The main functions of the HOC

Question 1

What are the main functions?

Answer 1

Legislation, providing ministers, scrutiny, representation, legitimation

Question 2

What is legislation?

Answer 2

A law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament

Question 3

Providing ministers

Answer 3

-They are appointed by the Prime Minister and each given a specific area of government policy to oversee.
-Ministers speak on behalf of the Government from the frontbenches during parliamentary debates and must answer questions put to them by other MPs or members of the House of Lords.

Question 4

What is scrutiny and debate?

Answer 4

-major function of MPs is to debate the gov’s legislative programme
-enables MPs to weigh up likely impact of Public Bills

Question 5

Name the 6 other ways in which MPs can scrutinise the executive and debate issues of public concern

Answer 5

1) The parliamentary Backbench Business Committee
2) The Petitions Committee
3) Adjournment debates
4) Early day motions
5) Emergency debates
6)Urgent questions

Question 6

What is representation?

Answer 6

-the 650 MPs rep every part of the UK so that the interests of all British public are represented at Westminster
-MPs should work hard to ensure the interests of their constituents are raised in the HOC
-2019 HOC most socially representative in parliamentary history (Gender, LGBTQ+, BAME; etc).

Question 7

What is legitimation?

Answer 7

-Parliament was est to provide consent that would legitimise the decision of the monarch
-Legitimacy is the belief that the government does things in terms of policy and law-making that are acceptable to the citizens of that state.
-The people give authority to those in power, and can take it away should the government stray from what is acceptable to them.