the power and effectiveness of parliament

Question 1

what is parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 1

sovereignty is ultimate political authority. In the UK parliament is sovereign which means parliament has absolute and unlimited authority and is the supreme law making body within the country.

Question 2

limitations on parliament’s sovereignty?

Answer 2

• today many would argue that the power has passed from parliament to the executive
• membership of the EU
• pressure groups
• media
• the electorate (they have the ultimate say)

Question 3

membership of the Eu and parliamentary sovereignity

Answer 3

British government must modify its laws to take into account EU wishes

Question 4

what is a parliamentary system

Answer 4

the executive governs in and through the legislature

Question 5

parliament and the executive

Answer 5

was a balance however tending towards executive dominance “elective dictatorship”

Question 6

how does government dominate the house of commons

Answer 6

• provide the majority of the membership (party whips)
• they shape the agenda
• they determine the legislative programme-bulk of bills are governement innitatiated
• outcome and timing of legislation
• they have a majority they almost always win
• monopoly of time
• they control the flow of information

Question 7

do we have an elective dictatorship?

Answer 7

a flexible constitution, majority government in control of parliamentary sovergeinety can allow executive dominance
whipping system also helps

Question 8

parliaments watchdog function

Answer 8

-concerned with scurtinity
-examine and debate government action, exposing errors and making criticisms
-scrutinise legislation mainly happens in standing committees/public bill committees.
question time ia another means of scrutiny

Question 9

what is question time and what is its function

Answer 9

oral questions are put to departmental ministers on a rota basis
and the prime minister’s question time on a Wednesday-a bad performance can damage the party

Question 10

what is a select committtee

Answer 10

smaller informal setting away from partisan pressures less dramatic more rigorous
monitor the work of a particular department
real experts in their subject
they last

Question 11

arguements in favour og select committees

Answer 11

• less partisan
• well informed
• feed their knowledge back to HofC
• made government more transparent about true nature of policy
• pre-emptive impact, ministers know they will have to justify their actions

Question 12

arguements against select committees

Answer 12

• whips have control
• need more resources
• generate too much paperwork
• need more power to challenge the minister
• reflect governments majority

Question 13

differences between standing (public) and select committtees

Answer 13

duration: public bill committees (pbc) appointed every session. select committees (sc) are for the duration of parliament
- pcs none specialist Scs special knowledge
- work: PCs concerned with a stage in the legislative process-a specific detail. Scs monitor a particular department
- Pcs are large
- PCs less investitagory

Question 14

the role of her majesty’s loyal opposition

Answer 14

• opposition in opposed to government
• supports government were appropriate
• alternative governement

Question 15

problems for the opposition

Answer 15

• lack of info available
• government sets the agenda
• dispirited party memebers and activists
• get the blame for porblems

Question 16

whichs which an mp can make a difference?

Answer 16

-criticise policy during Question Time
-initiate legislation eg 10 minute rule or annual ballot
-convey their views
however limited
can’t rock the party boat

Question 17

factors impacting the effectiveness of MPS

Answer 17

• poor facilities
• complexities of government business
• burden of constituency work
• service on public bill and select committees

Question 18

what are whips and what is their role

Answer 18

maintaining part discipline.
votes are underlined 1, 2 or 3 times depending on how party members should vote( 3 times dictate why and they must turn up) the whip being remove effectively removes party support.

Question 19

why is party unity necessary?

Answer 19

• split can mean the end of the majority
• fought to carry out their mandate reply on mps to back then (why they all were elected-to carry out the mandate)
• creates confusion
• looks bad to public/press

Question 20

why do mps usually toe-the-party-line?

Answer 20

• endanger governments survival and therefore their job
• they have space to vent issues -back bench meetings
• carrot and stick - they toe the party line they can move up in the party.

Question 21

role sof a backbench mp

Answer 21

-useful party memeber: serve on committtees
good constituency member
-individualists eg George Galloway
-part-timers

Question 22

different ideas about parliament’s role

Answer 22

• critics of the house- vigilant watch dog over the executive
• debating chamber but executive do the real work

Question 23

potential parliamentary reforms?

Answer 23

-reasonable hours
remove outdated practises
-strengthened to provide greater criticisms
-allow government to tackle issues quickly

Question 24

changes since 1997

Answer 24

• modify the timetable
• provide office space
• PMQ
• PRE-LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY
• debates in west minister hall to allow more mps to have a say

Question 25

what more could be done

Answer 25

• more powerful select committees
• better pay and facilities (23 of the 29 member of the new cabinet are worth more than £1m)
• full-time MPS
• Less MPS
• More free votes