the relationship between the executive and Parliament Flashcards
how did Thatcher and Blair have power over Parliament?
their huge majorities gave them an advantage, and they had an elective dictatorship
what is the Parliament Act 1911?
it prevented the HOL having any control on the governments financial arrangements, giving the Lords less power
what is the Sailsbury Convention?
made it so that the Lords couldn’t block any piece of legislation
how does Parliament have control over the executive?
if the government lacks an electoral mandate for a policy, the Commons can reject it unless the government can persuade the majority of MPs to support it, e.g Theresa May lacked a majority (230)
Parliament can amend any legislation to protect minority rights e.g Gordon Browns Detention Bill was amended too much, so he rejected it
PMQTs where Parliament can hold the executive can be held to account e.g Kier Starmer questioned Johnson on his lockdown parties
votes of no confidence
how did the Falklands War help Thatcher?
she ended up with a large majority of 144, leading to her dominating Parliament as Micheal Foot and Neil Kinnock struggled to challenge her policies in the HOC
how did Tony Blair dominate Parliament in 1997?
in 1997, he won a landslide general election, making him stronger due to the large majority
how did the coalition lead to more executive power?
they reached such a high majority (363MPs) that rebellious MPs didnt affect their government, for example, the 21 Lib Dem MPs who voted labour to not increase tuition fees
how was James Callaghan a weak executive?
the majority disappeared after he took over, leading to him being forced to create a supply and demand agreement with the Liberal party. then a vote of confidence took place and Thatcher took over
what is the removal of hereditary peers?
removing most hereditary peers to avoid party control, leading to the Lords being more willing to defy the executive
what did the backbench committee allow?
allowed ordinary MPs to have more control away from government control.
what is the Liason committee?
allows the committee to scrutinise the executive twice a year
what 3 acts lessened the powers of the House of Lords?
The Parliament Act 1911: prevented HOL from having a say in the govs financial arrangements
The Parliament Act 1949: reduced their delaying powers to one year
The Sailsbury Convention: lords cannot block any legislation that was on the manifesto
what controls are there on the executive?
- if they lack an electoral mandate, the HOL can exercise a veto
- parliament can amend legislation
- PMQTs and the work of select committees (hold PM to account)
- vote of no confidence (rare)
what circumstances allow parliament to control the executive?
- if they have a small or no majority
- if their party is divided
- if cabinet is divided
- if the PM fails to secure a clear mandate during an election
what circumstances allow the executive to control parliament?
- having a majority
- united party
- securing a clear mandate
- united cabinet
- popular media image/popularity of the leader
circumstances favouring executive power
large single party majority
3 examples
1983- Thatcher
1997- Blair
2019- Boris Johnson
circumstances favouring executive power
united government over a dominant ideology
3 examples
1983-1989: thatcherism
1997-2005: labour third way
2019: pro brexit
circumstances favouring executive power
opposition is weak
example
2015-20: Jeremy Corbyn split the labour party
circumstances favouring executive power
government is led by a dominant leader
2 examples
1979-89 (Thatcher)
1997-2003 (Blair)
circumstances favouring parliamentary power
the government has no majority or a small majority
3 examples
2010: coalition
2015: conservative majority of 12 seats
2017: Theresa May’s minority government
circumstances favouring parliamentary power
the governing party is split on issues
2 examples
2010-2015: conservative split over europe
2017-19: divisions over the nature of Brexit and a second referendum
circumstances favouring parliamentary power
the leader of the governing party has lost popularity
3 examples
1989-1990: Thatcher
2003-2007: Blair
2017-2019: May
how else can the executive persuade or pressure government into doing what it wants?
patronage: PM has control of all appointments, meaning they can choose people they know will back them
party whips: whips keep MPs in check, an obstructive MP can be suspended from their party
the national platform: the PM can directly speak to the people through the media, and put pressure on MPs by gaining public support
how has the power between the executive and parliament changed?
the removal of most hereditary peers
ensures no party has overall control in the lords - the lords is more willing to defy the executive and assert itself more in checking the
how has the power between the executive and parliament changed?
creation of the backbench business committee
This has allowed ordinary MPs to control more parliamentary time away from government control, holding debates and introducing Private Members’ Bills that the government may not wish to support.
how has the power between the executive and parliament changed?
growing power of the liason committee
the Prime Minister appears before the committee twice a year to be subject to scrutiny, giving Parliament greater opportunities to scrutinise the executive.
however, the PM doesn’t always show up, like Bojo cancelled 2x
how has the power between the executive and parliament changed?
fixed term parliaments act
removed the prerogative power of the PM to call an early election when they want to.
Now a PM must gain permission from two-thirds of MPs before they can call an early election, meaning Parliament has gained some power over the process from the executive.
Has the balance of power between the executive and Parliament shifted more towards Parliament in recent years?
5 ARGUMENTS FOR
- Parliament is achieving considerable influence over foreign and military policy, even voting against some military interventions.
- Select committees are increasingly influential and have come more under backbench control.
- The Liaison Committee is increasingly willing to call the Prime Minister to account.
- Between 2010 and 2019 there was no large and decisive government majority
- The House of Lords has become increasingly proactive and obstructive.
Has the balance of power between the executive and Parliament shifted more towards Parliament in recent years?
5 ARUMENTS AGAINST
- In 2019 the Conservatives won a large and decisive majority.
- The government still relies on a large ‘payroll vote’ where all ministers, numbering over 100, are bound by collective responsibility.
- Government still controls the legislative programme and the Public Bill Committees that propose amendments.
- Prime ministerial patronage still creates loyalty among the government’s own MPs.
- Government still has a huge advantage in resources (media profile, advice and research) over Members of Parliament.
