The effectiveness of parliament

Question 1

How effective is parliament in performing the legislative role

Answer 1

• The fusion of powers in parliament allows government to dominate parliament thus allowing laws to be passed
• The HOC provides plenty of ways for backbench MPs to influence decision making therefore, improving the quality of legislation. EG: Private members bills give opportunities to Backbenchers to make law. EG: The abortion act and the murder act were first introduced as private members bills
• The house of Lords ensures that legislation is suitably revised and therefore, ensures legislative quality

Question 2

How ineffective is parliament in performing the legislative role

Answer 2

• Parliament doesnt produce bills of a sufficient legislative quality: Governments with large majorities often rush legislation without proper scrutiny
• The government often dominates the legislative agenda, which is demonstrated by the minimal time given to private members bills. Only around 6% of these bills ever become law
• The house of lords is limited in its ability to revise laws. The HOC can simply defeat amendments proposed by the lords. This is what happened to amendments attached to the EU withdrawal bill 2020.

Question 3

How effective is parliament in performing its representative role

Answer 3

• Parliament does resemble the people it serves. The number of female MPs has risen from 118 to 220 from 2001 to 2019.
  Black, asian and minority ethnic MPs rose from 41 to 63 after the 2019 general election
• Elections in the HOC help parliament to reflect sudden shifts in public opinion.
• Multiple parties enjoy representation in Westminster with there being ten parties whose MPs take their seats in parliament
• Parliamentarians stand up for the people they serve. MPs hold regular surgeries for their constituents.

Question 4

How ineffective is parliament in performing its representative role

Answer 4

• There is a lot of work to be done for both chambers to fully reflect the demographics of the nation: Only 34% of MPs are women, only 10% being from BAME backgrounds.
• The first-past-the-post electoral system produces unfair results. The 2015 general election delivered the most disproportionate results since 1920s, with UKIP winning 3.8 million votes but only having one seat
• The electoral system and the role of the whips hinder multi-party politics.
• Parliamentarians are more likely to consider their own careers above those who elected them.

Question 5

How effective is parliament in performing its scrutiny role

Answer 5

• Parliamentary questions help ensure accountability
• A united opposition can provide effective scrutiny of the government and force changes in government policy
• The house of Lords has become more effective in scrutinising the government due to the absence of a conservative majority EG: Between 2017 and 2019, the government suffered 69 defeats in the house of lords.
• A minority government relying on confidence and supply deals is likely to face increased scrutiny as itll find it difficult to win a majority in any given vote

Question 6

How ineffective is parliament in performing its scrutiny role

Answer 6

• Some forms of parliamentary questions are less useful in holding government account as PMQs have been described as a ‘punch and judy’ show by david cameron.
• The opposition is often divided between parties that make it up. the official opposition party may be further divided internally
• There are limits to the HOL scrutiny rule, including the parliament acts, rules of financial privilege and the Sailsbury convention
• A government with a large majority tends to limit effectiveness as its harder for opposition to muster the required votes to defeat the government on any given piece of legislation