structure of the house of commons

Question 1

front bench in the commons

Answer 1

• they are ministers and party officials elected by the PM

Question 2

key events in the development of the constitution

Answer 2

• magna carter 1215
• the de Montfort parliament 1265
• the bill of rights 1689
• parliament act 1911
• representation peoples act 1918 ( women over 30 )
• representation peoples act 1928 ( all men and women over the age of 21 can vote )
• House of Lords act 1999 ( Blair pm )

Question 3

Structure of the House of Commons

Answer 3

Front bench and back bench MPs
party whips
Speaker
Opposition Leader

Question 4

back benches in the house of commons

Answer 4

they can be independent than from front bench mps but still expected to show party loyalty

Question 5

opposition benches

Answer 5

• where the opposition sit, at the front sits the shadow council including the opposition leader

Question 6

speaker

Answer 6

role is to chair proceedings he/she is an MP elected by the house but does have to stay neutral

Question 7

what are party whips?

Answer 7

• they work under a chief whip, mainly concerned with ensuring the MPs in their parties are informed about parliamentary business
• ensure party loyalty and party discipline to persuade mps tp support their party line

Question 8

how can whips be withdrawn from MPS?

Answer 8

• if they refuse to attend a vote and to vote as demanded by the leadership

Question 9

examples of mps who have has the whip withdrawn

Answer 9

• 2022: Anne Morris - after being the only cons to vote labour motion to cut VAT on energy bills
• 2003: George Galloway: had labour whip withdrawn after encouraging British troops to defy orders of the Iraq war

Question 10

what are free votes?

Answer 10

• whips agree not to tell their MPs how to vote