the main functions of parliament - parliamentary scrutiny 2.1 Flashcards
what is the role of the PARLIAMENT when it comes to parliamentary scrutiny
oversight of the executive’s actions
what is the role of the OPPOSITION when it comes to parliamentary scrutiny
hold the government to account and to expose its errors
what is the role of the MINISTERS when it comes to parliamentary scrutiny
a duty to explain and defend their policies in parliament
who are senior ministers
High-ranking officials who head major government departments and make key policy decisions. ( e.g. Chancellor of the Exchequer (UK) – Finance Minister)
who are junior minsters
Officials who assist senior ministers in specific areas but have less authority. (e.g. Minister of State for Health (UK) – Works under the Secretary of Health)
what are the three ways of parliamentary scrutiny
- questioning ministers
- select committees
- debates
how is ‘questioning ministers’ a way of parliamentary scrutiny
- oral or written answers to ministers questions asked to the PM
- has been criticised to be ridiculously theatrical though
- most government departments are represented in the Lords by a junior minister = HOL able to scrutinise here
what is a ‘select committee’ and how is it used for parliamentary scrutiny ( BOTH HOC AND HOL)
groups of MPs , usually from different political parties, tasked with investigating specific issues, government actions, or policies in detail.
- (e.g. Public Accounts Committee in the UK, which examines how government spending is managed and ensures public money is used effectively)
how is ‘debates’ a way of parliamentary scrutiny
- Backbench Business Committee has given MPs more power to shape the agenda by allowing them to choose the topic for debate on one day per week.
how is the quality of debates in the HOL
- stellar
- able to get expertise in a field to change legislation (but they rarely influence the course of events.)
