The Structure and Role of Government

Question 1

How is the work of civil servants scrutinised?

Answer 1

Departmental select committees.

Question 2

How PMQ’s can be an effective method of scrutiny for the executive

Answer 2

• Give positive publicity for opposition members.
• Force unwelcome questions to be answered.
• They keep the PM on their toes.
• Allow backbenches to publicly criticise their own party. Tory MP said ‘in the name of god, go’! during Boris scandal.

Question 3

How PMQ’s can be negative, scrutiny of executive?

Answer 3

• Punch and Judy politics
• undignified shouting
• Most questions are designed to praise their own party or criticise the other

Question 4

Advantages and disadvantages of parliamentary debates as a vessel of scrutiny

Answer 4

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-They allow free expression of views and ideas.
- Televised so public can watch.
- It’s an opportunity to change the minds of other MP’s and peers.
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- People will adopt the party line none the less.
- Serve serving function.
- Unlikley to change peoples minds.

Question 5

Advantages of select committees

Answer 5

-They are less partisan and confrontational than debates.
- Often chaired by MP’s from opposition parties.
- They can call witnesses from the executive and out of Westminster.
- The government must respond within 60 days.
- The reports are often severe and hard hitting. The government announced further measures to combat childhood obesity after a heavy hitting report.

Question 6

Disadvantages of select committees

Answer 6

• The governing party usually has a ruling majority on each committee and so can influence its findings.
• Consensus between parties is not always reached.
• Witnesses can be evasive and elusive.
• Governments can ignore reports and do not have to enact recommendations. They only have to respond.

Question 7

Vote of no confidence. Pro Con.

Answer 7

This brought down Callahans government in 1979. This is very unlikely to succeed. Only the most rebellious MP’s would break the party line which means that it would resort to the usual majority.

Question 8

How parliament can scrutinise the executive.

Answer 8

Prime Ministers Questions
Parliamentary debates
Select committees
Votes of no confidence

Question 9

Objectives of a parliamentary debate

Answer 9

Parliamentary debates are main ways for MP’s to influence other MP’s opinions. Project government in waiting perspectives from the opposition. Topics for debate are decided by official opposition parties however on 20 reserved days a year smaller parties have opposition debates.

Question 10

Private members bills

Answer 10

Private members bill’s are introduced by private members such that they can represent their constituency. These usually fail unless they receive backing from the government.

Question 11

Public Bills and Private bills

Answer 11

Public bills are universally applicable to all organisations and citezens.
private bills are usually promoted by organisations to give themselves powers beyond original laws. These bills do not change the law for the general public instead for isolated institutions.

Question 12

Private members bill

Answer 12

These bills are public bills independently introduced either as a ten minute rule bill or one of twenty private members bill. Only seven private members bills were passed between 2019-21. Those that do pass because they pass without government backing or due to a non controversial manner.

Question 13

Process of passing a bill

Answer 13

First reading- formal introduction
second reading- Amendments can be proposed, debate and questioning can take place.
Committee stage- A change to go over the bill and all bills are given their own public bill committee. This is made of backbench MP’s which goes over all clauses of the Bill, make question experts and edits the bill to a sufficient extent such that it is now able to move to the report state where the committees changes are deliberated and voted on. then the bill goes to a third reading where the Bill goes through one house before it begins its stage in the next. If both houses are happy with the others then the bill goes for royal asset.

Question 14

What house do bills start?

Answer 14

Bills have been known to come from both houses. Lords bills tend to be uncontroversial and agreeable such as the 2021 air traffic and management act.

Question 15

What happens if the Bill is rejected outright by the Lords.

Answer 15

The parliament act is invoked and it becomes law in one year.

Question 15

Burkiean or Trustee model

Answer 15

Model of representation whereby the representative acts to use their own opinion to represent their constituents rather than doing as they are told

Question 16

Delegate model of representation

Answer 16

The idea that MP’s act as a mouthpiece for their constituents. Zack Goldsmith resigned as a Tory MP over Heathrow expansion and lost by election to Libs.

Question 17

Mandate theory

Answer 17

MP’s are elected to represent their manifesto promises. Therefore MP’s are elected on a mandate to carry out the mandate.

Question 18

Roles which both MP’s and Peers can do

Answer 18

• Vote on legistaltion
• Sit on committees
• Serve as a minister or opposition member
• Contribute to debate and question ministers
• Introduce their own bills
• Make media appearances and give interviews
• Enjoy parliamentary privilege

Question 19

Roles which MP’s have but peers dont

Answer 19

• undertaking constituency casework
• Holding surgeries
• Undertaking backbench rebellions
• Having a key role in the selection of a party leader
• Providing democratic legitimacy to the government.

