the legislative process

Question 1

describe government bills

Answer 1

strong chance of being enacted as gov will give it time to be debated
rely on whips to encourage support for Bill in House of Commons
if it was in manifesto under sailsbury convention HOL cant stop it

Question 2

describe private member bills

Answer 2

members commons and Lords can introduce private members bills=submitted under ballot or ten minute rule and presentation
ballot=twenty enter ballot=seven chosen
ten min rule=put forward propsals in ten min speech
presentation=formally present on to HOC
HOL=ballot
fact that so few become law =show lack efficency backbenchers=limited time given for debate and held on fridays where most MPS going back to constituencies =might not be enough people to vote
hostile mps can fillibuster =JRM
raise profile of issue=2018 Peter Kyle=rep of people=propsed reducing voting age 16 not given enough time to go through=put it on agenda
fillibuster=sexual offenses pardon bill=alan turing=Gyimah justice minister spoke at length during debate=led to bills failure
cross party support and gov likes=homeless reduction act 2018=Bob blackman=local councils to provide more suppport

Question 3

describe the HOL reform act

Answer 3

most sig private members bill=Byles=made members hol able to retire or resign=way to expulsion peers=criminal activity non attendance=increased effectiveness

Question 4

describe the stages a bill goes through in parliament

Answer 4

first reading=formally presented by minister no debate
second reading=main principles of bill are debated=vote taken=gov can be expected to win this ‘
committee stage=amendments will be proposed=own committee to scruntise in detail=budget and constitutionality decided
report stage=bill and amendments are now debated futher amendements can be proposed by MPS not on committee
third reading/transfer=futher debated going to HOL do same process
royal assent=should HOL refuse bill still be law gov using parliament acts 1911 and 1949

Question 5

describe how parliament interacts with the executive

Answer 5

refer to question on power backbenchers

Question 6

describe the role and sig of the opposition

Answer 6

without strong opposition gov does not have to justify its policies and encourages complacent and even incompetent gov
ensure gov justifies leg programme
create public debate=arguments why cant support gov
biggest opposition party=Her Magestys most loyal Opposition=alternative gov in waiting
use various frontbenchers to focus on gov department they are shadowing and hold them to account
leader use PMQS to present themsevles as better leader
allowed 20 opposition days choose subject for debate=main opposition=17 2009 Lib dem condeming Brown refusal to give UK citizenship to Gurkha veterans passed 27 labour mps going against gov=so embarrising gov policy changed
public bill committtess
gov small majority=opposition work HOL to uncover failures policy and delay leg=large amount amedments made to EU withdrawal bill helped encourage opposition within commons to hard brexit
parliamentry debate=on budget and proposed gov leg=forcing gov justify
windrush=shadow sec Dianne Abbott put case to Amber Rudd very strongly=2018 Amber Rudd resigned Abbot upped pressure placing sole blame on may

Question 7

describe influence of PMQS and ministerial question time

Answer 7

ministerial=accountability=from Monday-Thursday hour set for oral questions to ministers=HOL half hour same days questions directed to gov rather than specific department=must respond to written questions in week=according to ministerial code conduct=must be open as possible to HOC
PMQS=every wednesday=televised=public accountablity=shows MPS doing their job=leader opp=6 questions=next biggest given 2 MPS have opp to ask questions =gardners question time=planted questions congratulating gov on something good=Rishi Sunak missed many PMQS=refer to question on PMQS mock exam