the composition, role and function of parliament

Question 1

what is the legislature

Answer 1

the legislature is a representative body that is intended to reflect the sentiment and opinions of the public. The early legislature was created to provide adive for the executive/monarch and represent the interests of various political groups. They are the branch of governement empowered to make laws.

Question 2

what is the difference between a unicameral legislature and a bicameral legislature?

Answer 2

unicameral has one chmaber while bicameral has two chambers.

Question 3

what funcations does bicameralism have?

Answer 3

• checks on the first chmaber, this is especially important if there is a landslide majority.
• more effective checks upon the executive.
• broaden representation.
• scrtunity of legislation.
• consitutional longstop-delay bills

Question 4

criticisms of bicameralism

Answer 4

unnecessarily costly
work could be covered by a single stremlined chamber
not representitive
can create consitutional stalemate

Question 5

what does the legislature do

Answer 5

• legislation, however this role has passed to the executive although the legislature remains significant in a watchdog/scrutiny role.
• representation: to represent public opinion.
• oversight of the executive: accountability
• debate

Question 6

traditionally who were the house of lords

Answer 6

HofL was based on hereditary peers and the two chmabers enjoyed equal status however with the extention of the franchise the powers of the HofL were trimmed.

Question 7

20th century changes to the house of lords

Answer 7

life peerages act 1958: diverify memebership and bring in experts
trimming of powers parliament act 1911: removed the wpoer of permanent veto
Parliament act 1949: limiations on the powers of delay.
now viewed as a priority

Question 8

what changes did labour make in 1998

Answer 8

abolition of hereditary peerages

Question 9

what work is preformed by the house of lords

Answer 9

• consideration and revision of bills from the house of commons. they examine amend and reject bills.
• innititation of non-controversial legislation 1/4 spreads the workload.
• power of delay, they can hold up legislation for relection and reconsideration.
• general debate-less partisan
• scrutinising eu legislation

Question 10

arguements in favour for further refrom of the house of lords

Answer 10

• a phase two was always intended as the HofL still damages centre-left governements
• PM makes nomiations/appointments therefore the house of Lords does not have legitimacy.
• should reflect britian today

Question 11

arguements against further reforms for the house of lords

Answer 11

• they provide valuable scrutiny of governmental work because they are chose for a particular reason
• diversity in knowledge they are all experts on something
• they have always has a spirt of independence.

Question 12

the house of lords should become an elected chamber

Answer 12

they cannot be removed
elections are centeral to democracy
gives them legitimacy

Question 13

the house of lords should not become an elected chamber

Answer 13

rival the house of commons
create competition
made a useful contribution 
have another job 
they are experts

Question 14

the house of commons

Answer 14

• part of the legislature

- legislative proposals orginiate with the executive then are debated in the house of commons

Question 15

what are public bills

Answer 15

they alter the general law of the land and therefore impact the whole community.
most public bills are givernement bills and are brought through by the relevant minister
they have a first reading/introduction
followed by a second reading (debate)
then a committtee stage (detailed examiniation/consideration of admendments)
then the report stage where the committee stuff is reported back
finally a third reading

Question 16

what are private bills

Answer 16

promoted by orgainisatations outside the house such as local authority or a company and affect a limited section of the community

Question 17

private members bills

Answer 17

introduced by an mp or peer not a minister
-chnage for whole population
-either top 20 ballot or 10 minute bill
-few becomelaws
-lack of opportunity
-generally cover areas with no strict party view
example the abortion act

Question 18

watchdog function

Answer 18

• voice of citiozens/their consituency
• national debate
• recruiting for jr ministers/ministers

Question 19

who are MPS

Answer 19

they are elected represenatives from a single memeber consituency. Each consituency varies in size and socio-economic makeup.
they are elected under the party label and opperate in parliament as a collective body.

Question 20

obligations of MPS

Answer 20

• the party: toe-the-party-line they are elected under the party label
• the consituency- they elect them, meantr to represent them, burke way or what they actually think way?
• the nation
• conscience/speacil interest

Question 21

potential conflict between oblications

Answer 21

-party lines and/or consitency and/or personal may all conflict

Question 22

what kind of system does the uk have

Answer 22

the uk has a representaive syste, with regular and free elections using the first past the post system

Question 23

the different ways MPS could be represenative

Answer 23

• they represent the interest of their cosistuency who elected them
• they are socially representative
• they are representative of party interests
• they are representaive in a a burke way

Question 24

how soically representaive are MPs?

Answer 24

middle class+(labour: professionals barristers, teachers etc. conserative: city/business), middle aged, public schooled: loads from eton, oxbridge: ppe, white, male. Very unrepresentative
they are not a microcosm/mirror image of scoeity.

Question 25

why are there so few women in the house of commons?

Answer 25

-child-bearing and home-making, cons have questioned women who have tried to become con mps about their intention and responsibilities with regards these roles. -electoral system -the nature of parliamentary life masculine and aggressive culture, childcare, cash and confidence. -in america the there is the ethory that there is a preference of political elites for male over female candidates. -gener socialisation

Question 26

what does Oligarchy mean?

Answer 26

power rests with the few

Question 27

what does Plutocracy mean?

Answer 27

power rests with the wealthy

Question 28

MPs should be more socially representative

Answer 28

- end up with a particarchial(men) oligarchical(few with power) plutocracical society(wealthy). This isolates other soical groups which in turn heightens the domiance of such a type of society - under represented fewer debates about what impacts them - no real understanding of how their actions impact people -easy to say live with austerity when you don't actually understand what it is like. - talent goes unrecognised - they say we live in a mertiocracy

Question 29

we should not worry about mps being socially representaive

Answer 29

- burke mp not mirror society - soical grops are not homogenous - ability is what matters