines gov expenditure check value of money is being achieved
chaired by senior opposition
129
public administration and constitutional affairs committee
examines constitutional issues
130
half an hour adjournment debates
half an hour end of every day
131
how many emergency debates were held in 2015-16
4
Europe refugee crisis
UK steel industry
132
what has happened as a result of the creation of the grand committee room
no. and range of issues debated has increased
| deal with non controversial issues
133
example of a debate that has received high quality contributions
2015 bombing of Syria
| reflected the difference of opinions across the nation
134
backbench business committee
created 2010
| decides debate topic for 1 day a week
135
example of a motion the government has ignored in debates
lowering voting to 16
136
how are members of the BBBC selected
elected in party groups rather than by whole house
| harder for independent candidates to be involved
137
how many signatures does an e-petition need to be debated
100,000
32 debated 2011-15
e.g on fuel duty,EU referendum
138
has the back bench business committee been a success (YES)
backbench MPs have a greater say
enabled debates on things that otherwise might no have been (EU referendum)
influenced gov policy (beer duty)
139
how has the BBBC helped to engage the public with parliament
e petitions
140
has the back bench business committee been a success (NO)
gov doesn't have to respond/accept motions
gov controls BBBC times
smaller parties aren't represented
141
no. of members from each party which made up the BBBC
7 cons
7 labour
rest SNP
142
why has the effectiveness about the recruitment of minister come into questions
communication skills
experience
conformity
143
communication skills
larger emphasis for ministers to communicate well on TV rather than parliament
144
experience
1/5 MPs worked in politics (researchers/adivisors)
increase in career politicians
increasing gap between political class and ordinary voters
145
conformity
loyal MPs better chance of being ministers
146
delegation model (representation)
individual acts on behalf of people based on instructions
shouldn't follow own judgement
MPs are not delegate
147
Trustee model
MPs represent interests of constituents
free to decide how to vote on judgement and merit
assumes MPs have greater understanding
148
who proposed the trustee model
Edmund burke
149
what are MPs supposed to do in their constituency
protect and advance the collective interests of constituency
150
how much time does constituency work take up for an mp
half
151
what did the Hansard Society's Audit of political Engagement show about local MPs
35% of people were satisfied with how their local MP was doing their job
(compared to 29% overall)`
152
descriptive representation
legislature mirrors the society it represents
| parliament should be a 'microcosm' of society
153
women makeup of parliament compared to population
32%-51%
154
why does labour usually have a higher number of female MPs
all women shortlists
155
all women shortlists
used in every lab election since 1997 (not 2001)
| sex discrimination act 2002 permits this
156
critics of all women shortlists
not based on merit
157
priority lists
constituency associations draw up shortlists atleast half had to be women
didn't guarantee they'd be elected
approach was dropped
158
what type of intiatives are priority lists and all women short lists
demand side
159
why do 'supply side' initiatives remain an obstacle for increasing the number of women in parliament
career choices
family
lack of money
lack of political connections
160
rise in number of ethnic minority MPs at 2017 general election
41 to 52
| only 8% compared to 14% of population
161
education descriptive representation
29% of MPs 2017 fee paying school
7% of voters
number is in decline
162
what 2 factors are legislative-relationships affected by
govs parliamentary majority
| extent of party unity
163
why could blair survive large rebellions
2001 167 majority
164
examples of rebellions in blairs government
Iraq
| tuition fees
165
what was labs majority cut to in 2005
65
| they then faced first commons defeat
166
minority government
party with largest number of seats
| can form confidence and supply
167
example of minority government
conservative+DUP
| lost majority in 2017
168
conservative-lib dem coalition majority
79
169
what has given backbencher more power
BBBC
| increase in urgent questions
170
what suggests that backbenchers don't have that much influence
large number of private member bills are defeated
171
parliamentary rebellion
voting against the whip
172
rebellions in major's 1992-97 gov
Maastricht treaty
| gun control
173
largest rebellion in modern politics
139 labour MPs 2003 vote on invasion on Iraq
174
most rebellious parliaments since 1945
con-lib dem
rebelled on 35% of votes 2010-15
didn't experience many defeats bc MPs from each party rebelled different issues
175
how many conservatives rebelled on 2012 house of lords bill
91
176
what two things have increased scrutiny of the executive
house of lords
| back benchers
177
is parliament an effective check on the power of the executive (YES)
```
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
is parliament an effect check on the power of the executive (NO)
still lots of control over timetable
defeats are rare
select committees have little power (ignore them)
179
what % of people are satisfied with how parliament works
30%
| according Hansard society's 2017 report
