The Structure and Role of Government Flashcards
How is the work of civil servants scrutinised?
Departmental select committees.
How PMQ’s can be an effective method of scrutiny for the executive
- 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.
How PMQ’s can be negative, scrutiny of executive?
- Punch and Judy politics
- undignified shouting
- Most questions are designed to praise their own party or criticise the other
Advantages and disadvantages of parliamentary debates as a vessel of scrutiny
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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.
Advantages of select committees
-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.
Disadvantages of select committees
- 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.
Vote of no confidence. Pro Con.
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.
How parliament can scrutinise the executive.
Prime Ministers Questions
Parliamentary debates
Select committees
Votes of no confidence
Objectives of a parliamentary debate
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.
Private members bills
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.
Public Bills and Private bills
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.
Private members bill
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.
Process of passing a bill
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.
What house do bills start?
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.
What happens if the Bill is rejected outright by the Lords.
The parliament act is invoked and it becomes law in one year.
Burkiean or Trustee model
Model of representation whereby the representative acts to use their own opinion to represent their constituents rather than doing as they are told
Delegate model of representation
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.
Mandate theory
MP’s are elected to represent their manifesto promises. Therefore MP’s are elected on a mandate to carry out the mandate.
Roles which both MP’s and Peers can do
- 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
Roles which MP’s have but peers dont
- 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.
Roles which Peers have that MP’s dont
providing specialist knowledge in debate.
Maintaining independence by sitting on the woolsack
Revising and advising on legislation.
The lords representation
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.
Key functions and significance of public bill committees
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.
Key functions and significance of commons select committees
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.
