Structure of Parliament

Question 1

What are the 3 categories of HoL peers?

Answer 1

-Hereditary peers, life peers and 26 ‘Lord spiritual’ peers

Question 2

Main functions of parliament (3)

Answer 2

• Passing legislation
• Scrutiny of the executive
• Providing ministers

Question 3

What exclusive power doe the HoC have?

Answer 3

Power to give consent to taxation

Question 4

What is parliament (2)

Answer 4

The supreme legislative body in the UK, with authority to pass or amend laws on any subject

Question 5

How is most legislation proposed?

Answer 5

Most legislation initiated by government, limited opportunity for backbench and opposition MPs to propose their own measures

Question 6

What are party whips

Answer 6

• Responsible for ensuring MPs attend parliamentary votes and in what way they should vote

Question 7

How do whips ensure MPs vote in the intended way (2)

Answer 7

• May offer the prospect of ministerial posts

- Can impose sanctions on those who do not accept the party line

Question 8

Ways in which scrutiny is performed (3)

Answer 8

• Questions to ministers (criticism)
• Select Committees
• debates

Question 9

How is PMQs criticised

Answer 9

-criticised for being unduly theatrical and largely a point-scoring exercise dominated by the PM and the opposition

Question 10

What is the function of representing the electorate

Answer 10

• Only in the Hoc, as it is the elected house

- BUT MPs are not delegates of their constituencies; they use their own judgement on how to vote

Question 11

Issues of parliament not performing its representative function (2)

Answer 11

• MPs loyalty to their party CONFLICTS with the need to represent a constituency
• The Commons is still not truly representative of society as a whole