Question 20

Roles which Peers have that MP’s dont

Answer 20

providing specialist knowledge in debate.
Maintaining independence by sitting on the woolsack
Revising and advising on legislation.

Question 21

The lords representation

Answer 21

As an unelected chamber the lords does not represent voters directly. Therefore they indirectly fulfil the mandate model. Lord Prescott was previously deputy prime minster.

Question 22

Key functions and significance of public bill committees

Answer 22

Go through bills clause by clause and suggest amendments. These are temporary and only exist for the time of the Bill. They ensure that the bills are correctly Witten and for fill the objectives of the writers. Major changes are unlikely because the governing party has the majority of the committees.

Question 23

Key functions and significance of commons select committees

Answer 23

Provide a more general oversight of the workings of government departments and ministers. They are less party political and sit in a horseshoe, they aim for greater cross party collaboration. Many are chaired by opposition shadow ministers or by backbenchers. Able to select t their own areas of investigation and call own witnesses. Comprised of backbench MP;s. Chairs are selected by fellow MP’s not whips. Produce report which govt must respond to within 60 days. Govt is able to ignore findings. British citizens are compelled to attend. Foreign nationals do not have to attend.

Question 24

Key functions and significance of Lords select committees

Answer 24

Take advantages of the speciality of the lords by examining issues. There are 6 main committees. EU. Communications. Science and technology. Economic affairs. The constitution and international relations. Often contains genuine specialists. The governing party does not have a majority on the committee.

Question 25

Key functions and significance of public accounts committees

Answer 25

Commons only. Traditionally chaired by an opposition backbencher. Scrutinises value for money. Covers a wide range of policy areas. Recent work included the cost of the track and trace system.

Question 26

Key functions and significance of Backbench business committee committees

Answer 26

Commons only
Selects topics for debate on days not given over to government business. Such debates can take place in chamber and in Westminster hall. Oversees e-petitions. Enables backbenchers to have a greater say in what is debated.

Question 27

Key functions and significance of Commons liaison committe

Answer 27

compromises the chairs of the committees. Usually chaired by the a backbencher of the governing party who isn’t seen to have an overwhelming bias. Chooses the select committee reports for debate in Westminster hall. Co-ordinates the roles of select committees. Sometimes ministers (Boris Johnson) are reluctant to appear. Has no ability to force the PM to change policy. Usually chairs have previously been a select committee chair.

Question 28

How affective and significant are select committees.

Answer 28

Certainly active and produce many reports between themselves each year. Reports include the Grendel fire lack of cladding for buildings as well as the handling of the COVID pandemic. It is estimated that around 40% of committee recommendations are accepted by the government. Chairs are paid a salary equivalent to ministerial office.

Question 29

Role of the opposition

Answer 29

Provide scrutiny and reasoned criticism of govt policies and actions in debates.
Suggest amendments to bills
Provide a government in waiting.
Provide topics of discussion on opposition days. of 20 opposition days, 17 go to official opposition and the remaining 3 got to the second largest opposition party.

Question 30

Influences by parliament on government decisions

Answer 30

Use of committee stage. election of chars and members of select committees. Debates and questions. Backbench rebellion in the commons. Informal lobbying of MP’s, the govt and peers. amending legislation specifically in the lords.

Question 31

Limitations on the influence of parliament on government decisions.

Answer 31

Ignore select committee reports. Select committees are poorly resourced.
Party whips ensure discipline.
The govt is in control of most of the parliamentary timetable. Many MP’s are weary of upsetting the party.
The Govt can use its commons majority to override the lords objections.

Question 32

Party discipline in the commons

Answer 32

Both the government and the party use a whipping system. Party discipline is least stable when the party has threats to its majority.
Most important votes then to be three line whips.
A free vote is when an MP can decide their stance.
Whips control the allocation of MP’s to public bill committees but select committee chairs are selected by secret ballot.

Question 33

How parliament interacts with other branches of government

Answer 33

Parliament provides personnel for government ministers.
Any laws passed must be compatible with the ECHR and other international agreements.

Question 34

Govt control of civil servants

Answer 34

Civil servants are required to be as helpful as possible in providing accurate, truthful and fun information in accordance with the civil service code.
The 2016 home affairs select committee ejected Oliver Robinson for failing to adequately respond to questions about the budget. They must not undermine ministers.