the power and effectiveness of parliament Flashcards
what is parliamentary sovereignty?
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.
limitations on parliament’s sovereignty?
- 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)
membership of the Eu and parliamentary sovereignity
British government must modify its laws to take into account EU wishes
what is a parliamentary system
the executive governs in and through the legislature
parliament and the executive
was a balance however tending towards executive dominance “elective dictatorship”
how does government dominate the house of commons
- 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
do we have an elective dictatorship?
a flexible constitution, majority government in control of parliamentary sovergeinety can allow executive dominance
whipping system also helps
parliaments watchdog function
-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
what is question time and what is its function
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
what is a select committtee
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
arguements in favour og select committees
- 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
arguements against select committees
- whips have control
- need more resources
- generate too much paperwork
- need more power to challenge the minister
- reflect governments majority
differences between standing (public) and select committtees
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
the role of her majesty’s loyal opposition
- opposition in opposed to government
- supports government were appropriate
- alternative governement
problems for the opposition
- lack of info available
- government sets the agenda
- dispirited party memebers and activists
- get the blame for porblems
whichs which an mp can make a difference?
-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
factors impacting the effectiveness of MPS
- poor facilities
- complexities of government business
- burden of constituency work
- service on public bill and select committees
what are whips and what is their role
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.
why is party unity necessary?
- 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
why do mps usually toe-the-party-line?
- 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.
role sof a backbench mp
-useful party memeber: serve on committtees
good constituency member
-individualists eg George Galloway
-part-timers
different ideas about parliament’s role
- critics of the house- vigilant watch dog over the executive
- debating chamber but executive do the real work
potential parliamentary reforms?
-reasonable hours
remove outdated practises
-strengthened to provide greater criticisms
-allow government to tackle issues quickly
changes since 1997
- modify the timetable
- provide office space
- PMQ
- PRE-LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY
- debates in west minister hall to allow more mps to have a say
